Temples, Hong Kong

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There are 3 Tin Hau Temples in Hongkong. The Tin Hau Temple near the Jade Market and Temple Str is maybe the one you will accidentally come across.

Tin Hua is a populer Goddess of the fishermen.

The real person behind the goddess was a Song Dynasty girl born in Fujian province surnamed Lin。 Legend suggests that she could have been a shaman with the power to save the lives of seafarers caught in storms and also to heal the sick. Popular beliefs say that she saved her father (and perhaps some of her brothers too) in a terrible typhoon by flying on clouds to pluck them from the sea.

Lin died at the age of 28 and her body reportedly was washed ashore on Nangan Island, one of the Matsu Islands in the Taiwan Strait. Today her sarcophagus sits in a temple dedicated to her on the island.

After her death, her popularity among fisherman and their families increased quickly. Her status was officially recognized as early at 1150 and in the Yuan Dynasty, she was worshipped as Tianfei, the Heavenly Concubine. During the reign of the Qing Dynasty emperor Kangxi she was elevated to even greater heights, designated as the official protector of fisherman, and given her present name.

She is neither a Daoist nor a Buddhist Goddess, but has elements of both religions.

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Wong Tai Sin Temple is located at Lion Rock in the north of Kowloon. It is one of the most famous temples in Hong Kong. It is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin. It attracts many worshippers from Hong Kong and the Far East including many overseas Chinese.

Wong Tai Sin Temple covers a total area of approximately 18,000 square metres. Make it a point to visit Wong Tai Sin Temple when you are in Hong Kong - a fascinating location to take lovely photographs! Kindly flip through the different photographs above to see the lovely temple architecture.

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Wong Tai Sin is probably the most famous temple in Hong Kong. It has the traditional Chinese architecture. You can see and smell the burning incense as soon as you enter the temple.

You can also try the many fortune-tellers and palm and face readers.

There is a nice traditional style garden behind the temple (see photos). For a small admission (HK$2), you can get away from the crowds and enjoy a bit of peace here. It's a small garden with man-made ponds and waterfalls.

Should avoid visiting during Chinese New Year when it's the busiest, pack with worshippers coming in to give thanks to Wong Tai Sin.

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Built in the 1950s, the complex actually contains more than 10,000 Buddha’s - some 12,800 miniature statues line the walls of the main temple. Dozens of life-sized golden statues of Buddha's followers flank the steep steps, (of which there are around 400), leading to the monastery complex. In one of the temple buildings is the body of the founder, a monk named Yuet Kai, who came to Hong Kong after the Second World War and built the temple complex with contributions from local Buddhists. He died in 1965 at the age of 87 and was buried in the posture of meditation. Before his death he told his followers to exhume his body after eight months. Finding the body still in good condition - which they interpreted as a victory of the soul over the flesh - the monks resolved to cover it in lacquer and gilding, and on May 26th (Buddha's birthday) they set it up in the Buddha posture in a glass case, where it can be seen by visitors and worshippers. It's possible to climb to the top of the pagoda but the views are obscured.

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The Chi Lin Nunnery is a Buddhist nunnery in Diamond Hill, New Kowloon and located in amongst several high-rise apartments blocks. But that doesn't spoil the beauty of it as it is exceptionally beautiful with courtyards containing lotus ponds full of Choy carp whilst the complex buildings have been built out of wood in the style of Tang architecture (AD618-907) without the use of a single nail. A gem of Chinese monastic architecture, it has 16 Buddhist halls, a Zen-style rock garden and a magnificent Ten Thousand Buddha’s Pagoda. The nunnery was founded in the 1930s and a massive renovation was undertaken in the 1980s. It's a wonderful peaceful place to visit and one of my favourite places to visit whilst I was in Hong Kong. Opposite is a lovely garden that was opened in 2006.

Open: 7am-5pm Thur-Tue.

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This large and busy Taoist temple in the Wong Tai Sin district of New Kowloon, is dedicated to the Great Immortal Wong who lived in the 4th century A.D. Wong Tai Sin is regarded as the bringer of good luck and a healer of illnesses via a practice called Kau Cim where prayers are answered in the form of fortune telling Chi Chi Sticks. 100 sticks are placed in a bamboo cylindrical cup and the querent thinks silently or whispers it to the deity about their question. The shaking of the cylinder results in at least one stick leaving the cylinder and being dropped onto the floor. Each stick, with its designated number, represents one answer via an answer paper. The writing on the piece of paper will provide an answer to the question. More photo's can be found in one of my travelogues.

Open: 7am-5.30pm.

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Tribute To A Taoist God

Wong Tai Sin was a Taoist God who is widely respected and revered in Hong Kong for his healing powers.

This was an incredible experience. I spent an entire day here in February of 2005 which just happened to be during the Lunar New Year. I went the day before Chinese New Year which just happened to be my brithday. I planned it that way. And, what a fantastic day it turned out to be. Although very busy with worshippers and tourists it was a very serene and peaceful setting.

The temple itself is absolutely gorgeous with it's ornately designed and colorful structure. There were many people there worshipping at that time. They would burn incense at the main altar and then congregate in front of the temple where they would place newspaper on the ground with their offerings of food, usually fruit to Wong Tai Sin. It was fascinating to see and I have to say that because this was a place of worship I felt somewhat uncomfortable taking photos of the altar and the people though they do not mind.

I did also explore the grounds around the temple which were so beautifully sculpted that I just could not leave. I had to explore over and over again. There was a waterfall, bamboo trees, archways, rock alcove formations and bridges.

It is free to enter the grounds though donations are welcomed.

There are also many fortune teller stalls within the grounds should you want your fortune told

Wong Tai Sin Temple is one of the most famous Hong Kong chinese temples. It especially popular amongst overseas Chinese tourists too.

On special ocassions like Chinese Lunar new year and Wong Tai Shin's birthday, the temple can be very packed with devotees laying out their roask chicken, duck or piglest on the large compound just outside the temple to pray with burning joss sticks for health, good luck and good fortune. Many come to check their fortune using the shaking of bamboo sticks.

It can be easily reached by subway and public transport. Do not get there too late in the evening as it will be closed by 6pm. Photography is allowed but be discrete as they are many locals who are here to pray.