Wong Tai Sin Temple

The Wong Tai Sin Temple is one of the most frequently celebrated Taoist ancestral temples in Hong Kong. Its former name was Rosy Garden which was built in 1921.

It commemorates the famous monk of yore Wong Tai Sin (also known as Huang Chu-ping), who was born around AD 328 and became a deity at Heng Shan (Red Pine Hill) in his later life. And also Wong Tai Sin was a Taoist disciple and merchant who took delight in helping others and used to render aid to poor people to solve difficulties, thus a living deity for them. He was ready to help for every asking. Therefore people built this temple by the name of "Wong Tai Sin Temple" in his memory after his death.

In 1915 a Taoist priest, Liang Ren-an, brought a sacred portrait of Wong Tai Sin from Guangdong in Southern China to Hong Kong. It was only fitting therefore that this magnificent temple be built and dedicated to this honored divinity revered down the ages for his benevolence.

The ornate temple with its red pillars, gold ceilings and decorative latticework is usually full of people burning incense and making floral offerings. The temple also has a lovely adjacent park, called the 'Good Wish Gardens': a peaceful green spot with waterfalls tumbling over rocks.

Covering 18,000 square meters and located in a tranquil natural setting remote from the nearby housing estates and the bustle of their streets, the temple is, apart from being an important religious centre, a scenic attraction full of beautifully ornamented traditional buildings.

In perpetuation of such an unselfish philosophy, the Temple preaches three traditional religions - Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.

The major feature is the Main Altar where the portrait of Wong Tai Sin is hung. Here believers go to pray for divine guidance and good fortune. Another place of great significance is the Three Saints Hall, where the deities Lu Zu, Guan Yin and Guan Di are worshipped

Other important fixtures include the Bronze Pavilion (females excluded), the Archives Hall, the Earthly Fountain, the Yue Hing Shrine where the Buddha of the Lighted Lamp is worshipped, the Unicorn (Confucian) Hall where Confucius is worshipped, and the extravagantly colourful Good Wish Garden lavishly decorated with many exotic examples of Chinoiserie.