5 Mysterious Yet Facinating Temples To Visit in Hong Kong

Aside from the impressive skyline of Victoria Harbour, mouth-watering street food courts in Mong Kok and luxurious shopping malls in Tsim Sha Tsui, traditional Chinese structures pepper Hong Kong at every turn. Here, we focus on the mysterious temples of the city and which ones every traveller should seek out.

# Wong Tai Sin Temple

Enshrining Wong Tai Sin, the Daoist monk who became a deity at Heng Shan, the Wong Tai Sin Temple is frequented by pilgrims right throughout the year, mainly due to the belief that Wong makes every wish come true. The temple is home to the three leading Chinese religions: Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. The structure of the temple also reflects the traditional Feng Shui culture of China, incorporating the five elements – metal, water, wood, fire and earth – into the different architectures.

# Ching Chung Koon

Ching Chung, literally meaning ‘evergreen pine tree’, commemorates the teachings of Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals in Daoism, while ‘Koon’ simply means ‘Daoist temple’. The temple, built in 1961, is a perfect showcase of exquisitely designed Chinese architecture. The main building is the Palace of Pure Brightness, surrounded by fish ponds, quadrangles, towers and pagodas, all set in a peaceful atmosphere. The temple also holds a lot of precious relics, including lanterns bestowed by the Beijing Imperial Palace and elegant Chinese calligraphy.

# The Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery

Po Lin Monastery houses a variety of sacred Buddhist statues and Chinese-style structures. After praying, visitors can take a stroll in the tranquil gardens, laden with colourful flowers, and enjoy delicious vegetarian cuisine in the meat-free restaurant. After a rest, pay a visit to the 34-metre-high Tin Tan Buddha (also known as the ‘Big Buddha’) opposite the monastery. The renowned statue, which took 12 years to complete, is the second-largest outdoor bronze Buddha statue in the world. After taking the 268 steps to visit the Buddha, travellers are rewarded with a sweeping view of the city and the unspoiled coastline to boot.

# Che Kung Temple at Sha Tin

This temple dates back more than 300 years and is listed as a grade II historic building in Hong Kong, marking the precious cultural value of the structure. Che Kung, the military commander in the Song Dynasty, is honoured in the temple for his mythical power in suppressing uprisings and countering plagues. The temple is visited by pilgrims on January 3rd of the Chinese calendar every year, one day after the birthday of Che Kong himself.

# Fung Ying Seen Koon

Named after two divine mountains, Fung Lai Mountain and Ying Chau Mountain, Fung Ying Seen Koon is a sacred spot for Daoism in Hong Kong. The colour scheme of the temple perfectly illustrates traditional Chinese culture. The orange tiled rooftop teamed with red stone pillars construct an eye-catching palette. Inside the palace, the blue ceiling represents the heaven, while clouds are painted on the two sides, resembling the serenity of the sky.