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Wong Tai Sin Temple

Gate of Wong Tai Sin Temple, Hong Kong

Wong Tai Sin Temple, a Taoist temple established in 1921, is one of the most famous temples in Hong Kong. It is also renowned among overseas Chinese in Southern Asia, Europe, and America.

Story of History

Wong Tai Sin Temple is named after Wong Chuping. When Wong Chuping was 15, he began to follow Taoism. Forty years later, he achieved enlightenment and became immortal. People called him Wong Tai Sin from then on. It is said that he punishes evils, heals the wounded, and rescues the dying. His influence spread from Guangdong Province to Hong Kong in the early 20th century. With his mercy and his power, he is said to grant whatever is requested. Wong Tai Sin Temple is known for its fortune-telling. The fortune sticks (or lots) here are very accurate. Many people who visit the temple come to have their fortunes told. Generally, worshippers entreat the fate of the same year. They light worship sticks, kneel before the main altar, make a wish, and shake a bamboo cylinder containing fortune sticks until one falls out. The stick is exchanged for a piece of paper bearing the same number, and the soothsayer then interprets the fortune on the paper for the worshipper. Wong Tai Sin has many worshippers in Hong Kong, so the joss sticks and candles burn exuberantly all year round, especially during the Chinese New Year and Wong Tai Sin's birthday, the 23rd day of the eighth lunar month.

Pious worshippers

Interior Structure

Wong Tai Sin Temple is also called Sik Sik Yuen. Its architecture is in traditional Chinese temple style: grand red pillars, a magnificent golden roof adorned with blue friezes, yellow latticework, and resplendent multi-colored carvings. Aside from the Daxiong-baodian or Grand Hall, Sansheng Hall and the Good Wish Garden are also worth seeing. The grounds also feature three memorial archways. The first one stands outside the temple and is carved with the name of the temple. If you walk past the soothsayers and the fortune-telling stalls, you can see another memorial archway. And if you continue further along the third memorial archway standing before you. Memorial archways are a common feature of traditional Chinese architecture. Also at the temple are the Nine Dragon Wall, a replica of the renowned Nine Dragon Wall in Beijing, and the Good Wish Garden, a miniature copy of Beijing's Summer Palace .

Additionally, Wong Tai Sin Temple is the only temple that offers facilities for wedding ceremonies in Hong Kong.

How to get to Wong Tai Sin Temple

1. Take Kwun Tong Line to Wong Tai Sin, and you will see the temple.
2. Take bus 11c, 211, n26 to Wong Tai Sin Temple.
3. Take bus a29, a29p, e22a, e22c, e22p, or e22s to Wong Tai Sin Station, Lung Cheung Road.

Opening Hours	07:00 to 17:00
Entrance Fee	Free of charge

Top 10 Things to Do in Hong Kong

- Last updated on Mar. 20, 2019 -

Questions & Answers on Wong Tai Sin Temple

Asked by raymond from CABRAL | Mar. 20, 2019 18:04

how can we go to the Wong Tai Sin Temple from TST(Tsim Sha Tsui)?

Answers (1)

Answered by Linda from USA | Mar. 20, 2019 20:29

Hi, you can take Tsuen Wan Line from Tsim Sha Tsui to Yau Ma Tei first and then transfer to Kwun Tong Line to Wong Tai Sin. Get out of the Exit B3 and then walk north about 260m tp get the temple.

Asked by Hedi from INDONESIA | Dec. 30, 2018 02:57

Hi there. Do I need to make a reservation to visit Wong Tai Sin Temple? Thanks

Answers (1)

Answered by Levi from FINLAND | Jan. 02, 2019 00:49

Hedi, you don't need to make a reservation to visit this temple.

Asked by rida from CANADA | Oct. 24, 2018 12:05

Is Wong Tai Sin Temple open 7 days a week between 07:00 to 17:00?

Answers (1)

Answered by Jason from USA | Oct. 24, 2018 23:05

Except for the Monday.

Asked by C from PHILIPPINES | May. 19, 2017 07:47

How to reach Wong Tai Sin Temple from Chi Lin Nunnery? What's the bus no?

or is it too far to just walk?

Answers (1)

Answered by Hebby from GERMANY | May. 22, 2017 03:50

It’s about 8 kilometers between two places, so you are suggested to take the public bus. You can take bus no.79M at Hammer Hill Road, Outside East Kowloon Chest Clinic Bus Stop and get off at Shatin Pass Road, Outside Wong Tai Sin Shopping Center Bus Stop. Upon arrival, you may walk 50 meters northwards along Shatin Pass Road and go across the Lung Cheung Road to the destination.