Wong Tai Sin Temple

Wong Tai Sin Temple sits at the foot of Lion Rock in Kowloon and is one of the busiest places of worship in Hong Kong. It is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, the Great Immortal Wong, a folk deity believed to grant the wishes of those who pray to him, and it is often summed up by the saying that what you ask for is what you get. The temple was completed in 1921 and is run by the Sik Sik Yuen, a Taoist organisation.

Although the temple is Taoist, it brings together all three of China's main traditions. There is a portrait of Confucius and Confucian texts, while Guan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, is honoured in the Three Saints Hall. The main altar is the focus of activity, with worshippers lighting incense and kneeling to make a wish.

The best-known ritual is kau cim. Worshippers shake a bamboo cylinder of numbered sticks until one falls out, then take the number to one of the fortune-telling stalls nearby, where it is matched to a printed verse and interpreted. Face and palm readers also work from the stalls. Statues of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac are another popular feature, and many visitors look for their own birth sign.

The temple covers about 18,000 square metres and is busiest at Chinese New Year, when worshippers queue overnight to be among the first to place incense, and on Wong Tai Sin's birthday in the eighth lunar month. The Yue Lao Hall has been closed for construction since March 2025, so not every area may be open. Entry is free, and an hour is enough to look around without rushing.

This is an active temple, so be considerate with cameras, especially near the main altar, and expect plenty of incense smoke. The temple suits anyone curious about Hong Kong's living religious traditions and makes a good pairing with Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden in neighbouring Diamond Hill. The temple is in the Wong Tai Sin district of Kowloon and is easy to reach by public transport from Kowloon or Hong Kong Island.