Hong Kong Cheung Shan Ancient Temple

Hong Kong Cheung Shan Ancient Temple

Cheung Shan Ancient Temple is a temple in Hong Kong, located in Ping She, Fanling, New Territories. The existing structure was built in the seventh year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1868) and has been a declared monument of Hong Kong since 1998. Cheung Shan Ancient Temple was jointly built in the 54th year of the Qianlong reign (1789) by villages in the Ta Kwu Ling area. Originally named Changsheng An, it enshrined Buddha, Guanyin, and Ksitigarbha. The mountain path in front of the temple was once the essential route to and from Sha Tau Kok, so the temple also served as a resting place for travelers, offering tea and refreshments.

In the seventh year of the Tongzhi reign (1868), Cheung Shan Ancient Temple was rebuilt into its current two-courtyard design. The original construction date of the temple is unknown, but it houses many ancient relics: a stone tablet erected in November of the seventh year of the Tongzhi reign (1868) is embedded on the left wall of the right hall; additionally, a bronze bell cast in the 54th year of the Qianlong reign (1789) hangs in the left hall. The inscription on the bell reads “Changsheng An,” though it is unclear whether this refers to the temple’s predecessor. As for the origins of the temple’s establishment, some say it was built during the Qing Dynasty when four monks granted land to villagers for its construction, while others claim it was jointly built in the mid-18th century by six villages in Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling areas. However, the exact details remain unverifiable.

The temple gate is inscribed with a couplet: “Long farewells are bittersweet, the ancient road looks solemnly toward the hills; travelers in straw hats and dust-laden robes pass by daily. Mountain birds sing of spring, temple flowers bid spring adieu, the misty bells and winds mark my yearly return.” Inside the temple hall, another couplet reads: “If you wish to offer incense, why journey far to the South Sea? With sincere devotion to Buddha, this place is the Western Paradise.” Both contain verses that advise travelers and depict the dusty journeys of ancient couriers. According to scholar Professor Xiao Guojian’s research, Cheung Shan Ancient Temple is likely the site of an ancient post station, connected to Guangzhou’s Wuyang Post Station, the Hongmei Post Station of Dayuling, and the overseas Siyi Post Stations. It belonged to the Southern Barbarian Government Office and was originally managed by government officials. After becoming a Taoist site, recognizing its location on the vital route between Shenzhen, the temple welcomed numerous travelers from north and south. It opened its doors widely to accommodate wayfarers, sparing them the hardship of sleeping in the wilderness.

The temple is not large in scale but is serene and elegant, exemplifying the typical residential architectural style of the Qing Dynasty’s Lingnan region. It is divided into front and rear sections, with the front section about one meter higher than the rear. The central part is the main hall, flanked by side halls. It is said that travelers in the past stayed in the side halls, which could accommodate up to thirty people at its peak. The temple enshrines Buddha, Guanyin, and the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, with extremely rustic ritual implements and altars.

Due to environmental changes, the ancient road’s former glory faded, and Cheung Shan Ancient Temple gradually returned to obscurity. The last abbot was Reverend Huankong. A skilled practitioner of traditional medicine, he moved here from Luofu Mountain and healed the sick with medicine, resolved attachments with Buddhist teachings, and spread compassion widely, earning deep affection from local villagers. Later, he also oversaw Miaojue Temple on Guanyin Mountain. The two temples were quite far apart, and to avoid the hardship of commuting, the reverend entrusted the management of Cheung Shan Temple to his disciple Kong Haoshie, while he remained at Miaojue Temple.

Kong managed the temple for over fifty years. After his passing, his daughter-in-law, Madam Ye, took over. On ordinary days, nearby villagers often came to worship. On the annual Hungry Ghost Festival on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, the temple would invite monks to preside over ceremonies, prepare vegetarian banquets, and attract worshippers from neighboring villages, nearby areas, and even some from the city. They gathered at the temple to chant scriptures and worship, creating a lively atmosphere.

Over time, the temple fell into disrepair. However, as it had been listed under the management of ancient monuments by the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong, special funding was allocated for renovation and maintenance in early 1998, with work completed by the end of the year. The temple was rededicated on January 4, 1999. Today, Cheung Shan Ancient Temple retains its quaint charm, yet both its interior and exterior have been completely revitalized.

Transportation Guide

Location: Ping She, Fanling, North District, Hong Kong

Getting There: Take a bus from Fanling Railway Station bound for Sha Tau Kok, get off at the stop near the landfill before Lai Tung, then walk along Wo Keng Shan Road for about twenty minutes to reach the temple.