Yang Hau Ancient Temple in Ping Shan, Hong Kong

Yang Hau Ancient Temple in Ping Shan, Hong Kong

Yang Hau Ancient Temple in Ping Shan is located at the northwest corner of Hang Tau Village, Ping Shan, Yuen Long, Hong Kong. It is one of the historic sites on the Ping Shan Heritage Trail and also one of the six temples in Yuen Long District dedicated to the worship of the Prince (Hau Wong). The exact date of the temple’s construction is unknown, but according to village elders, it has a history of several hundred years. Inscriptions inside the temple indicate that major renovations were carried out in 1963 and 1991.

There are various theories about the origins of the Prince. Villagers believe that the Prince refers to Yang Liangjie, a loyal minister of the Southern Song Dynasty who sacrificed his life to protect the Song emperor and was deeply revered by later generations, leading to his worship. The temple faces southwest and is oriented northeast. Its structure is simple, consisting of a single-row, three-bay layout. The main hall enshrines the Prince, the left hall enshrines the Earth God, and the right hall enshrines Goddess Golden Flower. Due to its flourishing incense offerings, Yang Hau Ancient Temple has experienced several fires in the past.

Door couplet: Virtue ranked among the Three Revered is universally praised; Blessings residing in the Five Directions are universally revered. Incense fills the air, repaying divine grace in the new temple; Divine might is resplendent, safeguarding the land with uprightness.

Temple couplets: The Phoenix Tower receives grace, aiding two princes in patrolling Guangdong’s hills; The Dragon City witnesses the Way, supporting the people and guarding Ping Shan. Imperial kin, supremely loyal, timeless spirits rely on the Ancestral Emperor; Guardians of the folk, shelters for myriad homes, incense offered to Hau Wong. At Ping Ling’s peak, the ancient path remains, divine beings jointly revered; In mountain villages, virtue transforms, the King’s boundless grace renews the temple’s visage. Temple renewed, thousand-year divine power shines brightly; Divine light spreads, regional peace relies on protection. The Prince’s virtue matches heaven, an eternal deity revered across the cosmos; The King’s grace vast as the sea, timeless worship established in Ping Shan.

Transportation Guide

Location: Northwest corner of Hang Tau Village, Ping Shan, Yuen Long District, Hong Kong

Transport routes: Take B1, KMB Route 276, or KMB Route 53, get off at Sheung Cheung Wai stop, then walk to the temple.