Hong Shing Temple

Hong Shing Temple

Hong Shing Temple is located in Hang Mei Tsuen, Ping Shan, Yuen Long, Hong Kong, near Ping Ha Road. Built by the Tang Clan of Ping Shan, it has a history of over 200 years and is classified as a Grade II historic building in Hong Kong. According to a plaque inside the temple, it was likely built in the Qianlong Dinghai year (1767) of the Qing Dynasty, though some believe it dates back to the mid-Ming Dynasty. The existing structure was renovated in the fifth year of the Tongzhi era (1866) and underwent major repairs again in 1963.

Legend has it that Hong Shing was originally named Hong Xi, the Guangli Prefect during the Tang Dynasty (618–907), who was posthumously honored as the “Great King Hong Shing of Guangli” and widely revered by the public, especially by fishermen and those who made their living from the sea. Hong Shing Temple is a two-courtyard, one-hall structure, flanked by the Fude Shrine and the Tai Sui Hall, with a courtyard in the middle and a simple layout. Unlike other temples in Hong Kong where the courtyards are often covered and converted into incense pavilions, Hong Shing Temple retains its original design, allowing better lighting and ventilation—this is also the temple’s most distinctive feature. Inside the temple are bronze clappers cast in 1764 (the 29th year of Qianlong) and the “Record of Donors for the Renovation of Hong Shing Temple” from 1866 (the fifth year of Tongzhi).

Hung Shing Temple

Why go: One of the most important historic buildings in the Yuen Long area of Hong Kong