Hong Kong Lo Wai Heung Hoi Ci Hang Boat Temple

Hong Kong Lo Wai Heung Hoi Ci Hang Boat Temple

Heung Hoi Ci Hang is a temple located at Sam Dip Tam in Lo Wai Village, Tsuen Wan. Due to its resemblance to a fishing boat and its location by Sam Dip Tam, where the stream flows noisily during the rainy season, it is also known as the "Boat Temple."

The Heung Hoi Ci Hang Temple primarily enshrines Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy). In Buddhist scriptures, Guanyin turned her compassionate boat around to deliver all beings. "Heung Hoi" in Buddhist context refers to the inner sea surrounding Mount Sumeru, filled with fragrant waters, and can also generally denote the Buddhist realm.

Heung Hoi Ci Hang was built in 1960 on a site formerly known as "Guanyin Rock." It is said to have been self-designed and constructed by villagers from Lo Wai Village, modeled after the appearance of fishing boats in the South China Sea, with some building materials even sourced from the rocks of Sam Dip Tam [2]. It is reported that Heung Hoi Ci Hang was originally a Lu Zu (Lü Dongbin) Taoist practice site. Venerable Koon Chung once practiced spirit-writing with Taoist friends and was appointed by Lu Zu as the abbot.

At the bow of the boat-shaped temple stands a statue of Guan Yu as a guardian deity. The front cabin serves as the Memorial Hall of Master Hui Yun, the middle cabin is the Memorial Hall of the founding master Koon Chung, and the rear cabin houses the Yuantong Treasure Hall, which enshrines the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. At the stern is a standing statue of the White-Robed Guanyin. Above the Memorial Hall of Master Koon Chung is the "Lu Zu Fei Zhen Ying Hua Altar," dedicated to Lu Zu, a famous Taoist immortal and one of the Eight Immortals. In the center of the altar hangs a plaque inscribed with the words "Ming Jing Fei Tai" (The Bright Mirror Is Not a Stand). These four characters come from the Zen enlightenment verse of the Sixth Patriarch of Zen, Huineng: "Bodhi is fundamentally no tree; the bright mirror is also not a stand. Originally there is not a single thing — where could dust alight?"

In addition, on the western side of Heung Hoi Ci Hang, there is a "Yun Lian Bridge" that spans Sam Dip Tam to connect to the opposite bank. On the eastern side, there is a small temple called "Chiu Yam Ching Yuen," with its main entrance facing the lower part of Kwai Chung. Outside the temple, there is a gourd-shaped pool on the ground, and next to the earth god shrine is written: "The husband is very fair, the wife has a heart full of kindness."

Transportation Guide

Location: Sam Dip Tam, Lo Wai Village, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong.

Getting There: From the Tsuen Wan Siu Wo Street Public Light Bus Stop, take Light Bus Route 81 and get off at Sai Fong Si (Western Monastery). Walk downhill for about five minutes until you see the sign “Heung Hoi Ci Hang,” then descend a flight of stairs to reach the temple.