Pak Tai Temple on Cheung Chau

Pak Tai Temple on Cheung Chau

Introduction

The temple was built in 1783 and is dedicated to Pak Tai, the guardian deity of fishermen. Pak Tai (known as the Dark Heavenly Emperor of the North in Taiwanese folklore) is a valiant sea god. Among the temple’s treasured artifacts is an iron sword said to be a thousand years old, as well as a century-old wooden sedan chair used to carry the statue of Pak Tai during processions—both are must-see highlights. The Pak Tai Temple on Cheung Chau frequently hosts festive events, the most important of which include the annual Pak Tai Festival on the third day of the third lunar month, the Tin Hau Festival on the eighteenth day of the third lunar month, the Tai Ping Qing Jing Festival procession on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Guan Di Festival on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth lunar month, and the Lantern Festival activities on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Grand celebrations are held during these events, lasting anywhere from one or two days to as long as four or five days.

Transportation

You can take a ferry from Central. Ferry operating hours: 1. From Central to Cheung Chau: Mondays to Saturdays 00:30–23:45, Sundays and holidays 00:30–23:55. 2. From Cheung Chau to Central: Mondays to Saturdays 02:20–23:45, Sundays and holidays 02:20–23:30. Fare: 1. Mondays to Saturdays: Slow boat (takes about 1 hour) – standard seat HK$11.3, deluxe seat HK$17.8; fast boat (takes about 35 minutes) – HK$22.2. 2. Sundays and holidays: Slow boat – standard seat HK$16.7, deluxe seat HK$26; fast boat – HK$32. 3. On Saturday and holiday afternoons, you can also take a fast ferry between Tsim Sha Tsui and Cheung Chau, with a fare of HK$32.

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