Wan Chai Hong Shing Temple

Wan Chai Hong Shing Temple

Wan Chai Hong Shing Temple is located at 129 Eastern Queen’s Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. After over a century of changes and multiple land reclamation projects, it is now surrounded by modern buildings, making it stand out prominently. It has been listed as a Grade I historic building. In the early days of Hong Kong’s development, the area south of Johnston Road, where the temple is situated, was once a shallow waterfront, and the front of Hong Shing Temple used to be the seashore. This simple single-hall temple once overlooked the entire bay.

There was a time when Wan Chai was considered the stronghold of Lancelot Dent, regarded by Lin Zexu as the top opium trader. Dent, a British opium merchant, used Wan Chai as his drug trafficking base between 1835 and 1839. Around 1924, the Hong Kong government flattened Mount Morrison and reclaimed the Wan Chai Bay area, transforming the district’s landscape and moving the once seaside Hong Shing Temple to its current location along Queen’s Road Central.

Today’s Hong Shing Temple is built against the hillside and enshrines Hong Shing Da Wang, the God of the South Sea, who, along with Tin Hau, is one of the most worshipped deities among fishermen. Beside Hong Shing Da Wang, altars are dedicated to Goddess Golden Flower, Tai Sui, and Judge Bao. Outside the temple, there are also shrines for the Earth God and Lu Ban, the Master Carpenter.

Due to geographical constraints, Hong Shing Temple is a single-courtyard structure. In front of the temple are stone railings, with steps leading up from both sides. These stone railings and steps have a history of several hundred years. The plaque above the entrance bears inscriptions indicating renovations in the 10th year of the Xianfeng era (1860) and in the 7th year of the Tongzhi era (1867). From the back of the temple, you can also see the unique architectural style where massive rocks connect directly to the building — it is truly built against the hill.

Related Customs

Deity Worshipped: Hong Shing Da Wang

Festival Celebrated: Hong Shing’s Birthday (13th day of the second lunar month)

Great King East Street and Great King West Street. “Great King” refers to Hong Shing Da Wang.

Devotees of Hong Shing visit the temple on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, as well as on Guanyin’s Birthday, to pray for blessings.

Transportation Guide

Location: 129 Eastern Queen’s Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

How to Get There: Take Bus No. 6, Special Bus 6, No. 10, or No. 15.