Hong Kong Cheung Shan Ancient Temple

　　Cheung Shan Ancient Temple is a temple in Hong Kong, situated in Ping Che, Fanling, New Territories. The current structure was built in the seventh year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1868) and has been a declared monument of Hong Kong since 1998. Originally constructed in the fifty-fourth year of the Qianlong era (1789) by villages in the Ta Kwu Ling area, it was initially named Changsheng An and was dedicated to Buddha, Guanyin, and Ksitigarbha. The mountain path in front of the temple was once the main route to Sha Tau Kok, so Cheung Shan Ancient Temple also served as a resting place for travelers, offering tea and refreshments.

　　In the seventh year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1868), Cheung Shan Ancient Temple was rebuilt into its current two-courtyard design. The exact founding date of the temple is unknown, but it houses many ancient relics: on the left wall of the right hall is embedded an old stone tablet erected in November of the seventh year of the Tongzhi era (1868); additionally, the left hall houses a bronze bell from the fiftieth year of the Qianlong era (1789). The inscription on the bell reads "Changsheng An," though it's unclear whether this refers to the temple’s predecessor. As for the origins of the temple, some say it was established during the Qing Dynasty when four monks granted land to villagers to build it, while others claim it was jointly constructed in the mid-18th century by six villages in Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling. However, the exact details remain unverifiable.

　　The temple gate features a couplet: “Long farewells are bittersweet, the ancient road watches the ridges, as travelers in straw hats and dust-laden robes come daily; mountain birds sing of spring, temple flowers bid spring adieu, as smoke-belching bells and winds mark my years.” Inside the temple hall, another couplet reads: “If you wish to offer incense, why journey far to the South Sea? With sincere devotion to Buddha, this place is the Western Paradise.” Both contain verses that advise wayfarers and depict the dusty journeys of ancient couriers. Scholars such as Professor Siu Kwok-kin have deduced that Cheung Shan Ancient Temple may have been the site of an ancient courier station, connected to Guangzhou’s Wuyang Courier Station, the Hongmei Courier Station of Dayuling, and the Four Barbarians Courier Stations overseas, all part of the Southern Barbarian Postal System and originally managed by government officials. After transitioning into a religious site, given its location along the vital route between Shenzhen and other regions, and the steady flow of travelers, the temple opened its doors widely to accommodate wayfarers, sparing them the hardship of sleeping in the wild.

　　Though modest in size, the temple is serene and elegant, exemplifying the typical residential architecture of the Qing Dynasty’s Lingnan region. It consists of two courtyards, with the front one about one meter higher than the back. The main hall is at the center, flanked by side halls. It is said that in the past, travelers stayed in the side halls, which could accommodate up to thirty people at their busiest. The temple enshrines Buddha, Guanyin, and the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and its ritual instruments and altars are all very rustic in style.

　　Due to changes in the environment, the once bustling ancient road lost its vibrancy, and Cheung Shan Ancient Temple gradually faded into obscurity. Its last abbot was Venerable Fanhong. The monk was skilled in medicine. After moving here from Luofu Mountain, he healed illnesses with remedies and resolved attachments with Buddhist teachings, spreading his compassion widely and earning the deep affection of local villagers. Later, the monk also oversaw the Miaojue Temple on Guanyin Mountain. The two temples were quite far apart, so to avoid the constant travel, the monk handed over the management of Cheung Shan Temple to his disciple Kong Haoshou, while he himself resided at Miaojue Temple.

　　Kong managed the temple for over fifty years. After his passing, his daughter-in-law, Madame Ye, took over. On ordinary days, nearby villagers often came to worship. On the annual Hungry Ghost Festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, the temple would invite monks to preside over ceremonies and prepare vegetarian banquets. Devotees from neighboring villages, nearby areas, and even some from the city would gather at the temple to chant scriptures and worship, creating a lively atmosphere.

　　Over time, the temple fell into disrepair. However, as it had been listed under the heritage management scope of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong, a special fund was allocated for its renovation and maintenance in early 1998, with the work completed by the end of the year. The temple reopened after consecration on January 4, 1999. Today, Cheung Shan Ancient Temple retains its quaint charm, with both its interior and exterior fully renewed.

　　Transportation Guide

　　Location: Ping Che, Fanling, North District, Hong Kong

　　How to get there: Take a bus from Fanling Railway Station bound for Sha Tau Kok, get off at the stop near the landfill before Lai Tung, then walk along Wo Hang Road for about twenty minutes to reach the temple