Cheung Shue Tan Hap Tin Temple

　　Cheung Shue Tan Hap Tin Temple is situated in Cheung Shue Tan Village, a Hakka indigenous community in Pak Shek Kok, Tai Po District, New Territories, Hong Kong. It was founded by the ancestral head of the Wan clan, and the exact date of its construction is unknown. Serving as a communal building for all surnames in Cheung Shue Tan Village, it functioned as the highest authority for the entire village—including the later independently established Tai Po Mei Village—before the establishment of the village office. It is now a Grade III historic building in Hong Kong.

　　Originally built as a small temple, Hap Tin Temple was expanded in the 24th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1898) due to increasing popularity and heavy incense offerings. A stone inscription was created to commemorate the expansion. It underwent renovations again in the 3rd year of the Xuantong reign (1911) and in 1997. Legend has it that due to feng shui considerations, the temple was designed to face Ma On Shan. In addition to enshrining Guan Shing Di Jun (Guanyu), the temple also houses deities such as Guan Ping Taizi (Guan Yu’s son), Zhou Cang (Guan Yu’s general), Tai Sui Ye (the God of the Year), and Fu De Gong (the God of Wealth).

　　In its early days, the temple housed four carved wooden couplets. One read: “Righteousness in the Peach Garden, the three brothers made three respectful visits, their diligence recorded in history; loyalty in supporting the Han dynasty, the unity of ruler and ministers, their achievements shining through heaven and earth.” Another: “Attacking Wu and Wei to revive Liu, a heart as resolute as the sun and moon; ennobled as kings and even emperors, a virtue as grand as heaven and earth.” The third: “Loyal hearts and brave souls, dragon and tiger following each other, brothers together; a single saber and lone horse, revered by both Chinese and foreigners, ancient and modern.” And the fourth: “A peerless hero of eternal righteousness; the greatest loyalist through the ages.” However, all four carved couplets were burned during the Japanese occupation.

　　Before the war, to pay homage to Guan Di, villagers from Cheung Shue Tan and Tai Po Mei villages—representing five surnames—would set up a stage and perform Cantonese opera for four days and five nights every year on the 13th day of the fifth lunar month, Guan Di’s birthday, to thank the deity and pray for prosperity in the coming year. On the first day of the performances, the statue of Guan Di would be carried to a shrine in front of the stage, and thirteen gongs would be sounded as a sign of reverence.

　　Next to the temple lies a now-defunct rural primary school called “Shu Ren School,” which was established in 1938. Initially, the school had used Hap Tin Temple as its temporary premises.

　　Transportation Guide

　　Location: Cheung Shue Tan Village, Tai Po District, Hong Kong

　　How to get there: Take KMB bus routes 72A, 72, 73A, 74A, 872 or New Territories minibuses route 28K