The Five Best Temples in Hong Kong

Dump the shopping centers and high rises and dive into the city's rich social legacy with a visit to one of Hong Kong's main five sanctuaries. No place is ideal to take in everything to think about the trusts, dreams, fears and superstitions of this present city's innovative urbanites – particularly valid amid Chinese New Year and imperative lunar timetable celebration dates. While a few spots of love have been given a shiny new makeover, a considerable lot of Hong Kong's most established sanctuaries have been serving as essential group gathering focuses for a long time. 

5. Lam Tsuen Tin Hau Temple and Wishing Trees 

This curious accumulation of towns in Tai Po has been attracting guests to its Tin Hau Temple and two wishing trees for a long time. Generally, celebration goers would compose their desires on joss paper and attach it to an orange, which was then hurled up towards one of the banyan tree's most noteworthy limbs – the higher the branch the better the chances of your desire working out as expected! As the practice turned out to be more prevalent, powers ventured into save the trees and guests are presently urged to attach wishes to wooden racks close-by. Steps away you'll locate a little Tin Hau sanctuary, committed to the Goddess of the Sea, which can ordinarily be found in any antiquated angling group in Hong Kong or along the Chinese coastline. Take a seat with a spiritualist here in the event that you need to get some answers concerning that desire. 

4. Man Mo Temple 

Venturing into the Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road resemble entering a different universe, a domain occupied by the admired divinities of Man (God of Literature) and Mo (God of War) who are worshiped here. Beams of daylight slice through the rising smoke of mammoth incense curls hanging low from the roof and down onto the sacrificial tables of the 10 judges of the underworld. Make a point to take in every one of the subtle elements – the lines of plummeting green Shekwan rooftop tiles speak to bamboo and life span, while the antique car seats inside were utilized to convey statues of the divine beings amid celebration parades. 

3. Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery 

Despite the fact that calling itself a religious community, the name is somewhat of a misnomer as there are no occupant ministers at this mixed Sha Tin sanctuary. Take after the lofty twisting way up the slope, flanked by 500 life-sized Arhand statues to achieve the primary complex and its 9-story pagoda. Here you'll apparently discover more than 13,000 Buddha statues – yet now, who's numbering? – and a couple of bodhisattvas on horseback for good measure. The primary fascination, be that as it may, is the safeguarded collection of Yuet Kai, the cloister's especially sincere originator. Preserved in enamel, put with gold leaf and wearing robes, the upright body presently sits in plain view in a glass case inside the primary religious community building. 

2. Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden 

At Diamond Hill, just a single tram prevent far from the Wong Tai Sin sanctuary, you'll locate the tranquil and peaceful Chi Lin Nunnery. A distinct difference to its vivid and brash Taoist neighbor, the Buddhist abbey oozes quiet and serenity with smooth stone balustrades, lotus lakes and dazzling wooden engineering. Motivated by Japanese and Tang Dynasty sanctuaries, the rich arrangement of corridors and walkways were developed without the utilization of nails, utilizing an intricate outline of stabilizers and dowels. Over the street, the Nan Lian Garden is a beautiful desert garden in the midst of towering skyscraper flats approaching up along the slope. An unwinding walk around antiquated bonsai trees, koi lakes and carefully arranged patio nurseries is the ideal cure for those requiring some time out from the buzzing about of the city. 

1. Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple 

With its striking, red columns and elaborate latticework, Wong Tai Sin shows every one of the characteristics of the prototype Taoist Chinese sanctuary. Vivid and loud, admirers come year round to appeal to God for favorable luck and heavenly direction from the "Incomparable Immortal Wong." Crowds rush here amid the Chinese New Year to offer incense, make wishes and visit spiritualists with expectations of a propitious and prosperous year to come. Going by the sanctuary amid this time might enthusiasm from a social viewpoint, however it is positively not for the cowardly. Throngs of individuals push their way through the winding sanctuary complex in a billow of smoky incense towards the fundamental sacrificial table and accumulate around slows down offering charms and talismans of all shapes and sizes. It is unquestionably an ideal ordeal, yet on the other hand, an early morning weekday visit will serve fine and dandy.