[PLACE] 20141218 Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin 嗇色园黄大仙祠 @ Wong Tai Sin

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Sik Sik Yuen (嗇色园) or better known as Wong Tai Sin Temple (黄大仙祠) is a well known Taoist temple in Hong Kong that the local believed that "every wish you made will come true".

Often we heard in TVB dramas that the women, especially the elderly will go to the Wong Tai Sin Temple for fortune telling. It makes you wonder, what is so special about this temple that many TVB dramas like to mention it? Is it really that magically that every wish you make sincerely will come true? Well, at least the locals do believe so.

For such popularity, you probably thought that the temple is a very old temple with long history. Well, reality just proved me wrong as the Wong Tai Sin Temple is relatively new and was built in the 20th century. It was completely opened to public only in the 1950's. If you are interested in the history and the story behind the temple, do visit the Wikipedia link.

TO GO

The temple is so famous that it got the whole area named after it, including the MTR station. You just need to take the Kwun Tong Line (Green) and drop off at Wong Tai Sin station. Exit B2 will lead you directly to the entrance of the temple. You won't be wrong when you are approached by hagglers trying to sell you joss sticks and candles.

ATTRACTION



I visited this temple right after my breakfast in the morning. Despite it is a weekday, the temple is flocked with tourists, majority from the mainland China where tours after tours arriving at the entrance. Temple guards are busy trying to maintain the order and doing crowd control but seemed fallen into deaf ears due to the huge number of visitors. To allow a better flow of crowd, the guards disallowed tourist to take pictures after the entrance as it will obstruct traffic severely. However, there will always be a small number of them who are ignorant and selfish.


Joss sticks, candles and all sorts of offerings are available for sale at the side of the temple.


The entrance stone arch clearly written Sik Sik Yuen (嗇色园) and I have to tilt my camera higher to avoid the sea of human heads. Visitors are required to turn left after the entrance where they will be stone staircase leading towards the main altar. There's a square before the main altar after you have climbed up the stairs with 12 black stone statues representing the 12 animal Zodiac.


It is very hard to get a good picture of the main altar entrance without having people in between due to the huge crowd. The tourists will not hesitate to bump you away from your position just to take over your spot. You will have to be firm and fast to have a good snap.


After a short climb from the entrance you will reach the main altar where you will see a wide space for visitors to pray as well as to "shake for your lucky stick" or known as "qiu qian" (求签). Sticks representing different fate will be placed in bamboo containers, or nowadys just in empty containers. After your prayers, you will hold the container and shake gently until one stick falls out. That stick, will represent your fate for the wish that you made. You will need to remember the marking of the stick and then ask the fortune teller to help you "decode" the meaning of the stick. 


However, the main altar is not opened to public and visitors are only allowed to pray in front of the main altar. Besides the main altar, there are a few other temples within the compound and there's also a garden right beside. Do spend some time to explore around the area.




Three Saints Hall (三圣堂) offers prayers to three deities known as Lu DongBin, Guan Yin and Guan Di.


Moon Elder, or known as the Love God is at the side of the main altar and many singles will come here to wish for a good companion.


SUMMARY


Whether you have a wish or don't have a wish, Wong Tai Sin Temple is a must come for at least once to experience the Taoism culture of the Hong Kong locals. The temple is well maintained despite the high number of visitors. While you are here, you may also opt to visit the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden which I have skipped during my trip due to time constraint.


Attraction
☆☆☆☆
Taoism culture
Cleanliness
 ☆☆☆☆☆
Entrance Fee
Free (non-obligatory donation box available) 
Opening Hours
07:00am until 5:30pm (Daily)
Wifi
N/A 
Parking
Minimal 
Website
http://www.siksikyuen.org.hk/

GPS: 22.342386, 114.194293

farscope

Malaysian lad, engineer by background, banker by profession whom passionate in photography, food and travelling.

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