Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong are dedicated to the Chinese goddess Tin Hau (), better known as Mazu (). Over 100 temples are dedicated (at least partially) to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. A list of these temples can be found below.
Famous temples
Famous Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong include: Tin Hau temple, located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. It is a declared monument.Antiquities and Monuments Office: Tin Hau Temple, Causeway Bay The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it (Island line), and subsequently to the neighboring area of Tin Hau. The Tin Hau temple in Yau Ma Tei is also famous in Hong Kong. The public square, Yung Shue Tau, before it is surrounded by the popular Temple Street night market. The Tin Hau Temple at Joss House Bay is considered the most sacred. Built in 1266, it is the oldest and the largest Tin Hau temple in Hong Kong.Chinese Temples Committee: Tin Hau Temple, Joss House Bay It is a Grade I historic building.
Festivals Two temples have a marine parade to celebrate the Tin Hau Festival (): Tin Hau Temple on Leung Shuen Wan (High Island) and Tin Hau Temple on Tap Mun, which has it once every ten years.Antiquities and Monuments Office. Brief Information on Proposed Grade III Items. Item #617. Tin Hau Temple, Leung Shuen Wan, Sai Kung
The celebration at Tin Hau Temple, Joss House Bay, is attended annually by upwards of 40,000 to 50,000 people. Another large celebration takes place at the Tai Shu Ha temple in Yuen Long District.Birthday of Tin Hau: Unique Experiences
Guardian gods
In the larger Chinese temples, the statues of two guardian gods may be found on either side of the main altar. In the case of Tin Hau temples, such guards are always the two daemon brothers Chin Lei Ngan () and Shun Fung Yi ().
List by district Note 1: Unless otherwise noted, typically in italics, Tin Hau is the main deity of the temples listed below.Note 2: A territory-wide grade reassessment of historic buildings is ongoing. The grades listed in the table are based on these updates (8 June 2023). The temples with a "Not listed" status in the table below are not graded and do not appear in the list of historic buildings considered for grading.
Eastern District LocationNotesStatusReferencesPhotographsNo. 53, Shau Kei Wan Main Street East, Shau Kei WanShau Kei Wan Tin Hau Temple (筲箕灣天后廟) The original temple, built in 1845, was destroyed by a typhoon in 1872. A new temple was erected in-situ in 1873.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Introduction to 1444 Historic Buildings Originally situated on a slope with its front part facing the sea. Renovated in 1876, 1902, 1920, 1948 and 2005. Managed by the Chinese Temples Committee.Chinese Temples Committee. Tin Hau Temple, Shau Kei Wan The interior of the temple can be explored with Google Street View.Grade II No. 26A, A Kung Ngam Village Lane, A Kung Ngam, Shau Kei WanYuk Wong Temple aka. Yuk Wong Kung Din () or Yuk Wong Bo Din () Dedicated to the Jade Emperor. Partly dedicated to Tin Hau: altar on the left side of the main altar.Managed by the Chinese Temples Committee. The interior of the temple can be explored with Google Street View.Not listed On the main breakwater of Shaukeiwan Typhoon Shelter. It is only accessible by boatTin Hau Temple and Kwun Yum Temple () Built in 2006.Not listedFormerly on a small island within the former Aldrich Bay Typhoon Shelter, Shau Kei Wan (original location)Hoi Shum Temple () Built in 1845 on nearshore rocks for the worship of Tin Hau. It was demolished in the 1980s when the Typhoon shelter was reclaimed. Some of the temple pillars and footing stones are now preserved in the Shau Kei Wan Shing Wong Temple.Not listedDemolishedFei Tsui Road (), Chai WanChai Wan Tin Hau Temple ()Not listedOff San Ha Street (), Lok Kang Po (), Siu Sai Wan, Chai WanLok Kang Po Tin Hau Temple () At the current location since 1967.Hong Kong Housing Authority. Heritage Impact Assessment on Chai Wan Factory Estate at No. 2 Kut Shing Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, p.31, April 2013Not listed
Islands District LocationNotesStatusReferencesPhotographsNear Pak She San Tsuen, Cheung Chau Wan, Cheung ChauPak She Tin Hau Temple (長洲北社天后廟) Located 100m northwest of the Pak Tai Temple.Lonely Planet: Tin Hau Temples of Cheung Chau Situated within the boundary of the Chung Shak Hei Home for the Aged. The temple was probably built around 1767.Grade II Chung Hing Street (Tai Shek Hau), Cheung ChauTai Shek Hau Tin Hau Temple (大石口天后宮}) Built some time before the 4th year of the Tongzhi reign (1865) of the Qing dynasty.Grade II Sai Wan, Cheung ChauSai Wan Tin Hau Temple (西灣天后宮) Located west of Sai Wan (Western Bay), on the southwestern tip of the island. Built some time before 1929.Grade III North of Morning Beach aka. Nam Tam Wan (), Cheung ChauNam Tam Wan Tin Hau Temple ()Not listed Pak She Street, Tung Wan, Cheung ChauYuk Hui Temple aka. Pak Tai Temple Partly dedicated to Tin Hau: altar on the right side of the main altar.Managed by the Chinese Temples Committee. The interior of the temple can be explored with Google Street View.Grade I Fan Lau Miu Wan, Fan Lau, Lantau IslandTin Hau Temple, Fan Lau (分流天后古廟) Built during the early Qing dynasty. Rebuilt in 1820.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Tin Hau Temple, Fan Lau Miu Wan, Fan Lau Repaired in 1820, 1928, 1976.Grade III p.112 Yi O (), Lantau IslandUnconfirmed location.Listed with the note "no information" in "Distribution of temples on Lantau Island as recorded in 1979", in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch.Not listedSan Tsuen (), Tai OTai O San Tsuen Tin Hau Temple (大澳新村天后廟) aka. Yim Tin Tin Hau Temple () Built in 1644,Fung Shui of San Tsuen Tin Hau Temple, pp.14–15 in the early Qing period, repaired in 1838, 1892, 1895, 1946 and 1972.Grade II Kat Hing Back Street, Tai OTin Hau Temple, Kat Hing Back Street (大澳吉慶後街天后廟) Adjacent to Kwan Tai Temple (right side). Built in 1772.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Tin Hau Temple, Kat Hing Back Street, Tai OGrade III Sha Lo Wan, Lantau IslandTin Hau Temple, Sha Lo Wan () Built in 1919. Located on the left of the Ba Kong Temple, which is dedicated to Hung Shing. A wall is connecting the two temples at the front façade.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Tin Hau Temple, Sha Lo Wan, Tung Chung (Viewed from the front, the Tin Hau Temple is on the right)Nil grade Chek Lap Kok New Village (), Wong Lung Hang Road, Tung Chung, Lantau IslandTin Hau Temple, Chek Lap Kok () aka. Tin Hau Temple, Tung Chung (東涌天后宮) Built in 1823 at the north east of Chek Lap Kok. The entire temple was built of granite quarried on the island.Geology of Chek Lap Kok. Chapter 8. 1994 Repaired in 1978. Dismantled in 1991 because of the construction of the new airport, and rebuilt in 1994 at its present location.Exploring Islands – Tung Chung Grade II Tai Ho Wan, Lantau IslandTin Hau Tai Wong Temple ()Not listedTai Pak (), Lantau Island Unknown location, possibly at Discovery BayListed with the note "no information" in "Distribution of temples on Lantau Island as recorded in 1979", in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch.Not listedNim Shue Wan, Lantau IslandTin Hau Temple, Nim Shue Wan () Built in 1920. The statue of Tin Hau was moved to Peng Chau by the villagers during the Japanese Occupation.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Tin Hau Temple, Nim Shue Wan, LantauNil grade pic pic Luk Tei Tong, Mui Wo, Lantau IslandTin Hau Temple, Luk Tei Tong ()Not listed Shap Long Chung Hau (), Chi Ma Wan, Lantau IslandTin Hau Temple, Shap Long () It was rebuilt in 1951.Not listedpic pic Chi Ma Wan Road (along Lantau Trail Stage 12), Ham Tin Kau Tsuen (), Ham Tin, Pui O, Lantau IslandTin Hau Temple, Pui O () Built in the Ming dynasty, rebuilt in 1798 and repaired in 1947, 1974 and 1995.Environmental Impact Assessment Report for 132 KV Supply Circuit from Pui O via Chi Ma Wan Peninsula via Sea Crossing towards Cheung Chau. Cultural Heritage. 2001Not listed Tong Fuk, Lantau IslandTin Hau Temple, Tong Fuk ()Not listedShui Hau, Lantau IslandTin Hau Temple, Shui Hau ()Not listed No. 1A Yung Shue Wan Main Street, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma IslandTin Hau Temple, Yung Shue Wan (南丫島榕樹灣天后古廟) Built some time before the 2nd year of Guangxu reign (1876) of the Qing dynasty.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Introduction to 1444 Historic Buildings, p.873 An uncommon feature of the temple is that it is guarded by two Western lions. They replaced the original Chinese lions which had been damaged in the 1960s.Tin Hau Temple, Yung Shue WanGrade III O Tsai (), Yung Shue Wan, Lamma IslandTin Hau Temple, O Tsai ()Not listedSok Kwu Wan, Lamma IslandTin Hau Temple, Sok Kwu Wan (索罟灣天后宮) Probably built between 1826 and 1868.Nil grade Luk Chau Village, Lamma IslandTin Hau Temple, Luk Chau Village () Believed to be built in the late Qing dynasty (1644–1911).Nil grade Nos. 69A & 69B, Wing On Street, Peng ChauTin Hau Temple, Peng Chau (坪洲天后宮) Built in 1792. Managed by the Chinese Temples Committee. The interior of the temple can be explored with Google Street View.Grade II Po Toi IslandTin Hau Temple, Po Toi Island () Renovated in 1893.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Tin Hau Temple, Po Toi IslandNil grade Tai A Chau, Soko IslandsTin Hau Temple, Tai A Chau Built in 1828.Islands District Council. Paper No. IDC 107/2008 The Tong Fuk village committee contributed to its renovation in 2000.Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Receiving Terminal and Associated Facilities. EIA Report. Section 12 Cultural Heritage Assessment. December 22, 2006Not listedSiu A Chau, Soko IslandsNot listed picHei Ling Chau 1) Former 2) Current temple:There are two Tin Hau temples on the island. One was built in 1925 and was converted into a store room. The current temple was built in 1985.A Commercial Scale Wind Turbine Pilot Demonstration at Hei Ling Chau. EIA Report. November 2006Not listedFormer Shek Kwu ChauNot listed
Kowloon City District LocationNotesStatusReferencesPhotographsBehind Lok Tai House, Lok Fu Estate, Lok FuTin Hau Temple, Lok Fu ( or )Not listed No. 49 Ha Heung Road, To Kwa WanTin Hau Temple, To Kwa Wan (土瓜灣天后廟) Built in 1885. The temple also houses the statue of Lung Mo, which was transferred here in 1964, when the temple at Hoi Sham Island was demolished following land reclamation.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Tin Hau Temple, No. 49 Ha Heung Road, To Kwa WanComprehensive Feasibility Study for the revised scheme South East Kowloon Development, EIA Report, 12.7 Proposed Mitigation Measures Managed by the Chinese Temples Committee. The interior of the temple can be explored with Google Street View.Grade III 1/F, 40 Pak Tai Street, To Kwa WanBuilding demolished as of 2016.Wah Kwong Tak Yan Tong ().Located in a residential and commercial building. Partly dedicated to Tin Hau.Not listedPicture: site of the former building.
Kwai Tsing District LocationNotesStatusReferencesPhotographsChung Mei Lo Uk Village, Tsing Yi IslandKwai Tsing District Council website (archive)Tin Hau Temple, Tsing Yi (青衣天后古廟) The Tin Hau Festival in Tsing Yi lasts from 1st to 5th day of the 4th lunar month each year.Welcome to 18 Districts – Kwai Tsing District The temple was originally located near Tsing Yi Tong. Upon reclamation of Tsing Yi, it was moved to Ha Ko Tan (), near today's Chung Mei Lo Uk Village.Not listed Near Ha Kwai Chung Tsuen (), Kwai Chung. Located across Kwai Chung Road from Kwai Fong Terrace.Tin Hau Temple, Kwai Chung ()