The Tin Hau Temple in Joss House Bay (佛堂門天后古廟, lit. "Fat Tong Mun Tin Hau Old Temple" or 大廟灣天后廟, lit. "Joss House Bay Tin Hau Temple"), sometimes referred to as Tai Miu (大廟; lit. "Great Temple") is Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

's oldest and largest Tin Hau Temple

Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong

Over 70 temples are dedicated to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. They 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. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it .* The Tin...

. It is also said to be the most popular Tin Hau temple both for fishermen and for others in Hong Kong.

Location

The sea-facing temple is located at Fat Tong Mun (佛堂門天), on the shore of Joss House Bay

Joss House Bay

Joss House Bay, also known as Tai Miu Wan indigenously, is near the south end of Clear Water Bay Peninsula in Hong Kong....

, near the south end of Clear Water Bay Peninsula

Clear Water Bay Peninsula

Clear Water Bay Peninsula The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , Clearwater Bay School , The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club and the Shaw Studio are located here...

. Joss House Bay derives its name from the temple, or joss house

Joss house

A Shenist temple or Chinese folk temple is a place for worshiping the variety of indigenous Chinese shen from Chinese folk religion and Chinese mythology....

. The Chinese name of Joss House Bay, Tai Miu Wan (大廟灣), literally means "the bay of the large temple".

Tin Hau Festival and events

Once a year, on Tin Hau's birthday, the 23rd of the third moon on the Chinese calendar

Chinese calendar

The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...

, upwards of 40,000 to 50,000 people attend celebrations at the temple. Thousands of people hike their way, via the High Junk Peak

High Junk Peak

Towering 344 metres above the lowlands, High Junk Peak is one of the three treacherous peaks in Hong Kong...

 Hiking Trail, to the Temple to pay their respects. Thousands of others sail into Joss House Bay in hundreds of vessels.

The police

Hong Kong Police Force

The Hong Kong Police Force is the largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. It is the world's second, and Asia's first, police agency to operate with a modern policing system. It was formed on 1 May 1844, with a strength of 32 officers...

 have the launching ceremony of their new cruisers held at the temple.

Conservation

The temple has been managed by the Chinese Temples Committee

Chinese Temples Committee

The Chinese Temples Committee is a statutory body in Hong Kong established under the Chinese Temples Ordinance . It is mainly responsible for the operation and management of twenty-four temples directly under its management. It also handles temple registration...

 since 1939. It is a Grade I historic building.

Access

The temple is accessible via the High Junk Peak Hiking Trail. A shorter walk combined with public transportation is possible from the Clear Water Bay Country Club.

A ferry service to Joss House Bay is available annually from North Point Ferry Pier

North Point Ferry Pier

North Point Ferry Pier is a ferry pier in North Point, Hong Kong and it is near the site of the former North Point Estate . It started operation in 1957. The pier has two berths, the east berth and the west berth...

on the day of Tin Hau's birthday. Joss House Bay Public Pier is located just in front of the temple.

External links

• Pictures of the temple