Tin Hau temple, Shap Pat Heung, Tin Hau temple in Shap Pat Heung, Hong Kong

The Tin Hau temple in Shap Pat Heung is a Chinese religious site in the rural Shap Pat Heung area of Yuen Long District, Hong Kong. The building has decorated facades, a central courtyard, and a main altar flanked by carved stone details and painted roof ornaments.

A stone stele in the temple dates to the 51st year of the Qianlong reign (1786), the earliest record of the foundation. Major repairs followed in the Xianfeng and Guangxu reigns of the Qing dynasty, and again after Typhoon Wanda struck Hong Kong in 1962. The building is listed as a Grade II historic building.

Tin Hau is a goddess traditionally venerated by fishermen and sailors, and her temples are common along the coasts and waterways of southern China. At this temple, local villagers still come to light incense and offer prayers, keeping the practice alive across generations.

The temple is in a rural part of Yuen Long District, so it is worth planning your journey in advance. Once there, move quietly and be mindful of any prayers or ceremonies that may be taking place.

The temple's name comes from the huge tree in front of it, whose canopy once spread several hundred feet across. Inside, a stone tablet dates to the 51st year of the Qianlong reign (1786), and the building was substantially repaired in the Xianfeng and Guangxu eras and again after Typhoon Wanda struck Hong Kong in 1962.