Hung Shing Temple, Taoist temple in Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong.
Hung Shing Temple is a two-hall, three-bay Taoist temple at 9 Hung Shing Street on Ap Lei Chau, near the Ap Lei Chau Market building and the waterfront promenade. A roofed pavilion covers the courtyard between the front hall and the main hall. Two wooden columns carved with dragon motifs, known locally as dragon columns, stand in front of the temple to ward off evil.
Built in 1773 with funds raised by local fishermen, the temple is the oldest surviving building in the Southern District. It has been renovated several times since, and in October 2014 the government declared it a monument.
The temple is dedicated to Hung Shing, a deity worshipped by the fishing communities of southern Hong Kong. It is managed by the Chinese Temples Committee, and the two dragon-carved wooden columns standing in front of it, known locally as dragon columns, were erected to ward off evil.
The sanctuary sits on the Ap Lei Chau shoreline and is easily accessible by public transportation in the area. Visitors can walk around and explore the grounds throughout the day, with early morning or late afternoon being pleasant times to visit.
Two wooden columns carved with dragon motifs stand in front of the temple; residents call them dragon columns and say they were erected to block evil forces. The temple was declared a monument in October 2014 and is managed by the Chinese Temples Committee.
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