Joss House Bay Rock Inscription, Inscribed stone at Joss House Bay, Hong Kong.
The Joss House Bay Rock Inscription is a granite stone with Chinese characters carved into its surface located near the Tin Hau Temple on Sai Kung's coast. The inscription sits above the shoreline, with the carved text remaining clearly visible across the rock face despite centuries of exposure to sea spray and weather.
The stone was commissioned in 1274 during the Southern Song Dynasty by a salt administration officer named Yan Yizhang to document his visit to the region. It stands as one of the oldest dated written records of Hong Kong's past, marking the Chinese administrative presence along this coast.
The inscription connects to the nearby Tin Hau Temple, which honors the goddess of the sea and fishermen, showing how local people expressed their devotion to maritime protection. The site reflects the spiritual importance of this coast for generations of seafarers and traders who passed through these waters.
The inscription is most easily reached from MTR Po Lam station by taking green minibus route 16 to the Tai Miu Wan stop, then walking to the shore. Wear sturdy shoes for the walk as the terrain is uneven and rocky in places, and plan your visit for calm weather since the site sits right at the waterfront.
This stone holds the oldest dated Chinese inscription discovered on Hong Kong territory, reaching back about 750 years into the past. The monument was officially registered as a declared cultural heritage site in 1985, making it proof of the deep history embedded in this quiet coastal area.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
