Located in the north of Kowloon, Wong Tai Sin Temple is a famous shrine and tourist attraction in Hong Kong. Millions of people visit to pray for good luck and seek spiritual answers through the practice of kau chim. The Chinese New Year holidays are the busiest time for the temple, as visitors believe that the earlier they offer incense, the better luck they will have in the coming year.
Even in weekday, Wong Tai Sin Temple is crowded with visitors. (Source: Xinyue Tang)
The worship usually starts from touching the Kinrin at the gate. (Source: Xinyue Tang)
Single people pray for marriage in the Yue Lao Hall by using a special gesture to hold a red string. (Source: Xinyue Tang)
Single people pray for marriage in the Yue Lao Hall by using a special gesture to hold a red string. (Source: Xinyue Tang)
Many prayers perform kau chim. They kneel before the main altar, make a wish, and shake a bamboo cylinder containing fortune sticks until a stick falls out. (Source: Xinyue Tang)
The temple offers free but simple interpretation of the stick numbers, and the prayers can also pay to ask a fortune teller for a more detailed reading. (Source: Xinyue Tang)