Tin Hau Festival is one of the traditional festivals in Hong Kong. Read on as we delve into the story and history behind the goddess.
Hong Kong thrives on an interplay of traditional culture and contemporary life. As Honeycombers’ resident cultural enthusiast, I’m always eager to discover festivals, untold stories, and customs that uniquely define Hong Kong. Today, join me in exploring the celebrated Tin Hau Festival, where I uncover the lore behind the Goddess of the Sky and Sea, and the temples that honour her across the city.
A deep dive into Tin Hau Festival in Hong Kong
Who is Tin Hau?
While you might be more familiar with the Island East neighbourhood Tin Hau, the name derives from the area’s historical reverence for its namesake goddess. Worshipped by coastal communities, Tin Hau (天后, “sky queen”), also known as Mazu (媽祖, “mother-ancestor”), reigns as a powerful and benevolent goddess of the sky and sea. Originally a shamaness named Lin Moniang (林默娘) in the 10th century, she became deified after her death. Since then, she has been offering divine protection to many sailors and fishermen on their voyages.
Today, Tin Hau is also regarded as a compassionate queen of the skies and heaven. As a coastal community, Tin Hau is one of Hong Kong’s primary deities. There are over 100 temples dedicated to the goddess across the city.
Tin Hau festival celebrations
Tin Hau Festival (天后誕) falls on the 23rd day of the third lunar month. Similar to the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, celebrations often feature jiao (醮) festivities in a multi-day event. Dedicated to worshipping gods and ancestors and appeasing ghosts, activities include lion, dragon, and Qilin dancing, Cantonese opera, Daoist rituals, and a “flower cannon” lucky draw (搶花炮).
“Flower cannons” are intricate papercraft structures adorned with vibrant colours and auspicious symbols. They also display a deity’s image in its centre, symbolising good fortune and prosperity. While villagers used to scramble for these canons, the luck they represent are simply distributed via a lucky draw today.
Tin Hau Festival is also specially celebrated with a maritime parade in Tap Mun and Leung Shun Wan, Sai Kung. Villagers return to their ancestral waters in a procession through nearby waters with a Tin Hau effigy, honouring their roots as boat-dwelling communities while praying for protection and prosperity.
Notable Tin Hau Temples in Hong Kong
1. Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple
Namesake of Hong Kong’s famous Temple Street, the Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple stands as one of the city’s largest temple complexes. While Tin Hau is the primary deity here, the complex also houses various secondary deities in adjacent shrines. These include the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy Kwun Yum (Guanyin), the City God Shing Wong, and the District God She Kung.
Address: Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple, 56 – 58 Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Sat), 9am – 5pm (Sun)
How to get there: Take the MTR and get off at Yau Ma Tei Station for Exit C. Turn left along Nathan Road for the temple.
2. Tin Hau Old Temples at Po Toi O and Sai Kung Town
The Tin Hau Temples in Po Toi O and Sai Kung Town are distinctive cultural destinations given their long history, stunning architecture, and lively spectacles during the Tin Hau Festival. Unique to Hakka communities in Sai Kung and beyond, the Qilin dance requires extensive training and emphasises elegance, grace, and precision, with the mythical beast distinguished from its lion and dragon counterparts by a tai chi symbol between its eyes. Sai Kung’s Qilin dance is a recognised Hong Kong intangible cultural heritage thanks to its cultural value and required skill.
Address: Sai Kung Tin Hau Old Temple, Tai Au Mun Road, Clear Water Bay, Sai Kung, Hong Kong; Sai Kung Town Tin Hau Temple Complex, Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 8am – 5pm every day
How to get to Sai Kung Tin Hau Old Temple: Take the MTR and get off at Po Lam Station for Exit A. Take Minibus 16 and alight at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club. Walk about 10 minutes down the steps nearby.
How to get to the Sai Kung Town Tin Hau Temple Complex: Take the MTR and get off at Hang Hau Station for Exit B. Take Minibus 101M and alight at Sai Kung Town. Walk 10 minutes to the right of the piers.
3. Causeway Bay Tin Hau Temple
The Hakka Tai family built the Causeway Bay Tin Hau Temple in the 1740s and named the surrounding neighbourhood after it. Legend says the family encountered a drifting incense burner while sailing across the harbour and, believing it was a sign from Tin Hau, constructed a temple on the Causeway Bay coast to honour the goddess.
This legend also gave Hong Kong Island one of its pre-colonial names, Hung Heung Lo (紅香盧; “red incense-burner”). Despite land reclamation moving it inland, the temple largely retains its original architecture and houses Tin Hau, the God of Wealth Tsoi San, Kwun Yum, and Pau Kung, the Judge of the Underworld.
Address: Causeway Bay Tin Hau Temple, 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Tin Hau, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 8am – 5pm every day
How to get there: Take the MTR and get off at Tin Hau Station for Exit A1. Cross King’s Road and head right for Tin Hau Temple Road.
4. Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Temple
Situated among the Sai Kung islands, Leung Shuen Wan was once home to a bustling market and fishing town. While most of its indigenous inhabitants have since moved to the more accessible Sai Kung mainland, a close-knit community remains in this peaceful locale, where life is centred around the centuries-old Tin Hau Temple.
Facing the sea, clan and lineage members living away from Leung Shuen Wan diligently maintain this impressive temple since 1741. It holds a special charm not found in other urban Tin Hau Temples.
Address: Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Temple, Leung Shuen Wan, Sai Kung, Hong Kong
Opening hours: On weekends and Tin Hau Festival days only
How to get there: Take the ferry from Sai Kung Old Pier to Kau Sai Chau, which stops at Leung Shun Wan.
Where can you see Tin Hau Festival celebrations?
5. Leung Shuen Wan
Every year, original inhabitants of Leung Shun Wan return in waves for Tin Hau Festival, bringing with them food and paper offerings as well as stunning “flower cannons.” I had the privilege of witnessing Leung Shuen Wan’s celebration in March 2025, where lineage members gathered at the Sai Kung Piers as early as 8am for a full day of activities!
Despite this year’s celebration following a packed schedule, it was deemed “small” compared to the multi-day occasions featuring Cantonese opera, marine parades with an effigy of Tin Hau between Fo Tau Fan Chau and Basalt Island, “flower cannon” draws, and Tanka basin meals.
Where: Leung Shuen Wan, Sai Kung, Hong Kong
How to get there: Festival ferries for the public usually depart from Sai Kung Old Pier at 9:30am, 10:30am, and 11:20am. Return ferries usually depart from Leung Shuen Wan at 10:30am and 2:30pm.
6. Yuen Long Tin Hau Festival Procession
The Yuen Long Tin Hau Festival Procession is one of the largest traditional celebrations in the New Territories. Every year on Tin Hau Festival, villages and lineages of Shap Pat Heung gather for customary jiao activities that culminates in a “flower cannons” parade. This procession is accompanied by lion, dragon, and Qilin dances plus live music performances, often attracting visitors from all over Hong Kong and beyond!
The parade route starts at Fung Kam Street and goes through Hop Yick Road, Tai Tong Road, and Kau Yuk Road, pausing at Yuen Long Stadium for performances, before continuing onto Ma Tin Road and Tai Shu Ha Road East. It finally concludes at the Tai Shu Ha Tin Hau Temple to pay respects to the goddess.
Where: Shap Pat Heung, Yuen Long, Hong Kong
How to get there: Take the MTR to Yuen Long Station for Exit C. Walk along Long Yat Road and cross Castle Peak Road – Yuen Long and continue along Fun Cheung Road. Take the first left onto Fung Yau Street North and a right for Fung Kam Street.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tin Hau and why is she worshipped in Hong Kong?
Tin Hau, also known as Mazu, is a revered goddess of the sky and sea worshipped by coastal communities in Hong Kong and across South China. Originally born as a shamaness named Lin Moniang in the 10th century, she became deified after her death. In Hong Kong, Tin Hau is regarded as a powerful and benevolent deity who offers protection, good fortune, and guidance, especially to seafaring communities, making her a significant figure in local folk religion.
When and how is the Tin Hau Festival typically celebrated in Hong Kong?
Tin Hau Festival, or Tin Hau’s Birthday, takes place annually on the 23rd day of the third lunar month. Celebrations often span several days and include a “jiao” – a traditional event involving the worship of gods and ancestors and the appeasement of ghosts. The occasion features lion, dragon, and Qilin dances, Cantonese opera performances, Daoist rituals, and “flower cannon” lucky draws. Coastal communities may also host a special marine parade where an effigy of Tin Hau is carried out to sea to pay respects and pray for safety and prosperity.
Where are some notable Tin Hau Temples I can visit in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is home to over 100 significant Tin Hau Temples, each with its own history and character. Notable ones include Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple, Tin Hau Old Temples at Po Toi O and Sai Kung Town, Causeway Bay Tin Hau Temple, and Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Temple.
