Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Built between 1841 and 1919, Hong Kong's oldest symbol of law and order is this now-dis-
used police-magistracy-prison complex modeled after London's Old Bailey. The large com-
pound is being redeveloped into an arts hub with cinema, museum and boutique shopping
mall, due to open in 2015.
Sheung Wan
TEMPLE
PAK SING ANCESTRAL HALL
26)
In the 19th century, many Chinese who left home in search of better horizons died overseas.
As it was the wish of traditional Chinese to be buried in their hometowns, this temple was
built in 1856 to store corpses awaiting burial in China, and to serve as a public ancestral hall
for those who could not afford the financial costs of bone repatriation. Families of the latter
have erected 3000 memorial tablets for their ancestors in a room behind the altar.
Pak Sing Ancestral Hall also functioned as a clinic for Chinese patients refusing treatment
by Western doctors. The words
pak shing
mean 'people' - it was a temple for the people.
TEMPLE
KWUN YUM TEMPLE
Built in 1840, Sheung Wan's oldest temple honours Kwun Yum, the goddess of mercy. It's a
quaint-looking structure, with a magnificent and intricate brass carving just above the door-
way. The temple has been renovated with funky structural additions - orange iron railings
and a yellow awning printed with Buddhist swastika symbols.
TEMPLE
PALACE OF MOON AND WATER KWUN YUM TEMPLE
Not to be confused with Kwun Yum Temple nearby, this dimly lit temple honours Kwun
Yum of a Thousand Arms. Kwun Yum aka Guanyin is the goddess of compassion. Accord-
ing to legend, Buddha gave her a thousand arms so she could help everyone who needed it.
For a small donation, you can give the small wooden windmill at the entrance a spin; it will
presumably change your luck.
TEMPLE
TAI SUI TEMPLE
