Tin Hau Temple at Yung Shue Wan

Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea, is revered by fishermen and anyone whose life and destiny is tied to the sea. Temples that honour her are found in abundance in Chinese coastal communities throughout Asia. Hong Kong is no exception.

However, the Tin Hau Temple at Yung Shue Wan on Lamma Island has an interesting feature that sets it apart from most others in Hong Kong. Serious temple buffs will notice that the lions standing guard at its entrance are incongruously Western in appearance.

Apparently, when the temple’s original Chinese-style lions were damaged in 1960, the mason hired to replace them specialised in Western-style stone lions. The result is a fitting motif for the East-meets-West culture of Lamma Island.