I stopped counting how many Tin Hau temples I’ve already visited in Hong Kong – I’ve been to the obvious ones in Tin Hau, Yau Ma Tei, Stanley but there are several one. The last one that I can add to my ‘visited’ list is the one in Aberdeen.
It’s right at the end of the Aberdeen Reservoir Road and we walked past it on our way down from the day hike from Wan Chai to Aberdeen – so we just walked inside and explored it.
This temple was founded by some Aberdeen fishermen in 1851, who looked after the protection of he goddess for the safety of the sea. Back then it sat at the shoreline. Of course, after several reclamation projects it is now away from the coast and surrounded by bustling streets.
It is a typical Tin Hau temple. Apart from the main hall, there are side halls on both sides with shrines of two gods – Keen Eye and Super Ear. Other deities like Tam Kung, Kwun Yum and Wong Tai Sin are also worshipped here.
The temple had undergone renovations in 1873 and 1898. In 1999, the Chinese Temples Committee rebuilt the temple, preserving the undamaged temple ridge and stone columns. That’s why it still looks fairly new!
The temple sits at 182 Aberdeen Main Road and is open from 8am to 5pm daily. I would not go out of my way to visit it, but if you are in Aberdeen anyway, just go inside and explore it.
I’m sure you have visited the one in Sai Kung but it is always worth a visit. A lot of the renovations are a bit disappointing. Che Kung was not what I expected. Its good if they preserve as much as they can of the older buildings.