"Birthday of Che Kung | AboutHK.Com - more information about HK"

The city of Hong Kong

pulsates with a vivid range of dazzling and astounding festivities.

Each of them reveals a rich culture and an authentic custom of the Chinese. Birthday of Che Kung, Hong Kong is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Che Kung who was a prominent general of the Sung Dynasty. After saving the people of Sha Tin he achieved Buddhist immortality.

On the auspicious occasion of the Birthday of Che Kung the Hong Kong people and the devotees from abroad gather in this temple to offer prayers. Located near the Hong Kong Jockey Club"s Sha Tin Racecourse (horse race is a legal form of gambling in Hong Kong), this temple is thronged by a huge number of people especially on this day. It dates back to some 300 years to the conclusion of the Ming Dynasty. At present it is housed in a modern building. The temple features a main altar, the upper limit of which consists of a drum and a bell. The main worship hall comprises of a stupendous and marvelous statue of Che Kung. Adjacent to it is the Wheel of Fortune. Many of them head towards the temple in order to receive Che Kung"s good luck. Devotees spin the Wheel of Fortune thrice to ascertain good fortune in the new year. They also seek advices from the fortune-tellers seated in the corridor of this temple.

On Birthday of Che Kung, Hong Kong his followers pay him homage by burning joss sticks and spinning the Wheel of Fortune which is said to usher in good fortune. Though the temple is renovated recently, the heavy rush at times makes it difficult for the people to spin the Wheel properly. One can pay donations if one wishes to.

The nearest station to the temple is Tai Wai which is served by the Kowloon Canton Railway. It is a 15 minute walk along the Che Kung Temple Road from the station.
Hong Kong celebrates some more similar festivals, like Birthday of Tin Hau, Tam Kung"s Birthday, Buddha"s Birthday and Kwan Tai"s Birthday. Other events include Le French May Festival of Arts, Dragon Boat Festival, Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, Hong Kong Flower Show, Hong Kong International Film Festival and Hong Kong Arts Festival. Each of these events has a unique flavor and charm of its own.

Hong Kong"s gamblers have their own god to bring them good luck for the year. Che Kung, a Sung Dynasty general, became an immortal and was elevated to a Taoist deity after he saved the inhabitants of Sha Tin Valley in the New Territories from a plague. This centuries-old tradition is celebrated by thousands of believers who flock to his temple to wish him happy birthday on the second or the third day of Lunar New Year.

The temple, which coincidentally lies near the Hong Kong Jockey Club"s Sha Tin Racecourse, has been renovated and is a popular place of worship. Many seeking Che Kung"s good fortune visit the temple to consult fortune-tellers, who turn a fan-bladed wheel of fortune three times to ensure good luck in the comi