One of the oldest and most famous and beautiful temples in Hong Kong is Man Mo Temple (文武庙 wén wǔ miào). It is located at the intersection of Hollywood Road and Ladder Street. The temple was built in the 1800s, at the beginning of the British colonial rule. A copper bell in the temple, made during the reign of Emperor Daoguang (1820-1850), proudly proclaims the temple's long history.

Although it has been remodeled several times, the temple still maintains its original appearance. Inside the temple are delicate wooden bases used for transporting deities during parades and festivals and incense burners made of copper and other metals. Huge tower-shaped incense coils are always hanging from the ceiling of the hall and over the courtyard. And the smoke of the burning incense, together with the sunbeams, adds an element of mystery to the temple and indicates happiness, health and fortune.

The temple is a perfect combination of Taoism (道教 dào jiào )and Buddhism (佛教 fó jiào ). Two deities are worshiped side by side in the temple shrine. They are Wenchang (文昌 wén chāng )and Guan Yu (关羽 guān yǔ ). Wenchang, with a brush in his hand, takes charge of literature, especially during the imperial examinations, which determined a man's official rank in feudal times. Guan Yu, holding a sword in his hand, is in charge of war. There are statues of other Chinese gods as well, like Baogong, the symbol of justice and the town god who protects the whole city.

In these days, the temple is still popular. During the Spring Festival, many children, accompanied by their parents, pay a visit to the temple to pray for good grades in a new semester. Usually, the pilgrims to the temple are people from the business circles and the financial community, donating from two or three hundred yuan to more than ten thousand yuan.

Address: Hollywood Rd & Ladder St, Western District,Hong Kong,China
Tel: 00852-2803 2916
Opening hours: 8.00am to 6.00pm daily. Admission fee: Free
How to get there: Visitors can take No.26 bus at the Landmark on Des Voeux Road Central and get off at the second stop of Hollywood Road and then they can walk to the Man Mo Temple.