Yuk Hui Temple (Pak Tai Temple) — Attraction in Hong Kong

The most interesting and beautiful temple to visit on Cheung Chau is the Pak Tai (Yuk Hui) Temple on Pak She Street. The is a Grade I Historical Building built in 1783. Opening hours are 7am to 5pm daily.

The temple has Qing Dynasty characteristics including a beautiful facade with decorative murals. It is fronted by guardian lions. Within the are a separate halls connected by moon gate passageways. You will find expected shrines with deity figures, hanging incense coils, ancient drum and bell and nice wood carvings. You will also find beautifully carved dragon pillars and nice mosaic murals of a tiger and dragon in the two side halls.

In one of the side halls, there are two information panels describing the temple architecture in more detail and providing good description of the various temple highlights to look out for while exploring its grounds.

Note: The Pak Tai Temple is the scene of the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival when worshippers come to seek blessings from Pak Tai. It can be very crowded at this time of the year.

Overall, if you are going to visit just one temple during your time on Cheung Chau, this is the one to find. The Pak Tai is the most impressive and interesting historic attraction on the island and a place well worth dedicating some...

長洲玉虛宮（北帝廟）是著名的古廟，建於乾隆四十八年(一七八三年)，有二百多年歷史，獲古物諮詢委員會評定為一級歷史建築物(具特別重要價值而必須盡可能予以保存的建築物)。

建廟沿革

長洲最早為原籍惠州、潮州及廣州的漁民聚居地。他們信奉神明庇蔭，使舟楫平安。北帝是海神，即漁民的守護神。據稱，在乾隆四十二年(一七七七年)，疫症肆虐長洲，當地漁民即赴惠陽縣迎北帝神像到長洲鎮壓；自此島民安居樂業。因此，林煜武於乾隆四十八年(一七八三年)領導長洲惠籍居民集資建廟奉祀北帝。

北帝

又稱「真武大帝」、「玄武神」及「玄天上帝」等，法相為披髮持劍，赤足分踏龜蛇，統領北斗星群，古人相信祭拜北帝可求壽。此外北方屬水，故北帝屬水神，因南方的水來自北方，故南人相信祭祀北帝，能息水患和保舟楫安全。北帝信仰沿於星宿崇拜，後漸為人格化。據道經所述，北帝為太上老君化身，後託身皇子，於武當山修道得成正果，再得玉帝封為太玄，鎮守北方。也有指北帝為淨樂國王子，修煉後功得圓滿，再協助武王蕩平群魔，被封玉虛師相，玄天上帝。

由於北帝廟歷史悠久，廟內有琳瑯滿目的古物珍品供人觀賞，包括一柄早年由漁民網得奉於廟內的宋朝大鐵劍及魚骨、一座製於光緒二十年(一八九四年)的行輿、一個咸豐十一年(一八六一年)製的石鼎及兩條石雕龍柱。此外，為紀念英國瑪嘉烈公主及斯諾敦伯爵伉儷於一九六六年到訪此廟，一位鍾姓女士特別打造了一頂金冠以誌盛況；而華人廟宇委員會於一九五九年鑄造了一對銅香爐，紀念護督白嘉時於當年蒞臨此廟參觀。

其他神祇

除北帝外，廟內亦供奉太歲、觀音及列聖。

北帝誕/包山節(太平清醮)

每年的農曆三月初三，是北帝誕，善信均虔誠敬拜，祈求合境平安。該廟善信皆為島上水陸居民，香火最盛時期為北帝誕及於農曆四月舉行的包山節期間。長洲的太平清醮，原為酬謝保境安民的玄天上帝神恩，習俗相沿歷史悠久。醮場設於東灣及北帝廟前廣場。節目包括打醮、神功戲、搶包山及會景巡遊等項目，是長洲居民及旅遊人士一年一度的盛事。

重修

該廟曾分別於道光二年(一八二二年)、道光十八年(一八三八年)、咸豐八年(一八五八年)、光緒廿九年(一九零三年)及一九八九年重修。最近一次重修工程於一九九九年展開，二零零三年竣工，由華人廟宇委員會斥...

Yuk Hui Temple 玉虛宮 also known as Pak Tai Temple (北帝廟), is a taoist temple located on the island of Cheung Chau, Hong Kong. This historical temple still well maintain by the locals. And many chinese come...