Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2019 | Page 3

The Trip To Tin Hau
Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary & Primary School,
Liu, Cheuk Ue Ally - 8
If I ask you what is Tin Hau, you may answer it is MTR Station. However, it is not just name of an MTR
Station. It means a lot more to Hong Kong than that. Tin Hau is a Chinese goddess. Who is she? How many
temple of her are in Hong Kong? Why is her birthday important to Hong Kong fishermen? Now let me take
you on an interesting trip, so we will know more about Tin Hau after that. Wish you a great journey of Tin
Hau! Let’s go!
At the first station, let me tell you who Tin Hau was. Tin Hau was a normal lady. In a Chinese fairy tale, she
became a goddess of the sea at the end of the story. She was the goddess who protected the famous Ming
Admiral Zheng He during his seven treasure voyages. Usually the fishermen will pray to her because they
wish that Tin Hau will protect them from the wind and storm when they go for fishery. Tin Hau is also
known as “Mazu”. When people pray to her, they will bring fruit, flowers and some paper money to burn.
Next station, we shall visit Tin Hau’s home -- the Tin Hau temple! If you want to go to any of the Tin Hau
temples, it’s not hard. There may be one next to your home! In Hong Kong, there are over 60 Tin Hau
temples. They are located in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories. The most famous one is the
one in Yung Shue Tau (Yau Ma Tei) because it is surrounded by the popular Temple Street Night Market.
The name Temple Street gets its name from Tin Hau Temple. You may want to know why there are so
many Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong. Hong Kong was a fishery village many many years ago and fishery
was an important activity. Because Tin Hau would protect the fishermen, she became very popular. People
liked to visit Tin Hau temples and it would be convenient to have one next to their home.
Now we know more about Tin Hau. It is not just the name of one of the MTR stations. It’s about a famous
Chinese goddess of Hong Kong. It is an important part of Hong Kong culture.