Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Eye of God at Newchurch in Pendle
St. Govor’s Well.
St. Govor’s Well
Shivsrushti
Pierced domes of Hammam Seffarine.
Hammam Seffarine
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The 2,653-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail spans the entire West Coast from Canada to Mexico.
Meet the Volunteers Who Keep Thru-Hikers Moving
2 days ago
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House building on the U.S.-Canadian border.
Could New Border Restrictions Literally Tear the Haskell Free Library Apart?
3 days ago
A woman peering into the cave of Sarah Bishop c. 1900.
The Curious History of New England’s Hermit Tourism
3 days ago
The Big Well
This Kansas Town Advertised the World’s Largest Well. It Wasn’t.
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Hong Kong Man Mo Temple Complex

Man Mo Temple Complex

A serene space tucked amid the skyscrapers of Hong Kong's bustling financial district.

Hong Kong

Added By
Jaszmina Szendrey
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Large incense spirals   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Large incense spirals   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Deities on the altar   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Large incense spirals   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Detail of the roof   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Detail of the roof   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Man Mo Temple Complex (from left to right): Man Mo Temple, Lit Shing Temple, Kung So   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Man Mo Temple Complex is a delicate building in the shadows of the skyscrapers of the financial district. It represents the traditional social organisation and religious practices of the Chinese community in old Hong Kong.

The complex, built between 1847 and 1862, during the Qing dynasty by wealthy Chinese merchants, comprises of three parts: Man Mo Temple, Lit Shing Kung and Kung So. Man Mo Temple is dedicated to two deities, the God of Literature (Man Tai), holding a writing brush, and the God of Martial Arts (Mo Tai), having a sword. Both of them were worshipped by ambitious scholars and students seeking progress in their study or high ranking in the civil examinations of Imperial China. Lit Shing Kung was built for the worship of all the Chinese heavenly gods. Whereas, Kung So was an important assembly hall where community affairs and disputes could be discussed and settled.

The complex is a fine example of traditional Chinese architecture and craftsmanship. The temple’s most memorable features are the rows of large red-coloured incense spirals suspended from the ceiling which are burned as offerings by worshippers. They take a couple of weeks to burn through. It provides a serene space in contrast with the hectic pace of the nearby financial district.

The temple is also featured in a video game, Shenmue II for the Dreamcast and Xbox consoles. The temple and its grounds can be explored in the game. However, the virtual location of the temple is different from reality.

Related Tags

Temples

Community Contributors

Added By

Jaszmina Szendrey

Edited By

aribrown

  • aribrown

Published

November 1, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.discoverhongkong.com/us/see-do/culture-heritage/chinese-temples/man-mo-temple.jsp
  • http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/en/monuments_96.php
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Mo_Temple_(Hong_Kong)
Man Mo Temple Complex
124-126 Hollywood Rd
Hong Kong
22.283884, 114.150181

Nearby Places

Lin Heung Tea House

Hong Kong

miles away

Central-Mid-Levels Escalators

Hong Kong

miles away

Duddell Street Lamps

Hong Kong

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Asia

Places 30
Stories 13

Nearby Places

Lin Heung Tea House

Hong Kong

miles away

Central-Mid-Levels Escalators

Hong Kong

miles away

Duddell Street Lamps

Hong Kong

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Asia

Places 30
Stories 13

Related Places

  • Chhokangparo, Nepal

    Tsum Valley

    A remote area dotted with Buddhist temples and monasteries.

  • Pune, India

    Baloba Munja Mandir

    This temple, in the oldest area of Pune, may date back to the second century.

  • Thotagamuwa, Sri Lanka

    Aluviharaya Rock Cave Temple

    Ancient cave temple near a massive Buddha statue.

  • Jiji Township, Taiwan

    Jiji Wuchang Temple

    This lopsided, earthquake-damaged temple stands as a testament to Taiwan’s resilience.

  • Another view of this one-of-a-kind temple.

    Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Wat Sri Suphan

    This sensational silver temple is the product of centuries of metalworking.

  • The Augustus Temple.

    Ankara, Turkey

    Temple of Augustus

    The ruins of a Roman temple from 1st Century BC with the only preserved inscription of “The Deeds of the Divine Augustus.”

  • Nageshwar (Maharashtra)

    Pune, India

    Replicas of Jyotirlinga Temples

    Twelve model temples sit inside this 900-year old Hindu complex.

  • Courtyard temple only entrance via cave

    Ipoh, Malaysia

    Tasik Cermin (Mirror Lake) Geopark

    Home to secret lakes and hidden temples.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.