Beautiful Sha Tau Kok – The Cheung Shan Monastery
The Cheung Shan Monastery, formerly the Cheung Sang Nunnery, was believed to have been constructed in 1789. Seven villages in the neighborhood pulled the funds to build this temple in order to improve Feng Shui for the villages. Located on Wo Keng Shan Road, it is about half-way on the route to China during the old times. It used to serve as a rest stop for travelers.
The wooden plaque of the temple dates back to 1868, when the temple was reconstructed for the first time. The motifs on the sides of the gate describe the roughness of a long journey, then ended with the temple’s tranquility as a place of respite to the travelers. As a stop for travelers, the temple offered room and board. As many as 30 travelers could stay in the side chambers.
There were antique structures and instruments of worship inside the Temple. The old bell shows the wording “peace be with the nation and its people.” It also alludes to the villages. The bell dates from the earliest time of the temple’s existence circa 1789, the 54th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty, when it began as the Cheung Sang Nunnery.
In 1998, the government named the structure an antique monument. The temple went through restoration and reopened in 1999. As it stands now, the Cheung Shan Monastery is a very good example of Qing dynasty architecture. It has one main hall with side chambers, and two entrances. The inner chamber elevates by one meter.
Due to the availability of new routes connecting Hong Kong and China, the ancient journey to China via this part of the New Territories has long been in disuse. It is fair to say that the temple is now all but forgotten. Perhaps except for the once-a-year ghost festival in July of the lunar calendar. That is when villagers will gather for worship and scripture chanting.
How to get there
I went by private car. For public transport, take Minibus 55k and get off at Wo Keng Shan Road, then walk on Wo Keng Shan Road for about 10 to 15 minutes. The temple is on your right.
Sources:
Somanhing.com, on Cheung Shan Monastery (in Chinese).
Fushantang.com, on Cheung Shan Monastery (in Chinese).