Man Mo Temple

You’ll probably smell Man Mo Temple before you get there, as worshippers light enough giant incense coils within to turn the air an odd shade of blue and ensure everyone who enters leaves with a distinctive but pleasant Taoist perfume. Originally built in 1847, Man Mo is Hong Kong’s most famous temple, dedicated to the gods of literature and war. Students make up a significant portion of devotees who come seeking divine aid in their studies.

Within the temple, look for a statue of a man in green robes with a writing brush. This is one of the gods for which the temple is named -- Man Chung, the god of literature. Statues of Kwan Yu, the Chinese god of war, flank the main alter. As a famous general known for his martial successes, Kwan Yu is sometimes considered the deity of both the police force and the Chinese triads.

If you’re feeling particularly superstitious on your visit to Man Mo Temple, head into the hall to the right of the entrance to have your fortune told by an English-speaking teller who will divine your future using several bamboo sticks and a cup.