Man Mo Temple

Building · Soho

Man Mo Temple

Building · Soho

124-126 Hollywood Rd, Tai Ping Shan, Hong Kong

Highlights

Tucked into Central, Man Mo Temple charms with its 1800s vibes, swirling incense coils, and peaceful old-world grace amid the city buzz.

124-126 Hollywood Rd, Tai Ping Shan, Hong Kong Get directions

man-mo-temple.hk

@afar

"Man Mo Temple was built by wealthy Chinese merchants between 1847 and 1862 as a tribute to the God of Literature ( man ) and the God of War ( mo ). Both deities were worshiped by ambitious students eager to succeed in the rigorous civil examinations of imperial China; good grades paved the way for a prestigious career in government administration. Today, tucked in the shadows of hulking apartment towers on busy Hollywood Road, it’s Hong Kong Island’s oldest temple and probably its most well known. The dimly lit Man Mo, with its carved wooden panels, ornate ceramic figurines, plaster moldings, murals, and giant incense coils hanging from the ceiling, feels wonderfully ethereal. A visit to Man Mo is a step off the grid in frenetic Hong Kong ."

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Maruko X.

Yelp

Man Mo Temple is a two hall and three bay structure fronted by two granite drum platforms. The temple has imperative historical and social values to the territory, which has represented the traditional social organization and religious practices of the community in old times.

Max S.

Yelp

It is nice inside. It is what you expect from a traditional temple. The colors are predominately red and gold. The interior of the temple is engulfed in incense smoke. Even though this temple is located in the middle of the city, there are not hundreds of tourists. The walk to and from is also a fairly quiet one because of the surrounding neighborhood.

Dani S.

Yelp

A very small temple in the Central area of Hong Kong. This was suppose to be a major tourist attraction and it was just ok. The temple is located on a very tiny street corner, the grounds were kind of old and beat down. Very small, and crowded. It really just looked like someone's house, with a make-do temple. I would skip this and go to one of the bigger temples that are not in the busiest part of town.

Kelsey C.

Yelp

One of my favorite things about Hong Kong is its juxtaposition of cosmopolitan-modern and old-China tradition. I especially love how a traditional temple sits between skyscrapers. It's small on the outside, stunning within. Dedicated to the literature and martial gods, its popularity in a fast-paced city with cut-throat competition is pretty self-explanatory. And it's gorgeous inside. A bit smoky from all the incense, but it's intimate and peaceful. I love this temple. In a city that's always moving, it's a place to stand still and to reflect on and appreciate everything you've seen.

Ryan C.

Yelp

Located on a busy street, it doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you get inside, it's quite serene and fascinating. Now, I'm sure timing is everything. I went mid-afternoon during the week and it was starting to rain. Foot traffic was light and I felt like I pretty much had the grounds to myself. When you go right, it's a smaller alter with with memorial plaques and statues. If you don't continue to explore when you hit the courtyard, you'll miss the best part. The main hall of the temple has lanterns laid out in the center, and when you look up, there are beautiful spiral pieces holding incense. Take it all in, and if you're wearing dark colors, know that you're gonna walk out ashy (the remnants fall to the floor), so be aware if you have big fancy plans after the fact. I like the smell, so I didn't mind one bit. It's free to check things out and you can take pictures of pretty much everything. For the things that are prohibited, there are signs clearing stating it's a no photo zone - just be mindful. Even if you throughly look at everything, you'll be in about a half hour. Take a few bucks to donate when you're done!

Tatiana M.

Yelp

This was one of the stops w/ the Big Bus Tour, red line and we saw it wasn't crowded so we gave it a try. The temple was build in the 1800's and they had a lot of renovations going on. Since there aren't any signs or inner guides I "donated" $10 HKD for a booklet and that was totally worth it: it explained all about the gods Man and Mo, the different sections of the temple, what the different gods are about and also details on worship by followers. Outside there was this beautiful pink tree with a carriage and they let you take pictures there. It gets hot so drink plenty of water and step in and out as many times as you need. You can walk the whole place in like 40 minutes, using the booklet I mentioned before. What I liked the most is that while I was there several believers walked in and I saw them offering inciense sticks, flowers, Fruits, lighting candles, praying and hitting a drum. I enjoyed the experience on how other people's religious believes may differ from mine, but at the end they are kind of the same. I recommend this for adults, I don't think kids fully will enjoy/understand it.

Dan P.

Yelp

Man Mo is small, the time spent is usually short, but the experience is humbling and spiritual and can set you on the right tone for the day. I'd recommend getting in here early, having a quick look around, and then jetting off to your major destination for the day. When I visited it was undergoing construction maintenance, to preserve the original temple, so one had to be careful. There was a set path and area that we were able to view, and the rest was cordoned off so repair work could be undertaken without tourist interruption. When visiting, as others have suggested, be discreet, don't flash photograph, and be aware of others around you, who may be in the middle of their own spiritual journey. For those who know me, I have a fixated fascination with lights of all kinds, and this can be seen in the photos that I take. Man Mo was no exception, and I was really drawn by the lighting and overall atmosphere of the internal temple. It's location on Hollywood Road makes it an ideal pop-in after you've exhausted your patience with the endless antique shops!

Christine S.

Yelp

Besides checking out the cathedral, another religious place we visited was Man Mo Temple. This popular little temple is dedicated to King Emperor Man and Holy King Emperor Kwan. It is small, so you can definitely finish checking it out in less than 20 minutes. Some parts of the temple were beautiful and great for photos. But don't interfere with the people that are actually there to pray or worship! The incense and smoke gets a little bit much, so we didn't stay too long since we wanted fresh air.

Sarah N.

Yelp

A great temple nestled amongst the vast growth of Hong Kong. You are hoofing up hills and steps and it kind of appears out of nowhere. Built in 1840 according to text surrounding the spot, really a great treasure that has been preserved to the area. Not huge and worthy of a stop by if you are in the area. No charge, but be respectful and follow signage on rules (no drinks, smoking, etc.) You feel the 150 years of history and the 21st century collide a bit at this spot. Across the street is a shaded public park to sit and take it all in.

Austen M.

Yelp

I'm probably gonna create some sort of bad karma for myself with this review, but I need to be honest about this temple. Due to a nearby cyclone things we could do in Hong Kong were very limited, so I searched out this temple on yelp. It had good reviews so I thought I would check it out. The temple is very small and there was a lot of worshippers there. If it's your religion then I am sure the place would mean a lot more to you, but for a plain old non religious tourist it was a bit less interesting than I had imagined from other reviews. There is a few statues, some candles and a whole lot of incense being burnt and that's it really. In my mind I am afraid this should not be considered a tourist site. 3 stars at most and not one to rush to.

Kerry B.

Yelp

On my first visit to Hong Kong, the Man Mo Temple featured prominently on my 'to do' list. I have now been there many, many times (I always take visiting friends and relations), and the place still takes my breath away. Quite literally, the incense can be totally overwhelming! But, jokes aside, this is still a worth while stop on any tourist's agenda. Sidebar, it's also a very handy land mark to give taxi drivers when you want to go to Hollywood Road and you end up with a driver who doesn't understand your accent! The main room of the temple is filled with incense cones carrying prayers to heaven on their smoke. The temple is dedicated to deities representing 'martial' and 'civil' and tourists aren't the only ones who use it on a daily basis. The temple is in use, so be respectful and don't disturb worshipers in your quest for the perfect photo. This is easier said than done, as there are loads of beautiful things here that you will want to capture, just remember that it is actually an alter and not just a still life arrangement there for your benefit.

Joshua B.

Yelp

I was here earlier this year during Chinese New Year. Beautiful place, but small and will not take that long to see. I wouldn't go out of your way, but if it is near then stop by. Really nice atmosphere during the new year. Trees blossoming outside were really cool too!

Jeanee V.

Yelp

Beautiful small temple... definitely worth while taking the time to visit. Be aware not to walk in front of someone that is praying and be respectful by taking photos at a minimum.

David E.

Yelp

This was a beautiful experience. Be respectful, avoid taking pictures (or just be respectful when doing so), and try to stay to the side. It is spiritual experience. It's a whole different world. Do it. (singing) "A whole new world ....."

Christine A.

Yelp

On a three week journey though China, Korea and Japan, Man Mo Temple was my favorite of all temples and shrines we toured. Built in 1847 A.D., it is small for Chinese standards and is dedicated to the King Emperor Man and Holy King Emperor Kwan. Both gods were human; "Man" the civil God had jurisdiction over destinies of government officials. "Kwan", the Martial God, was a great warrior and associated with righteousness and loyalty. You will find it easily by following Hollywood Road towards the smell of incense. Lovely and small without anyone to take a donation or entry fee, it welcomes the common person. Incense is free but you are asked to take only three. The gift shop is quaint and charming with many items created by the temple Monks and local community. I selected a number of sweet charms and Chinese zodiac characters to take home. The temple is graded as a Grade 1 Historic Building in Hong Kong as it showcases lots of traditional crafts.

Kaleen H.

Yelp

Very small temple. I wouldn't say it's worth the trip if you're more than 10 mins away. I was unimpressed, then again it is just simply holy grounds for people to pray. But there are far more grand and interesting temples to spend your time traveling to in Hong Kong. I'd pass this one up

Linda M.

Yelp

Man Mo Temple is located right in Central. Used as an active temple so be sure to be considerate of anyone practicing. There are several altars to different gods. People light incense as offerings. Small gift shop available.

Anthony C.

Yelp

The small size is compensated by the big experience; this is a beautifully decorated temple which was a highlight of our Hong Kong visit.

Catsi C.

Yelp

Found at the heart of Hollywood Road, the atmospheric Man Mo Temple pays tribute to the God of Literature.

Janice T.

Yelp

This is on my to-do list that I give all my visitors to Hong Kong. It's so close to the city centre yet it brings you a bit of nostalgic Hong Kong into play. it is located up the street from Central/Sheung Wan area so when tourists do the whole Soho thing, they can easily drop by to check it out. it is situated amongst antique shops, and the antique street, so it makes it extremely easy to just go check it out. It's free to enter, you can choose to buy incense for fun or to pay your respects. If you have any friends who are photography fanatics, that is even better, because the interior of the temple makes an excellent photo spot. Whenever I go, i find that it is really busy with grandmas and moms praying. It's got a very zen feeling to the temple, it's very peaceful to just go there and stroll around. I highly recommend bringing tourists here, as I have said previously, just because whenever people come to Hong Kong, they will want to see the "true, authentic" Hong Kong... but seriously, friends, common Hong Kongers, we all know what the "true, authentic" hong kong is, it's high rises, it's parties in LKF, it's the restaurant selection. People of HK don't go regularly to temples, at least my circle of friends/family. They love it, I promise you. And then you can go on about to soho/lkf to show them what REALLY is hong kong.

Esther L.

Yelp

When we went, there were a lot of people coming to pray. Take minimal pictures, be respectful and enjoy.

Crazy Bernie S.

Yelp

How can one give such an old awesome temple anything but 5 stars. We go here every time we come to HK. Love to watch the people pray so intensely. Wish I had that much faith in something. Love the smell.

@afar

What to Do in Hong Kong Now

View Postcard for Man Mo Temple

@afar

If You Only Have Three Days in Hong Kong

View Postcard for Man Mo Temple

Maruko X.

Yelp

Max S.

Yelp

Dani S.

Yelp

Kelsey C.

Yelp

Ryan C.

Yelp

Tatiana M.

Yelp

Dan P.

Yelp

Christine S.

Yelp

Sarah N.

Yelp

Austen M.

Yelp

Kerry B.

Yelp

Joshua B.

Yelp

Jeanee V.

Yelp

Beautiful small temple... definitely worth while taking the time to visit. Be aware not to walk in front of someone that is praying and be respectful by taking photos at a minimum.

David E.

Yelp

Christine A.

Yelp

Kaleen H.

Yelp

Linda M.

Yelp

Anthony C.

Yelp

The small size is compensated by the big experience; this is a beautifully decorated temple which was a highlight of our Hong Kong visit.

Catsi C.

Yelp

Found at the heart of Hollywood Road, the atmospheric Man Mo Temple pays tribute to the God of Literature.

Janice T.

Yelp

Esther L.

Yelp

When we went, there were a lot of people coming to pray. Take minimal pictures, be respectful and enjoy.

Crazy Bernie S.

Yelp

Man Mo Temple

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