A routine visit to Wong Tai Sin Temple has escalated into a heated confrontation between a worshipper and an incense vendor, reigniting long-standing public frustration over aggressive sales tactics outside one of Hong Kong’s most popular religious sites.
The incident was shared last Wednesday on the social media platform Threads. According to the post, an elderly vendor intercepted the visitor near an MTR exit and asked whether she had come “to pray or express gratitude.”
After the visitor replied that she had come to pray, the woman immediately placed a bundle of incense in her hands and demanded HK$10.
Aware that the temple provides free incense, the visitor tried to return it, but the vendor refused. She insisted that “everyone buys here” and that returning incense after accepting it would bring bad luck, urging the visitor to pay as a gesture of respect for an elder.
When the visitor continued to refuse and returned the incense, the vendor reportedly raised her voice. “What kind of person won’t even give HK$10? No one refuses to pay after taking it!” she shouted.
The post quickly drew widespread attention, with many worshippers saying such encounters have become routine at Wong Tai Sin. Some described it as “another day in Wong Tai Sin,” noting that similar practices have persisted for more than two decades.
One pregnant woman recounted a particularly disturbing encounter, saying a vendor chased her and struck her stomach with incense after she declined to buy. “I immediately pointed at her and yelled. It was truly insane,” she wrote.
Other users shared similar experiences, including being charged HK$400 for incense for a family, and being sold low-quality joss paper and candles that had been rejected by the temple.
In response, netizens exchanged tips on how to avoid aggressive vendors, such as using alternative exits from Temple Mall or bypassing the main MTR exit. Others suggested avoiding eye contact, not responding to approaches, and walking directly into the temple.
Some even joked about replying with unexpected remarks, such as saying “Jesus loves you” or pretending to be clergy.
At the same time, several commenters noted that not all vendors behave this way. One elderly woman near Exit B1 was praised for selling good-quality incense at nine sticks for HK$5 without pressuring customers.
