Wong Tai Sin Temple opens for first incense ritual from 9pm on Lunar New Year’s Eve

As the Year of the Horse approaches, Wong Tai Sin Temple will welcome worshippers for its long-standing first incense offering from 9pm on Lunar New Year’s Eve. 

According to Sik Sik Yuen’s announcement, the temple will close at 4.30pm for preparations and reopen at 9pm for visitors on February 16 (Mon). 

Worshippers can offer their first incense sticks to the Great Immortal Wong, or Wong Tai Sin, starting from 11pm at the temple. 

A one-way route and crowd-control measures will be enforced in the shrine. No designated areas will be available for drawing fortune sticks, prostration or making offerings. 

The temple will stay open overnight until 9pm on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Visitors are reminded not to bring paper offerings, Yuanbao candles, raw oil or large incense sticks.

From the second to the fourteenth day of the Lunar New Year, the temple will open from 7.30am to 6pm daily, extending to 9pm on Lantern Festival (Mar 3).

With Valentine’s Day nearby, the recently refurbished Yue Lao (Matchmaker) Hall will operate until 9pm on February 13 and 14, allowing visitors to pray for love and tie red threads.

On Lantern Festival night (Mar 3), entrants after 6pm will receive a small luminous souvenir. Photo spots will be set up, and visitors are encouraged to wear festive attire.

Chief Executive Doris Sin Pik-shan estimates 20,000 to 40,000 people for the first incense ritual. Last year saw about 23,000 visitors—slightly below expectations—as many now spread visits across the first 15 days rather than crowding New Year’s Eve.

She expects nearly 1 million total visits during the festive period, similar to last year. 

Around 200–300 volunteers and security staff will be on duty daily, with extra support on weekends. 

The temple will coordinate closely with police and government departments on crowd management at entry and exit points.