With incense smoke rising above the worshippers during the "Kwun Yam Treasury Opening Festival," snaking queues of Thai tourists have transformed the streets outside Hung Hom's Kwun Yam Temple into a scene straight out of Bangkok.
The annual festival, deeply rooted in traditional folklore, celebrates the day when Kwun Yam, the Goddess of Mercy, is believed to open her divine treasury to bestow blessings upon devotees on the 26th day of the first lunar month.
However, a recent viral social media post revealed a surprising twist to the local customs as hundreds of Thai tourists were seen packing Hung Hom's Kwun Yam Temple.
In the post, a worshipper who visited the temple yesterday (Mar 14) shared his surprising sighting of large groups of Thai tourists gathering and praying at the temple.
The uploaded pictures capture the Thai tourists holding incense and offerings, praying fervently while facing the road from outside the temple railings—a sight so surreal that the poster wrote: "I thought I was in Thailand."
In a subsequent update, the poster also photographed temple notices translated into Thai, providing information on prices of the offerings and prayer steps.
"Proof that Thais are now the main customers—even Kwun Yum Temple is providing translation in Thai," the poster exclaimed.
Another user noted that even Sha Tin's Che Kung Temple, another popular local spot, now features Thai signage.
The post has sparked heated discussion about the sudden influx of Thai visitors, with one commenter citing a hotel manager's account of a Thai influencer who won the lottery twice after visiting Kwun Yam Temple.
Another user attributed the surge to Thailand's environmental policies banning incense burning, which has driven devotees to seek worship opportunities in Hong Kong.
With tour buses arriving in droves, many online users see this as another opportunity for Hong Kong's tourism industry.
"This is temple economics—real money spent on flights and hotels, coming once early in the year and again at year-end. Truly boosting Hong Kong's economy!" one wrote.
For many locals, the influx of Thai worshippers represents an interesting cultural exchange, similar to how Hongkongers visit the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok.
Regarding the peculiar sight of Thai tourists praying outside the temple while facing the road, some explained that this might be part of their unique ritual before entering the temple.
