Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree
Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree
3.5
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
People believe that a giant banyan tree outside the Tin Hau Temple can make wishes come true.
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Neighborhood: New Territories
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
3.5
80 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
36
Average
18
Poor
7
Terrible
2
Dan Van Hoy
Hong Kong, China15 contributions
Mar 2020
I live just 1 km away from the famous Wishing Tree. It is easy to reach by bus (64K KMB double-deck or 25K green minibus-HK$6.3) from the Tai Wo MTR on the East Rail Line. If possible, bring a local resident with you who understands the process of making a wish and getting it on the Wishing Tree. Maximum time needed here, about 1 hour or less.
If you want to extend your visit there are two good options. Find your way down to the nearby Lam Tsuen River (there is a path at the right side of the Public Toilet, and take a delightful river walk as far as you can go, then turn to the left to get back to Lam Kam Road and busses back to Tai Wo MTR and Tai Po. Or, you can cross the road and take the 64K bus toward Yuen Long and an interesting tour of villages and industrial sites that most tourists never see. Yuen Long is also worth a visit. I call it the United Nations of Hong Kong. Great mix of people, shops and restaurants. Enjoy!
If you want to extend your visit there are two good options. Find your way down to the nearby Lam Tsuen River (there is a path at the right side of the Public Toilet, and take a delightful river walk as far as you can go, then turn to the left to get back to Lam Kam Road and busses back to Tai Wo MTR and Tai Po. Or, you can cross the road and take the 64K bus toward Yuen Long and an interesting tour of villages and industrial sites that most tourists never see. Yuen Long is also worth a visit. I call it the United Nations of Hong Kong. Great mix of people, shops and restaurants. Enjoy!
Written March 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
m3lody88
London, UK38 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
The location of the wishing tree is slightly out of the way as it is in a village, but it is easy to get to. You can take a bus from Tai Po Market bus station, which takes you directly outside. However, on the downside as you approach the entrance you get 'attacked' to buy the wishing scrolls etc.Don't be mistaken by the different methods of praying/wishing. There is the wishing by writing your wish which is attached to the orange which you throw onto the 'fake' wishing tree (which only costs $20, and then for the floating lantern I think it was something like $35... then both together was on offer for like $50 I think). You have to write your name, date and wish. And on the back there are multiple options which you can tick such as happiness and health, wish for a son and good fortune. And then there is the other method where you write your wish on a scroll (which was $5... but then if you wanted the additional stuff like the candles etc it was $70) and then you have to pray (and part of the package is burnt). You then hang the scroll with your wish on the board under your zodiac sign. The wishes can be written in Chinese or English and the people who sell it to you are very nice and informative who will teach you how to do it. It was a very nice visit especially because there were not many people there, which meant you could take your time to look around. Directly behind is a temple which you can either have a look around, or choose to pray etc. There are also 2 or 3 stalls there as well if you wanted to eat, have a drink or a snack. I had a mango grass jelly there which was very nice! The owner was very nice and even allowed us to come back just to sit and relax after we had finished seeing everything. Overall it was a very pleasant visit and I would go back again (take my friends to see it).
Written March 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BradJill
Hong Kong, China159,127 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
An interesting heritage based attraction up in Tai Po is the sight the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees, which have been long been a popular place for local villagers to come and wish for luck.
In the past, during festivals, worshippers would throw joss paper into the trees and make wishes. A belief was that the higher the branch, in which the joss paper would stick, the better the luck the worshipper would be granted.
Unfortunately, due to the popularity of the tradition, throngs of people from throughout Hong Kong began to join in the custom and the trees began to become quite weighted down with paper and other items lodged in their branches. In 2005, one of the large branches collapsed under the heavy weight and hurt two people.
Nowadays, the Wishing Trees have long been cleared of the joss paper wishes and are under protection to avoid being further damaged or destroyed. For those that want to make wishes at the site, there are now wooden racks, where you can put your joss papers after making your wishes.
Other interesting things to see at this attraction sight include the Lam Tsuen Wishing Square behind the roadside Wishing Tree, with a circular arrangement of the 12 zodiac animals statues. There is also a small 18th century Tin Hau Temple on location that can be visited as well.
Overall, there is unfortunately little to see here much of the year and the tree is now devoid of the joss papers that gave reason for past visits. The Wishing Trees are also very isolated from other HK based attractions, requiring a 10 minute bus ride from the Tai Wo or Tai Po Markets MTR stations.
Hint: The best time of year to experience the Wishing Tree is during the annual 'Well-wishing Festival' which takes place around the Chinese New Year holiday period and usually lasts around 2 weeks.
Hint: The best way to travel to/from the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees is to take bus 64 (large red bus) or 25K (light green bus) from the bus terminuses found at the MTR Stations. They make a stop directly outside the Wishing Trees. Just tell the driver when you enter the bus that you want to stop there.
In the past, during festivals, worshippers would throw joss paper into the trees and make wishes. A belief was that the higher the branch, in which the joss paper would stick, the better the luck the worshipper would be granted.
Unfortunately, due to the popularity of the tradition, throngs of people from throughout Hong Kong began to join in the custom and the trees began to become quite weighted down with paper and other items lodged in their branches. In 2005, one of the large branches collapsed under the heavy weight and hurt two people.
Nowadays, the Wishing Trees have long been cleared of the joss paper wishes and are under protection to avoid being further damaged or destroyed. For those that want to make wishes at the site, there are now wooden racks, where you can put your joss papers after making your wishes.
Other interesting things to see at this attraction sight include the Lam Tsuen Wishing Square behind the roadside Wishing Tree, with a circular arrangement of the 12 zodiac animals statues. There is also a small 18th century Tin Hau Temple on location that can be visited as well.
Overall, there is unfortunately little to see here much of the year and the tree is now devoid of the joss papers that gave reason for past visits. The Wishing Trees are also very isolated from other HK based attractions, requiring a 10 minute bus ride from the Tai Wo or Tai Po Markets MTR stations.
Hint: The best time of year to experience the Wishing Tree is during the annual 'Well-wishing Festival' which takes place around the Chinese New Year holiday period and usually lasts around 2 weeks.
Hint: The best way to travel to/from the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees is to take bus 64 (large red bus) or 25K (light green bus) from the bus terminuses found at the MTR Stations. They make a stop directly outside the Wishing Trees. Just tell the driver when you enter the bus that you want to stop there.
Written October 2, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
heatherbeemw
1 contribution
Sep 2013
I went to Hong Kong on a business trip. I had a half day to discover the City and ended up here. I agree that the the other reviews in that the tree is fragile. I made a wish...it was a bit silly for a grown women. My wish was that I would find love. I already had a man I mind. But he was just a friend. Two years later we were dating, two years after that we were married, three years after that we had our first child. I would say that if you are in Hong Kong, you need to visit and make a wish...it might just come true.
Written August 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aomori
Hong Kong, China510 contributions
Feb 2014 • Friends
This is an interesting place to visit, especially during Chinese new year period.
There's a wishing tree there at Lam Tsuen, and to make a wish, you can buy the special set - with the artificial orange tied with the 'wishing list'. You can write down your wish (or like multiple choice, you just 'tick' those 'wishes' that you'd like to make) and throw it up to the tree until it hangs there.
You can also find traditional Chinese stalls around the places, e.g. selling traditional Chinese snacks in the old days, or some Chinese souvenirs......
It's near to Tai Po station, if you've time , please don't miss the time to visit here in Hong Kong.
There's a wishing tree there at Lam Tsuen, and to make a wish, you can buy the special set - with the artificial orange tied with the 'wishing list'. You can write down your wish (or like multiple choice, you just 'tick' those 'wishes' that you'd like to make) and throw it up to the tree until it hangs there.
You can also find traditional Chinese stalls around the places, e.g. selling traditional Chinese snacks in the old days, or some Chinese souvenirs......
It's near to Tai Po station, if you've time , please don't miss the time to visit here in Hong Kong.
Written February 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jasminetong
Singapore, Singapore13 contributions
Ever since a branch broke off in 2005, no one is allowed make wishes by flinging them on the tree. The tree is now 'preserved' using wooden/metal supports to prevent it from collapsing.
You are still allowed to make wishes but you have to hang them up on man made stands.
You are still allowed to make wishes but you have to hang them up on man made stands.
Written October 23, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
civicguy
Singapore74 contributions
Not just for the tree which is interesting on its own. There is also a nice old temple at the same place which is pretty cool. And i think it is nice to just go out of the city area and into the slightly rural area
http://tinyurl.com/ycmkw3v
http://tinyurl.com/y9k5pm7
http://tinyurl.com/ycmkw3v
http://tinyurl.com/y9k5pm7
Written February 10, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MiMa424
United Kingdom47 contributions
Feb 2017 • Family
The wishing tree is fake and the surrounding area is not attractive with nothing to do except 3 shabby cafes to get a drink or snacks. The place is only crowded during the first 2 weeks of the Chinese New Year CNY where there are food/souvenir stalls, performances and float display . Thousands of people come here at CNY to throw a plastic tangerine with their yearly wishes onto the fake wishing tree.
The best day to go is the 2nd Day of the CNY because floats from the Tsim Sha Tsui night parade are all here with some of the street performers from around the world performing eg UK, Japan, Austria, Brazil etc
If it's not Chinese New Year, the place is deserted with a few village women coming to hassle you to buy incent sticks to pray at the village temple. The HK Tourist Association promote Lam Tusen as a tourist attraction but it's not except CNY. After half an hour here, you want to leave!
The best day to go is the 2nd Day of the CNY because floats from the Tsim Sha Tsui night parade are all here with some of the street performers from around the world performing eg UK, Japan, Austria, Brazil etc
If it's not Chinese New Year, the place is deserted with a few village women coming to hassle you to buy incent sticks to pray at the village temple. The HK Tourist Association promote Lam Tusen as a tourist attraction but it's not except CNY. After half an hour here, you want to leave!
Written August 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leonhkny
Hong Kong, China14,187 contributions
Aug 2022
Lam Tsuen, a vast rural area southeast of Tai Po, is an easily overlooked place. For many, the wishing tree is the only reason of visit. As the old tree was no longer healthy, a plastic tree was installed to maintain the ritual without further damaging the plant. Most people may not find the place interesting except of those devoted or superstitious.
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth W
Polperro, UK30 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
We were reasonably close so thought we may as well hop on a bus to see the wishing, but wouldn't recommend people going too far out of their way. Nothing else there apart from a small temple and a few run down looking cafes.
Written March 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jen Thing
Singapore, Singapore26 contributions
Dear,
Can anyone help me to direct the correct ways to go Lam Tsuen wishing tree in Hong Kong from Dorsett Mongkok hotel.
I’m visiting Hong Kong next month.
Appreciate your help.
Thank you
Jojo H
Seaview, UK
Hi there,
My grandmother lives in Tai Po and am planning to visit her in October and while I am there thought I wanted to visit this wishing tree place as it seems to be near where my grandma lives but was wondering whether someone could tell me please where wishes can be made all year round or only on specific times of the year ? Thanks in advance
Solomon L
Hong Kong, China241 contributions
Wishes can be made year round traditionally, but do note they replaced the original trees with plastic ones to prevent them from dying.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree
- Hotels near Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree:
- (6.11 mi) Crowne Plaza Hotel&Suites Landmark Shenzhen, an IHG hotel
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- Attractions near Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree:
- (1.53 mi) Man Mo Temple
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Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree Information
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