Introduction

Lam Tsuen, in Tai Po, was already a residential area 700 years ago during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). Today, it still bustles with people and visitors thanks to its two ‘wishing trees’ and Tin Hau Temple.

In the past, whenever there was a festival, villagers would throw joss paper into two trees and make wishes. They believed that the higher the branch the joss paper landed on, the more likely it was the wish would come true. People from all over Hong Kong still come here in their droves to make wishes during festivals; however, as it’s not just local villagers hoping to try their luck in the trees anymore, measures have been introduced to protect the wishing trees from becoming buried in paper. Nowadays, wishes are made by tying joss paper to nearby wooden racks or imitation trees.