Hong Kong Wishing Festival 2024 | Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree Opens in February! Treasure Dish Throwing / Carnival / Lunar New Year Market / Food Plaza

The Lin Village Wishing Tree consists of two large banyan trees. The two trees are revered by the villagers as deities, and they burn incense candles at their roots to pray for blessings and make wishes, known as "Xiangzi Trees." Later, people also made talismans, writing their names, birthdates, and wishes on them, along with auspicious symbols, lucky charm guides, and robes of horses, attaching them to weights (formerly stones, now oranges), and then after sincerely worshipping, they toss the talismans onto the trunk. If it doesn't fall down, it signifies that the wish will come true. Throwing talismans to make wishes is a traditional custom passed down through Taoism. The villagers of Putuo Fanma Village offer sacrifices at Tianhou Temple during the Lunar New Year and then throw talismans under a tree outside the temple to make wishes. There wasn't a specific tree designated as the wishing tree, but over time, the banyan tree in front of the village became known as the "Wishing Tree." During the Hong Kong Wishing Festival, people often go to the Lin Village Wishing Tree to throw talismans and make wishes. Some citizens also flock to Tianhou Temple to pray for blessings and wish for a peaceful year ahead.