Worshippers in Macau, Hong Kong and Beijing mark the Lunar New Year by offering the first incense, continuing a long-standing tradition of prayer and renewal.
As the Year of the Horse begins, temples in Macau, Hong Kong and Beijing welcomed crowds of worshippers seeking blessings for the year ahead. From late on Lunar New Year’s Eve to the morning of the first day, people lined up to offer the “first incense” — a ritual that marks a fresh start and expresses hopes for peace and prosperity.
Macau: Orderly Crowds at A-Ma Temple
In Macau, A-Ma Temple opened at 9:30 p.m. on Lunar New Year’s Eve to allow worshippers to offer the first incense of the new year. Many residents arrived as early as 9 p.m. At peak times, about 60 people waited in line.
Temple staff set up barriers and divided queuing areas to guide the flow. After 11 p.m., the crowd continued to grow. Police introduced crowd-control measures and allowed worshippers to enter in small groups. Despite the steady turnout, the atmosphere remained calm and organised. Outside the temple, vendors selling incense and paper windmills reported brisk business, adding to the festive mood.
Hong Kong: A Long-Standing Tradition at Wong Tai Sin
In Hong Kong, offering the first incense at Wong Tai Sin Temple is a long-standing Lunar New Year tradition. At midnight — the start of the first day of the lunar year — worshippers place the first sticks of incense into the main burner to show devotion and pray for good fortune.
The temple opened at 9 p.m. on Lunar New Year’s Eve. Even before the official ritual began, people lined up outside. Some held incense sticks and waited quietly along the designated worship route. Staff maintained order, and the crowd moved steadily toward the midnight moment.
Beijing: New Year Prayers at Yonghe Temple
On the morning of the first lunar day, large numbers of residents visited Yonghe Temple in Beijing. Families, young professionals and elderly worshippers came to burn incense and make wishes for the year ahead.
Beyond the major cities, other temples across the region also welcomed worshippers. At Baoguo Temple on Mount Emei, visitors from all over gathered to ring the ancient temple bell and perform other traditional rituals, welcoming the Lunar New Year and praying for a smooth and prosperous year.
Across the country, visiting temples on the first day of the lunar year remains a meaningful custom. From Macau and Hong Kong to Beijing, the rising incense smoke carried a shared hope for health, stability and prosperity in the months to come.
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