An estimated 20,000 to 40,000 people are expected to visit Hong Kong’s Wong Tai Sin Temple the night before Chinese New Year to observe the long-standing tradition of offering the year’s first incense to ask for good fortune.

Representatives of Sik Sik Yuen, the temple’s governing body, made the announcement on Thursday.

Worshippers can enter Wong Tai Sin Temple to wait for their first joss stick beginning at 9 pm on Feb 16 — Chinese New Year’s Eve — and the temple will remain open throughout the night until 9 pm on Feb 17, the first day of the Chinese New Year.

Sik Sik Yuen Vice-Chairman Leung Yu-wah said that the temple will be temporarily closed at 4:30 pm on Feb 16 and reopen at 9 am to let worshippers enter to wait for the first joss sticks. The temple will implement crowd-control measures, and no return is permitted upon leaving the main alter.

From the second to the 14th day of the Chinese New Year, the Wong Tai Sin Temple will be open daily from 7:30 am to 6 pm. On the 15th day, the Lantern Festival, the opening hour will be extended to 9 pm.

Leung suggested each family bring only nine incense sticks to the three incense-offering areas of the temple —  the Main Altar, Three Saints Hall, and the Yue Heung Shrine. Gold ingot candles, raw oil, and large incense sticks will be prohibited, he said.

Because of the large number of worshippers, crowd control measures will be implemented during this year’s Spring Festival period. The Police Force, Civil Aid Service, and Auxiliary Medical Service will assist.

Sik Sik Yuen CEO Sin Pik-shan said she expects 20,000 to 40,000 visitors to come on Chinese New Year’s Eve, and the temple may welcome about 1 million visitors during the Spring Festival period.

The Yue Lao Hall within Wong Tai Sin Temple has been renovated and reopened at the beginning of January. As Valentine’s Day (Feb 14) and Chinese New Year are close this year, the opening hour of the temple will be extended until 9 pm. During the Lantern Festival, visitors entering the park after 6 pm will receive a luminous gift, and there will also be photo-taking checkpoints set up in the hall.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com