At Lam Tsuen, the wishing tradition has changed to protect the banyans that gave it meaning. Original trees remain part of the landscape, while nearby racks and a replica provide safer ways to continue a community practice, especially around Lunar New Year.
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The tradition changed when the wishes began to weigh too heavily on the trees. At Lam Tsuen, people once tied wishes to tangerines and threw them into the banyan branches, hoping a high landing would bring good fortune.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Lam Tsuen’s two banyans are known as the Wishing Trees.
- The original practice involved tossing wish placards attached to tangerines into branches.
- A replica tree and nearby racks were introduced to help protect the original trees.
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