Tian Tan Buddha and Chi Line Nunnery, Hong Kong

Tian Tan Buddha and Chi Line Nunnery are popular sites for locals and tourists.

The Tian Tan Buddha is located away from the city center of Hong Kong, and it will take some time to get there. However, it was easily reachable by subway trains and cable cars.

At the cable car station, after the long subway train ride.

After a long cable car ride, I arrived at Ngong Ping Village near the Tian Tan Buddha. The Buddha is seen in the background of the picture.

Ngong Ping Village is a themed cultural village located on Lantau Island, near the Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha) and Po Lin Monastery. It is designed to enhance the visitor experience at these popular attractions, offering a blend of cultural, religious, and shopping experiences.

The red-roofed building on the left side is the Po Lin Monastery.

Back side

The Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, is a colossal outdoor bronze statue located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.  To reach the statue, visitors must climb 268 steps.

Before I climbed the stairs, I visited the Po Lin Monastery, which was nearby.

An entrance to the monastery

Inside the Po Lin Monastery

There is a second temple building behind the first one on elevated ground.

Founded in 1906, Po Lin Monastery was originally a small and humble retreat for Buddhist monks. It gradually grew into one of the most important centers for Buddhism in Hong Kong.

The monastery became world-famous after the construction of the Tian Tan Buddha in 1993, which is located nearby. Together, the two sites form a significant religious pilgrimage destination for Buddhists.

I walked up the stairs of the front temple building and looked back at the courtyard.

Inside the first temple building

The side buildings on the couryard

I walked around the first temple building and found stairs to the second temple building behind the first one.

Back side

Climbed the stairs to the second temple

Back side

Inside the second temple building

The monastery is still an active place of worship, where Buddhist rituals and ceremonies are regularly held.

There were 10,000 tiny Buddhas on the wall inside the temple room.

Walked down the stairs to exit the temple

Came back to the Tian Tan Buddha

The statue was completed in 1993 and took 12 years to build. It has since become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hong Kong.

I started to climb the stairs

Back side

Standing 34 meters (112 feet) tall and weighing approximately 250 metric tons, the Tian Tan Buddha is one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world.

At the top, my left side

and the right side

It is positioned on a three-tiered base, resembling the Tian Tan, or Temple of Heaven, in Beijing, which is where its name comes from.

The statue represents the Buddha Shakyamuni, who is the historical figure of Buddhism, and it symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man, nature, and religion.

The Buddha’s right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing, signifying the removal of suffering, while the left hand rests on his lap, symbolizing meditation.

The view of many islands nearby

Climbed down the stairs

To the cable car station

Back side

The cable car station

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) is the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge and tunnel system, connecting Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai in Mainland China. It spans approximately 55 kilometers (34 miles) and is a major infrastructural project designed to enhance the connectivity within the Greater Bay Area, which includes Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau.

The bridge looks like it is broken, but it continues in a submerged ocean tunnel.

I reached the subway station for the train to Hong Kong city center.

I took a subway train from the station to the Chi Lin Nunnery on the Kowloon side.

Chi LIn Nunnery is a Buddhist complex for female monks, offering a serene courtyard, lotus ponds & traditional buildings.

Next to the nunnery, there is the Nan Lian Garden, which I visited first.

The Nan Lian Garden is a beautiful classical Chinese garden located in the Diamond Hill area of Kowloon, Hong Kong, right next to the Chi Lin Nunnery. Opened in 2006, the garden was designed following the traditional Tang dynasty style, reflecting the same aesthetic principles as the nearby nunnery. It is a public park that offers visitors a tranquil and serene environment amidst the bustling city.

The building that I just passed by.

Inside the building are several miniature models of Chinese building structures.

I got out of the building and kept walking the park

One of the most iconic structures in the garden is the Pavilion of Absolute Perfection, a striking golden pavilion set on an island in the middle of a pond, connected by a bright red bridge.

Another building in the garden that is used as a museum

These wares are modern creations but kept the old-style

The garden features a unique collection of rocks and stones, which have symbolic meanings in traditional Chinese culture. The rockery formations are artfully arranged to mimic natural landscapes.

I left the garden to explore the Chi Lin Nunnery

The Chi Lin Nunnery is a large Buddhist complex located in the Diamond Hill area of Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1934 and later rebuilt in the 1990s in the traditional Tang dynasty architectural style, which is known for its elegance and simplicity. The entire structure is made of wood without the use of nails, following ancient Chinese construction techniques.

Back side

I went around the first main building and found a second courtyard with a set of buildings

The second courtyard behind the main building of the first courtyard

Back side

Right and left side buildings

I stopped at a mall near the nunnery to rest before heading to my stay.