After taking the cable car up and walking through the shopping center, I saw the Big Buddha with the stairs leading up on one side and the Po Lin Monastery on the other. After passing through the path of lanterns and into the courtyard, it seemed simple at first glance, then I got closer and could see the burst of color and details in the building. Truly beautiful. I walked around the entirety of the building just admiring it, I even found a lovely spot with a view of Buddha. If you face the building, and go towards the left, there is a lovely food stand that the monks and volunteers also dine at. Food is affordable and there are plenty of tables. It's a nice place to rest when visiting Lantau. read more

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Po Lin Monastery / Lantau Island (Hong Kong) -- Make no mistake, we came for the Big Buddha. However, from my limited perspective, the scene stealer on Lantau Island was this monastery complex which originated as a thatched hut in 1906. The complex starts with the Pai Lau, an elaborate entry arch designed in traditional Chinese style (photo: https://yelp.to/A--vWlmM8S), followed by a tunnel of paper lanterns in different colors (not just red) (photo: https://yelp.to/VGnM9WQ3-Q). The incense-intensive plaza leads to the Hall of Skanda Bodhisattva where the Four Heavenly Kings watches over the four directions of the world as royal protectors (photo: https://yelp.to/dYW3khXqCs). Right behind the Hall is the Main Shrine Hall of Buddha where we saw a trio of bronze Buddha statues representing his past, present, and future lives surrounded by a number of sacred scripts (photo: https://yelp.to/c75CRmyB9S). The most impressive building is the Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Just built in 2014, there are truly ten thousand glowing Buddha statues in the expansive hall (photo: https://yelp.to/pJY9kdtLY8). A stunning sight and the security guard appeared lenient about taking photographs despite a sign that stated otherwise. Either that or he was resigned to the reality of Instagram. There's a popular vegetarian restaurant on the premises, but we took a pass. RELATED - Exploring Hong Kong? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AGgadg read more

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What started as a single thatched hut on the beautiful mountains of Lantau Island has evolved into one of the most important centers for Buddhism in Hong Kong. So much fun exploring the halls, gardens, and Tian Tan Big Buddha statue. Over a hundred years ago, three mainland Chinese monks of the Zen school of Buddhism visited Hong Kong in 1906. They were inspired by Lantau Island's tranquility and set up a thatched hut in the mountains. They prayed and lived off they crops they grew outside. Over time, pilgrims were drawn to this peaceful spiritual retreat, and it grew into an extensive monastery. The main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha, which represent past, present and future lives, as well as many Buddhist scriptures. The Tian Tan Big Buddha is part of the extensive complex, as well. We spent out last day in Hong Kong visiting Lantau Island. Such a wonderful morning exploring the Tian Tan Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery. The Big Buddha was commissioned to bring in tourism and generate revenue for the monastery. It is constructed entirely of bronze with a height of 112 feet and weight of 250 tons. It is built out of 202 bronze pieces. The Big Buddha is enthroned on a lotus flower pedestal situated on top of the 3-platform altar. The 3 floors within the altar are known as the halls of the Universe, Benevolent Merit and Remembrance. It is one of the largest seated Buddhas in the world. You can go inside to climb to the base of the buddha. Surrounding the Tian Tan Buddha are six beautiful bronze statues known as "The Offering of the Six Devas. The six smaller bronze Devas symbolically offer gifts to the Buddha. The Devas offer flowers, incense, lamp, fruit, ointment and music. These six gifts represent the six perfections of Buddhism that are necessary to reach enlightenment - morality, patience, generosity, zeal, meditation and wisdom. The destination is named after the "Altar of Heaven" (Tian Tan) in Beijing, China. This is because the Big Buddha rises above a three-level platform, similar to the Altar of Heaven. As a result, the Big Buddha is appropriately named the "Tian Tan" Buddha. Nice to be able to drive directly to the gates leading to the Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery as This Is Asia Tours have permits to drive on Lantau Island. Climbed up and down 280 steps to get to the Buddha. So beautiful and the views are stunning. Loved going through the beautiful Po Lin Monastery as well. Took the Ngong Ping 360 Crystal Cable Car back down the mountain and then had a 15-minute drive to the airport. The cable car ride was so scenic as we left the mountain. Definitely book the crystal car. Highly recommend the Lantau Island tour with This Is Asia Tours to visit the historic the Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Big Buddha as they can drive up to the temple gates to drop off your tour group. This was a huge timesaver for our party of five and our tour guide Liz was amazing. Such a beautiful and awe-inspiring place to see. read more

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Small and commercialized. Think the main reasons people come here are it's a nice add-on to seeing the Buddha (bonus points for being free admission), plus it has a vegetarian restaurant or side food vendors near it that you can get healthier food at if you don't want to dine at the tourist trap area upfront. Favourite parts: the Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, the huge coy fish in the pond, and the new 'thus come' exhibit. read more

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Absolutely stunning monastery and well worth a visit! The attraction does not cost a thing, but they do accept donations. I will give you a few tips and that is take your time, enjoy the peacefulness, take a break and enjoy the people watching, and most of all take in the beauty of the monastery itself. There are a few small food stalls nearby and some goods to buy, but I'd suggest eating in the small village of Ngong Ping where you arrived if you are hungry as there are more options. To get to the monastery is pretty easy, there are three options, but one being the most efficient and easiest on the stomach if you get car sick. I'd suggest the metro and then take the cable car up to Ngong Ping. The other methods involve a long taxi or bus ride involving many twists and turns on the main road leading up to the monastery. read more

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Absolutely huge and stunning temple in the middle of the forest. It is situated in such a beautiful green place. To get there you must take the subway all the way to the end station. And then take a bus or the tram to the top where the monastery is located. Definitely a tourist spot. The monastery is well-maintained and very clean. I especially like the stone dragon carvings on the support beams throughout the complex. There's multiple buildings house different gods and Buddha statues, and you can visit each one and pay respect. There are several vegetarian restaurants inside the temple complex that you can order food. The food is extremely bad, so I would not recommend eating there. We bought some small plates of food and they were all very disgusting. Admission is complementary, but donations are highly recommended. read more

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(Visited 01/05/19 SA @ 2:30pm): Such a "Precious Lotus" of a monastery! A friend and I had a long layover in Hong Kong and wanted to experience some of the famed landmarks on Lantau Island which was relatively close to the airport with the aid of some additional transportation, so we decided to see the famed and remote Po Lin Monastery (along with Tian Tan Buddha) which was founded in 1906 but later renamed to its present name in 1924. At this cultural attraction, were we left with a sense of calm or calamity!? ATTRACTION Total time spent - 30 minutes: Not visible at all as your cable car approached the exit station at the top of Lantau Island, you stepped off the landing platform and walked out into the open area where your immediate focus was on "The Big Buddha" slightly off into the distance. Once you made your way through the fabricated Ngong Ping Village below, you found yourself at the entrance of the Mountain Gate Pai Lau with Tian Tan Buddha directly behind you https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Q6Wx5aoRqXtBRM4E1LOgxg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. As you passed the gateway, dozens of worshippers provided an array of incense offerings to show their appreciation https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=MGY46EB2suMam28iGoeY4Q&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. Finally, you reached the open courtyard and directly faced the monastery https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=O2RSVFlrX0XrKmaR7dsKYA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. On a leisure walk around, you marveled at the architecture and decorations of its exterior https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ywUro6nb7MOJJ0GJMCgNBA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. Then, curious glances into different openings and rooms such as the one that displayed the "Five Dhyani Buddhas" https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=uaxbFDa1BsPpBJ2rhoqQLw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. There were several buildings on the grounds that shouldn't be missed such as the "Hall Of The Ten Thousand Buddhas", "The Great Hall", an exhibition hall filled with many Buddha relics, a scripture library, a vegetarian restaurant, and more. SERVICE There really was none to speak of at the attraction itself unless you had specific directional questions or entered into the souvenir shop. Explicit "No Photos" signage was posted everywhere within the several interior sections you were able to walk through. Simply be respectful, please. PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance) The two main modes of transportation to Lantau Island and specifically this attraction was either the cable cars or buses. I honestly couldn't recall any cars but saw parking lots where numerous buses parked, so I imagined there was parking for smaller vehicles, too. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE Situated in a lush mountain locale in the great outdoors, you were surrounded by plenty of foliage with scenic views in all directions as well as the towering Tian Tan Buddha and Ngong Ping Village below. Your greatest concern was the varied weather patterns like fog, rain, or the burning hot sun, so best to be prepared in any situation https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=U0m-jWew6_GQYsafoSnCkw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops, but be prepared to cover your arms and legs just in case out of respect. OVERALL It was a relaxing and reflective time at Po Lin Monastery and would definitely visit it again with the hope of more exploration. Everything from the journey there on the cable car to the general area and then a hike up to the nearby Tian Tan Buddha made for a full afternoon. If anything, be prepared for the glut of visitors and have plenty of patience. I found exceptionally good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around 0.00 HKD/0.00 USD BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, at the souvenir shop they accepted my credit card of choice...AMEX! 5.0 STARS read more

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It was our last day in Hong Kong. The hubby refused to take the cable car, but I really wanted to visit the big Buddha on top of the mountain, so we got us a taxi from the hotel. The drive from our hotel in Tung Chung took approximately 45 minutes. The winding roads and surprised sightings of water buffaloes in the side of roadways really made the trip worthwhile. The monastery and the big Buddha was awesome too. Let's just say that the view and the climb (googled 268 steps) to see the Big Buddha took my breath away. read more

A local treasure and worth the long distance travel (plane, MTR train, and tram) for a visit. 寶蓮禪寺 is quiet place for one to ponder thoughts and self-reflection and all in all a large temple in a undisturbed land. Three bronze Buddha statues sits in this large complex overlooking HK. The name ten thousands Buddhas Grand Hall, literally, implies gold Buddhas inside. The monastery grounds, Pgong Ping, is a village where local shops for visitors can purchase incense and two vegetarian restaurants. read more

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Po Lin Monastery. Cool Fact: The main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha.

Beautiful. Absolutely stunning. Bronze Buddhas, exquisitely done, a lovely and peaceful place. The cable car is an experience in itself, but DO NOT skip the monastery, it's wonderful! read more

Truly a phenomenal temple complex! Although it is more famous for its colossal Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery is a beauty of its own to behold. Even though the temple was recently constructed, the building architecture and setup are faithful to the requirements of an extricate Tang-era Buddhist temple complex, and every single details inside and outside the structures are breathtakingly beautiful. As most tourists tend to flock the Ngong Ping Village and the Tian Tan Buddha, the actual complex of Po Lin Monastery offers a serene refuge despite being so close to the popular tourist attraction. Begin your first step in the temple complex and be welcomed by the fat smiling Bodai while he is flanked by the stern Dharma enforcers on both sides in the front hall. After you admire the beautiful Cantonese-style statues, go in the main courtyard and be awed by the grand main hall in front that is accompanied by the two smaller halls on your side. Bask in the moment and step inside the hall to greet Buddhas in the shining hall. If you like, visit the newly added Thousand Buddhas Hall to see an even more dazzling worship hall. If you are visiting the Tian Tan Buddha (https://www.yelp.com/biz/cpOuJDYFsFjINL56RwLwhA?hrid=HTvgBJuDpzaXHhA8aVJJIQ), you cannot miss this beautiful Buddhist temple complex. However, if you do intend to visit the colossus, you may want to reconsider because despite of my praise of Po Lin Monastery's beauty, HK has equally beautiful temple complexes like Chi Lin or Wong Tai Sin that are closer to city center and easier to reach. Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend visiting this Buddhist temple complex for the grand Buddha and this beautiful temple as an added bonus for your trip to Hong Kong! Because of its remote location, Po Lin certainly offers a vibe that is different from bustling urban vibe in city center. --- HOW TO REACH FROM TUNG CHUNG MTR 1) NGONG PING 360 cable car is the easiest and fastest transport to reach Ngong Ping Village where Tian Tan Buddha is in 25 minutes, as well as the most popular and the most scenic! Unfortunately it is also the most expensive especially as a group with one-way costing more than $125 HKD per person (and more if you choose the crystal floor cabin). Consider booking online which you must choose your outbound time but can ride on any inbound cabin, so you don't have to wait in the long line. 2) LANTAU BUS 23 is the cheapest method at a mere $13.5 HKD per person, but the ride is about 45 minutes long and the frequency is typically only every hour. Take this only if you want to save money or if the cable car is down, unless you can time the bus arrival right. 3) TAXI is actually the best for a group with the average fare of about $150 HKD per car and is slightly faster than the bus. Unfortunately you must first find the super rare blue-colored Lantau taxi first. Don't try Uber or the red-colored city taxi because they are not licensed to enter the area. --- tl;dr version: 1) Beautiful Buddhist temple complex 2) Great addition to see Tian Tan Buddha 3) Not worth trekking if not interesting in Tian Tan Buddha as HK has similar complexes that are easier to reach read more

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If you're heading up to the Tian Tan (Big) Buddha, make sure to take some time to visit the Po Lin Monastery itself. The Monastery grounds consist of a number of buildings and plazas. You can buy incense to burn outside and there are benches for you to take in the atmosphere and rest your weary feet. There is a lot of great detail and color in the architecture and design of the complex with the piece de resistance being the Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas. As its name implies, it literally has 10,000 gold buddha figures inside. FOOD: The monastery offers two vegetarian restaurants - a sit down option and a little stall/café. I opted for some cheap noodles at the latter. They were a little bland but nothing a bit of soy sauce couldn't fix. It made for a cheap, peaceful snack while sitting outside in the shade. TIP: Some of the buildings prohibit photography inside, but the workers allow you to take photos from the doorway. Don't be an ugly American and ask one of the monks if you can take their picture. This is an active monastery. Treat the monastery (and the monks) with respect. read more

寶蓮禪寺 - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Hong Kong, HK

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I've always wanted to visit Po Lin Monastery because it gets mentioned in all the 黃飛鴻 movies I watched as a kid xD and I've wanted to do the vegetarian meal set they serve there! But sadly the hubby is not really a tofu/mushroom fan so we just bought some snacks from the cafe. Peaceful place to relax and slow down, especially compared to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong proper. Gorgeous architecture and fine details worth taking the time to explore. read more

This is 1 of the 2 things that made taking the Nong Ping 360 Gondola ride worth it. The other is the Tian Tan Buddha on the top of the hill. This is one of the better looking temples in the Hong Kong Area. Again, I believe that the Chi Lin Nunnery is the best temple in HK, but this would be a very close 2nd. The colors, and not to mention the statues are amazing here. I loved the room with the 10,000 Buddha's and that was definitely worth the little walk from the Nong Ping Village/Piazza. If you are in the area, just take the time to make you way over. You won't regret it! read more