Jaunt
Jaunt
and Ngong Ping Village
Article by Hong Kong Traveller
The Big Buddha is not a “piece of history” but rather a fairly recent
endeavor. It was unveiled in 1993. In fact, the entire complex has a
“newness” feel to it, and with the tourist crowds inevitably comes a bit
of commercialisation.
The Ngong Ping Village (Photo by Scott Burling)
The Ngong Ping Village
The Ngong Ping Village was
created at the top of the Ngong
Ping plateau to accomodate the
influx of tourists now flocking to
the Big Buddha and the Ngong
Ping Cable Car and is therefore
fairly new.
The Big Buddha and
Po Lin Monastery
Visitors can easily find their way
to two of the plateaus main
attractions, the Hong Kong Big
Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery
which are a quick five minute walk
from the Village.
The remote Po Lin Monastery,
hidden away by lush mountains,
became a popular attraction
when the extraordinary Tian Tan
Buddha statue (informally known
as the Big Buddha) was erected
in 1993. Sitting 34 metres high
and facing north to look over the
Chinese people, this majestic
bronze Buddha draws pilgrims
from all over Asia. Visitors climb
268 steps to reach the top of the
Buddha, where panoramic views
over Lantau Island are worth
carrying camera gear for.
The eyes, lips, incline of the
head and right hand, which is
raised to deliver a blessing to
all, combine to bring a humbling
depth of character and dignity to
the massive Buddha, which took
12 years to complete. Climb the
268 steps for a closer look at this
remarkable statue, and to enjoy
the mountain and sea views.
Opposite the statue, the Po
Lin Monastery is one of Hong
Kong’s most important Buddhist
sanctums and has been dubbed
‘the Buddhist World in the
South’. Home to many a devout
monk, this monastery is rich
with colourful manifestations
of Buddhist iconography and
its pleasant garden is alive with
birdsong and flowery scents.
You can also enjoy a meal at its
popular vegetarian restaurant.
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