Po Lin (Precious Lotus) Monastery, Hong Kong, China

5Mairwen1 5:00 PM Jul 27, 2021

Quietly Beautiful
The imposing Big Buddha is the star attraction at Ngong Ping. The Po Lin Monastery stands beneath it and although it isn’t as showy, is quietly beautiful. It started off very modestly as a single thatched hut, founded in 1906 by 3 visiting monks. Today it is a large complex, with gardens, shrines, palatial halls and pagodas with evocative names like the Hall of Great Perfection, the Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas and the Pagoda of the Lotus Sutra. It is a functioning monastery so, understandable, no photography is allowed inside. However you can get a simple vegetarian meal in the canteen style restaurant. Entry to The Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery is free (although there is a fee to visit the separate halls beneath the Buddha). NOTE: If you are planning on visiting, be aware that the Buddha is currently covered in scaffolding and is undergoing renovation but you can still visit the monastery and the nearby Wisdom Path.

4BradJill 5:00 PM Feb 17, 2020

Beautiful monastery in Lantau
The Po Lin Monastery (free entry) is one of the feature attractions in Lantau Island. It is located next to Tian Tan, the 34 metre tall Big Buddha landmark and a short 3-4 minute walk from the Ngong Ping Village. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm daily. This is a early 20th century monastery that is very colourful and decorative. The Great Hall and the Grand Hall of the Ten Thousand Buddhas have beautiful interiors. Unfortunately, no photography is allowed inside. Both are worth spending a few minutes to view. The exterior and temple grounds are very attractive as well, including the large Reunification Cauldron in front of Po Lin. This monument commemorates the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997. Alas, there is a recommendable vegetarian restaurant at Po Lin if you want to eat at the monastery as part of your visit. To visit Po Lin and the other attractions in Lantau Island, you can use the Ngong Ping 360 cable car from the lower terminus outside Tung Chung MTR Station. Alternatively, take a taxi from the airport or Tung Chung station. The other option is bus route 23 (Tung Chung), route 21 (Tai O) and route 2 (Mui Wo).