Lantau Island, Hong Kong

This is one of the most popular attractions on Lantau Island - the Po Lin Monastery and the big bronze seated Buddha statue. During my trip to HK in 1998, my aunt and I booked a day tour to the island. The highlight of the tour was no doubt seeing this amazing statue. Most buddha statues actually face the South, but this particular buddha faces the North. This signifies the reunification of HK with its motherland - China (Beijing lies to the North of HK). Our tour also included a hearty vegetarian lunch in the monastery, which was absolutely delicious! The airport on the island wasn't completed at the time of our visit, and it was not very convenient to get to this island, so we took a ferry ride.

Well, here's where we stopped for praying and enjoyed our sumptuous vegetarian lunch! The architecture of this place is very much the same as what you'll see in other Chinese monasteries and temples. The incense burners in the picture (with smoke coming out of them. We call these "ding" in Chinese) has got 3 legs, and this design dates back thousands of years, even as far back as the Shang Dynasty!

The signature of Lantau Island is the Big Buddha. You can trek up the 120 steps to come close and personal with the Big Buddha. It would be a rewarding trip for buddhists or non-buddhist to get to know the religion better, as there is a tour to the "inside" of the Buddha to see the scriptures and relics. We also spotted the altar of the famous Hong Kong Singer, Anita Mui.

After trekking, head down to the Po Lin Monastery at the foot of the hill for a simple yet delicious vegetarian meal. While you are there, visit the toilet to experience the no-frills toilet.

Don't rush to go to Disneyland Hong Kong if you've already been to any of the other Disney parks. This is very small in comparison to Orlando's Disneyworld, and the rides are the classic "fairytale" rides. I believe that the park will grow bigger over time but so maybe give it a few more years before you go (maybe from 2010 onwards).

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Please trust me, your trip to HK is "incomplete" if you skipped these two spots. If you are a "fast moving person", a half day will do. They are just right next to each other.

Take MTR to Tung Chung then transfer to bus (#23 if i remember correctly) here. Bus fare is about HKD 15, journey: approx. 50-60 minutes. Spend 1 hour with Big Buddha and 35 minutes in Po Lin Monastery and then return to Tung Chung by bus again, then head back to your hotel/other destination.

A small tips to you is that, visiting Big Buddha, i.e. climb the staircase and get close with Big Buddha, is actually FOC. You need to pay (about HKD 40) if you decided to enter a "museum/library" underneath the big buddha and have a vegetarian lunch in Po Lin Monastery. I did not enter/eat. I understand from some travel guides that the museum is exhibiting some Buddhism "products" (please imagine, books, shrine statues ets).

My friend wanted to go to this I wasn't too interested, but it turned out to be really good. In addition to being a big statue it is in some beautiful scenery and the monestary was alright also.

It is a good half day trip or tie it in with other things on Lantau.

Leaving you with an invaluable experience and money in your pocket, I would recommend this trip whether by yourself, significant other and/or the entire family...Seeing the Big Buddha statute with Buddhists and non-Buddhists left my husband and myself feeling very spiritual and blessed. It was also an added adventure on getting to the monastery; first by a 45-minute ferry followed by a 45-minute bus ride (uphill!)... Besides having access to the statute and a vegetarian or Chinese meal, you are surrounded by others of different ethnicities and cultures which make it even more worth it to visit!

Lantau Island is a great place to visit frm HongKong. Catch one of the ferry from the terminal at HongKong Island and you should be there in no time...There is this great big statue of Buddha looking at the surrounding country side and this huge Po Lin Monastery complex below. Definitely worth a visit..

Po Lin Monastery is located at 450 meters altitude on the Ngong Ping Plateau. Po Lin is not a historical site; it was opened in 1970. The main hall has two floors and is covered with an elaborately decorated roof and hosts three big, golden Buddha statues. The main attraction of Po Lin, however, is the 34 m high giant Buddha statue outside. It weighs 250 tons and is said to be the biggest Buddha statue in Asia (quite believable). You have to climb a lot of stairs to reach the platform but it is worth the effort because you enjoy a wonderful view of the Lantau, of the little islands that surround it, and of the blue South China Sea.