Buddha Statue and Po Lin Monastery
The world's biggest outdoor Sakyamuni Buddha Statue sits at the 520-meter-high Ngong Ping area on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It is built in 1993 by Aerospace China, located in the square in front of the solemn Po Lin Monastery. The Buddha Statue, its base and decoration are made of 202 pieces of copper. The total height of the statue is about 34 meters and 250 tons in total weight. It sits on an alter-like three-level base, to which the levels from bottom to top are in areas of 10,000, 8,000 and 6,000 square feet respectively. The foundation of the Buddha Statue has been built according to the famous Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan) in Beijing, so it is called Tian Tan Buddha Statue. The three-storey base of the Buddha Statue has a documentation hall which a lot of Buddhist scriptures and relics are being displayed. The three levels are being linked by stairs. The
majestic Yoga Bell which the outer side is carved Buddha images, fingerprints and the names of pious contributors, while the inner side is the Buddhist scripture. The diameter of the bell is about two meters, now it tolls 108 times a day by computerized control.
The make up of the giant Buddha Statue is according to the description of a Buddha image in scripture. The design of the statue is referred to well-known Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province and Mogao Grottoes in Gansu Province. The face of the Buddha is looking on whole Hong Kong, blessing the city's economic prosperity and social stability.
Po Lin Monastery was built in 1924 and had been known as the Buddha State of the South because the vast construction and beautiful landscape around. It is being the most famous monastery in Hong Kong. In the front of the monastery stands a majestic stone archway with three doorways of which the central one is the tallest. This archway is in plain stone-grey color, each of the doorways has a traditiona
l Chinese roof built on the top. "寶蓮禪寺" (Po Lin Monastery) can be seen on the middle doorway. The body of the archway is full of elegant carvings.
A grand boulevard is taking you to the monastery. The bottom of the gate is a large stone platform, fenced on the four sides. The palace-like Hall of the Great Hero and solemn Hall of the Heavenly King are the main spots must be visited. Nowadays Po Lin Monastery provides accommodations for tourists' convenience to appreciate the beautiful sunrise on the Lantau Peak, which is 935 meters above sea level and it is the second highest peak in Hong Kong, or to have a tranquil retreat to a solemn place for a short period. The Vegetarian Canteen and Tea Garden are great for a Po Lin Monastery tour, you will be delighted by the delicious dishes and the fragrant tea.
