We travelled to Hong Kong with our 13 month old Kidsetter. There are over 260 outlying islands in Hong Kong, Lantau Island being the largest, lying to the south west of the Hong Kong Island. Hilly and mountainous, covered in greenery and completed with beautiful sandy beaches, it is a beautiful scenic place and is a world-renowned tourist attraction.
Catching a cable car from Tung Chung terminal we headed up towards Lantau Island. Observing the vistas of the distant and vast South China Sea and the rolling greens of North Lantau Country Park. Eventually spotting the majestic statue of The Big Buddha through the mist. The Buddha statue faces north towards Mainland China. It sits 26.4 metres atop a lotus throne and is 34 metres high, including the base. Our Kidsetter thoroughly enjoyed the cable car experience especially loving the glass bottom for full viewing access !
After our 25-minute cable car ride we arrived at Ngong Ping Village which is an artificially designed small village with typical Chinese-style architectural elements, shops and houses. We leisurely walked up to the Big Buddha.
Facing north to look over the Chinese people, the bronze Buddha sits cross-legged on the lotus throne, like a lotus which grows out of sludge, symbolizing that the Buddha is pure. The statue is full bodied and peaceful. Majestic and refined, conveying the Buddha’s spirit of compassion, loving kindness and impartiality.
I climbed the 268 steps to take a closer look at this remarkable statue and enjoy the sweeping mountain and sea views that can be seen from its base. It’s little wonder the Buddha draws pilgrims from all over Asia as it epitomises human beings’ continuous and unyielding pursuit of moral happiness and peace on earth.
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’. Surrounded by hilly mountains, tranquil and serene, the monastery was established in 1906, having a history of over 100 years. 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. Our Kidsetter enjoyed discovering the wonderful array of flowers and brightly coloured lanterns.
Since the grand opening of the Tian Tan (Altar of Heaven) Big Buddha in December 1993, Po Lin Monastery has become a world-renowned Buddhist monastery, devotees and tourists coming in flocks and droves throughout the year.
