Tian Tan Buddha via Pixabay
You can take a bus to the top of the mountain, but what’s the fun in that? The best way to reach the top of Ngong Ping Plateau is by the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car! If you really want to do something special, $240 HKD ($30 USD) will get you a ride to the top in the glass-bottom Crystal Cable Car!
If you want to get some exercise, or want to save some money, there is also a path winding up the mountain that you can hike from far below to the very top where the Buddha sits! Or, you know, you can just take the bus (Route 23). From experience, though, we can say that splurging for a ticket to ride the Crystal Car is really worth it for the most amazing views.
Pixabay
The Tian Tan Buddha takes its name from the Temple of Heaven, the Imperial temple in Beijing, Chian. Constructed in 1993, the statue is 112 feet (34 meters) tall and cast from bronze.
This statue is significant in Mahayana Buddhism, and is one of the “Five Great Buddhas of China”. Visitors climb the 268 steps leading from the base to where the statue sits in a pose known as the “Protection Buddha” which symbolizes overcoming fear.
The main feature of the temple are three venerated statues each representing the past, present, and future lives of the Buddha respectively.
Don’t forget to take your ticket to the Big Buddha to the kitchens at the monastery! You can redeem it for a healthy and delicious vegetarian noodle lunch!
Wisdom Path – The Heart Sutra Trail
Just past the monastery is the Wisdom Path, also known as the Heart Sutra Trail. This short path follows a number of wooden posts carved with scripture from the Heart Sutra, an important Mahayana text. The path is set in a figure-eight representing infinity, and curves through a garden of tea trees.
You can also visit the Linong Tea House! They offer a free tea ceremony three times a day, where you can sample different types of tea and learn about Chinese tea culture from the local tea master.
Hong Kong is much more than a densely packed business center. There is a quiet side to the Special Administrative Region. Behind the busy city life there is something peaceful, spiritual, and serene. When visiting Hong Kong, spend a day at the Ngong Ping Plateau. You won’t regret it. Unless maybe you decide to hike the long trail up the mountain!
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