Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery Hong Kong: The Golden Heritage

 

Sometimes, life can get a bit exhausting in Manila and you’re definitely gonna need a breather.  There will always be lot of stuff going on in the city and by a lot, I mean, A LOT. Work, traffic, meetings, errands, obligations and uuggh there’s just too many of them! As the famous saying goes “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, this only means one thing, time to take the load off. 

Booking a plane ticket to see the other parts of the world as a getaway from the chaos is always enthralling. High above the town of Sha Tin in Hong Kong, a quietly beautiful monastery is thriving in solitude, subtle yet with a resonating beauty. Apart from the well-known visual appeals of Disney Land and Ocean Park, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is an amazing place off the beaten track for tourists who want something exclusive, serene, and particularly remarkable. 

 

 

Known as one of the most sacred sites in Hong Kong, the majestic Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is situated at the top of a hill where tourists have to climb more than 400 stairs to reach the main temple where more than 13, 000 Buddha statues covered in pure gold stand along the pathways. The life-sized statues come in a great variety of shapes and sizes–flabby, thin, bald, happy, frowning, with animals and flowers, etc.

 

 

It is said that the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery was founded in 1951 by a monk named Yuet Kai who taught Buddhism in a local monastery. Despite his old age, he personally carried the materials up the mountain with his fellow monks, as well as assisted in the construction of the temple. It actually took eight years to complete the construction and another ten years to finish the 12,800 Buddha statues. Today, his remains are kept in the main hall of the monastery in a glass case as the main attraction of the temple. How amazing is that?

 

 

Another good thing about this breathtaking place is that it maintains its tranquil atmosphere yet still feels like a consecrated place. Upon making it to the top of the hill, the colorful main temple, larger statues and figures can be seen. That having said, though, photographs are not allowed inside the main temple where the remains of the founder and the miniatures Buddha figures are. It is not commercialized and is seldom swamped by tourists therefore, making it even more sacred and in some ways. This is the reason why it tends to make such a big impression, in general. 

 

The monastery when you reach the summit

The nine story pagoda

 

If you’re gonna visit Hong Kong and want to go to a great and authentic place, you should definitely choose this one over the other amazing tourist spots there. You’re not gonna regret it.

 

 

 

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery Hong Kong

 

Tai Po Road – Sha Tin, Hong Kong

 

 

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery Hong Kong: The Golden Heritage