City: New Territories
Top Things to do in New Territories
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Things to do in Hong Kong, China: The Best Sacred & Religious Sites
Delectable dim sum, floating islands, and a one-of-a-kind skyline are just some of Hong Kong’s unique features. Get an eyeful of traditional Chinese architecture in Ngong Ping village, then take the tram to the tippity-top of Victoria Peak for unparalleled views. The rocks and gentle hills of Nan Lian Garden will bring you inner peace, as will a calming cup of tea in a Stanley café. Become one with everything at the Chi Lin Nunnery, a serene Buddhist complex.
Restaurants in Hong Kong
1. Lantau island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,596 reviews
Reviewed By wing88kiu
It's so close to the city and even where the HK airport is, you can find the most scenic hiking trails, fishing village, beautiful beaches and good variety of restaurants all in one. The island is big and better to plan out your day on what you want to do. One cannot see everything in one day and can spend different days on different things to do. it's more than just the shopping mall and Disneyland.
2. Po Lin (Precious Lotus) Monastery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,125 reviews
Located on Lantau Island, this monastery features the Big Buddha (Tiantau), which is the largest, seated, outdoor bronze Buddha in the world.
Reviewed By KatDeg
I have been up to see the big Buddha twice now. We travelled on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car up to the Po Lin Monastery. It is the second largest bronze Buddha statue in the world and surprisingly not all that old, only being built in the early 1990's after 12 years of construction. There are a little under 300 steps to walk up for a closer look at the statue, which if you are not fit or struggle to walk will find difficult. But once you get up the top, there are great views and a small gallery/display inside. You don't see the six "divas" from ground level either, so worth the few minute walk up the stairs. No photos are to be taken inside, as it is like a shrine to people who have died. So be respectful. The same goes for photos inside of the temples. Signs everywhere saying no photos and no visitors. Which means, you shouldn't go inside if you are not Buddhist. There are a few temples to see up there, including the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas which has literally ten thousand Buddhas of various sizes in a hall of intricate detail and artwork. There are souvenir shops and places to eat up there as well. Do not feed the cattle or dogs that roam around, there are signs to say you will cop a fine. All up with a ride on the cable car, you will need a good 2-3 hours up there. Ensure you go at 10am, so you don't end up with long lines at the end of the day to get back down the mountain.
3. Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14,794 reviews
Reviewed By maheshrathod
What a magnificent man made bronze statue... Fantastic location, journey to Big Budhha though Ngong Ping 360 via crystal base cable car is amazing .... all peaks that were emerging from fog .... too good !!
4. Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (Man Fat Sze)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,321 reviews
A steep climb to reach, but efforts are rewarded with over 12,000 Buddhas both outside and inside the temple. There is no admission fee. A small restaurant at the top offers refreshments, but bring your own water for the trail.
Reviewed By carinamilligan - Hong Kong, China
I have been to the Big Buddha and while this is very impressive and set in beautiful landscape, I have to admit that I think I prefer the 10,000 buddha's purely because there's so much more to see. Be sure to check-out a sight like 'Discover Hong Kong' for the detailed route for how to get to the starting point as it's not an easy place to find. You essentially come out of the MTR station and walk behind a shopping mall down to the end of a dead end road and turn down a path which looks like it's private property.......but keep going! The buddha's start appearing as soon as you reach the first step and follow you all the way up to the top. With a variety of different poses and characters to see, they are highly entertaining and great for photo's! However, be aware that there are a lot of steps to get to the top so if you're coming here in the height of summer, with the heat and high humidity and you're not particularly used to exercise, then you may find these steps a bit of a challenge. But bring plenty of water and just take it slow, because it's worth it when you get to the top! The pagoda's and the main temple are lovely to walk around and then you can continue on a little further around the corner to see the large white buddha emerging from the rocks, designed like a water feature. If you're up to it I would recommend visiting the Buddha's in the morning and then taking the MTR back down to Wong Tai Sin to see the Temple and wishing well gardens and then onto Diamond Hill station (both stops are on the green line) to see Nan Lian Gardens and Chi Lin Nunnery - you may want to spread your temples out though, but this is doable to do in a day, especially if you're staying over on HK island and don't want to make 2 trips out this way during your stay.
5. Tao Fung Shan Christian Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By EastmeetsWestAB - London, United Kingdom
This place is easy to get to. If you come by public transport all u need to do is to take Mtr to Shatin, Exit B. At exit B turn left there should be a bridge / walk way to lead you to Pau Tau Village. Still with some old houses. At the corner there is a shop that sells sweets and snacks. From there, there is a faded sign to tell you to go to this place. It started with stairs but easy to get to. The hike is easy and have beautiful flowers along the way. Upon arrival to the Christian center, you really feel very peaceful. Even in a misty and cloudy day, it does have its beauty. The architecture is Chinese and it is absolutely beautiful that they can still keep it. Worth a visit. There is a labyrinth and a lotus flower pond and its worth walking to go and see. The area is filled with birds chirping and wonderful flowers and trees. After visiting this place you can continue the walk to head to Fo Tan. Along the way u will see a lot of trees , views and flowers.
6. Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery
7. Western Monastery
8. Pak Tai Temple at Cheung Chau
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is a very easy temple to visit because its only about a 5-10 min walk from the ferry terminal. Entry is free. It has special resonance today because it was built by local survivors of a terrible plague that swept the island in the 1770s. Hoping for a miracle, they desperately paraded images of the god Pak Tai through their narrow streets. It seemed to work and in gratitude, they banded together to honour and thank Pak Tai by building this temple. As you enter, 4 stone lions guard the entrance. If you look up there is also pair of colourful, ceramic dragons along the roofline, warding off evil and ensuring wealth and peace. Between the lions and the dragons, the temple is very well protected. Inside, it’s quite large. The central main hall is dedicated to Pak Tai, god of the sea. He also goes by the pleasingly dramatic name, ‘Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven’. He is surrounded by hanging coils of smoky incense, offerings of fruit and flowers and red cloths and is flanked by numerous other gods. I was more intrigued by the two large statues of menacing looking generals. They look as if they are just dying to strike you down at any minute. The one with his hand upraised is known as "Thousand Miles Eye" because he as the power to see everything. The other one is "Favourable Wind Ear" and he can hear from any distance. An unbeatable combination of superpowers. There are also 2 separate side halls, one on either side of the temple. Don't miss the hall on the left. It has an excellent information panel in English and a brilliant White Tiger mural which seems to be made of mosaic shards. Today the temple is most famous for its annual bun ceremony, which features 13m high towers of with up to 20,000 buns. People scramble up, trying to grab as many as they can from the top. GETTING THERE: From the ferry, turn left and walk for about 7 minutes along the main road, Pak She St that follows the harbour. OPEN: 7am – 5pm COST: free
9. Tin Hau Temple (tap Mun)
10. Man Mo Temple
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,105 reviews
The Man Mo Temple Compound on Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan comprising three blocks, namely Man Mo Temple, Lit Shing Kung and Kung Sor, was built approximately between 1847 and 1862 by wealthy Chinese merchants. Man Mo Temple was built mainly for the worship of Man Cheong (God of Literature) and Mo Tai (God of Martial Arts). Lit Shing Kung was built for the worship of all heavenly gods. Kung Sor was used as a meeting place and for resolving matters related to the Chinese community in the area. The three blocks are separated by two alleys. The Temple was officially entrusted to Tung Wah Hospital with the enactment of the Man Mo Temple Ordinance in 1908. Even nowadays, the Directors of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and community celebrities still congregate in the Temple every year at the Autumn Sacrificial Rites to pay homage to Man Cheong and Mo Tai as well as to invoke prosperity of Hong Kong. The Temple has imperative historical and social values to the territory, representing the traditional social organization and religious practices of the Chinese community in old Hong Kong. Man Mo Temple is a two-hall-three-bay structure fronted by two granite drum platforms. A pair of screen doors is placed in the front hall. Following the traditional Chinese architectural layout, the rear hall housing the altars of the deities is a few steps higher than the front hall. Between the two halls is a covered courtyard flanked by two side chambers with humpbacked roofs. The courtyard is covered with a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof supported by four granite columns at the corners of the courtyard. Lit Shing Kung, which is attached to the left of Man Mo Temple, was originally a three-hall-two-courtyard structure. The two courtyards were later covered by steel roofs. Kung Sor is a simple one-hall structure. The historic granite doorframe on which the year of construction of Kung Sor can be found is still well preserved. The magnificent Man Mo Temple Compound is a fine example of traditional Chinese vernacular architecture. It is exquisitely decorated with ceramic figurines, granite carvings, wood carvings, plaster mouldings and murals, reflecting superb traditional craftsmanship.
Reviewed By ACL3112
The temple is wedged between high rise buildings which detract from the beauty of the building - but it is there as a reminder of Hongkong's past. It is home to the God of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo) - they were both worshipped and prayed to by students who were taking the tough (and prestigious) exams to become administrators in Imperial China. It was built in 1847 and it became part of the declared monuments in 2009. You are welcome to enter as a visitor, there is a heavy arome of incense which comes from large hanging coils and from incense sticks bouht by worshippers. The interior is impressive, a worthwhile visit. Hollywood Road is full of small antique shops, you are away from the Hongkong of giant shopping centres, perhaps a reminder of gentler times.
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