The apartments in HK are pretty tiny and mine especially so since it's only a wee 250 sf. Also, although I uber love my neighbourhood, it's nice to get out of the city once in a while.

I'd been wanting to go Ngong Ping for quite a while to check out the Tian Tan Buddha, so it was fortuitous that my Canadian Chinese friend K was in town and was up for a day trip out. We checked out Ngong Ping Village, Ngong Ping Piazza as well as Po Lin Monastery.

According to the website,

"The Tian Tan Buddha Statue is the world's largest, seated, outdoor, bronze Big Buddha statue. It is constructed from 202 bronze pieces, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue weighs over 250 tonnes and soars 34 metres into the air. Sitting atop 268 steps, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue is positioned on a lotus throne, surrounded by eight smaller bronze statues representative of the gods, or immortals. The statue is so named as its base is a model of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. 


The Buddha Statue's right hand is raised, representing the removal of affliction; his left hand rests on his knee, signifying human happiness. While most Buddha statues face South, Tian Tan casts his serene gaze towards the North, making this statue unique amongst its peers."

 Tian Tan Buddha

 268 steps to Buddha

Po Lin Monastery

 Ceiling of Po Lin Monastery

 Wisdom Path constructed of Heart Sutra etched on individual stone tablets

Wish Mum could have come with, I think she would have liked it. :)