Tag Archive for: Lantau

From Po Lin Monastery to Lantau Peak

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Graves of Po Lin Monastery and Lantau Peak, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China

Behind the Po Lin Monastery and the gigantic sitting Buddha statue, in the centre of Lantau Island, Hong Kong, a small path leads up to the burial grounds of some monks and disappears into the distance on the slopes of Lantau Peak (943 m), whose summit panorama invites you to a climb of about 4 km and 400 metres in altitude. The path is part of the 70 km long Lantau Trail, which crosses the entire island. It is just as challenging as the Hong Kong Trail because the path constantly goes up and down over the mountains in the centre; the humid heat doesn’t help. By the way: over the 50 km route and many thousands of metres in altitude of the Hong Kong Trail , an exclusive charity marathon to support autistic children, called the Rainbow Trek, takes place every year, where a group of 4 runners must all reach the finish line and are only allowed a 30-minute break halfway through. If that’s not challenging enough, you can turn to the Maclehose Trail over 100 km in the New Territories .

The largest sitting Buddha, Hong Kong

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Buddha statue in front of Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China

The 26-metre-high bronze Buddha statue towers over the Ngong Ping Plateau in the heart of Lantau Island, Hong Kong, and the Po Lin Monastery, an important site for Buddhists and a highlight for tourists in Hong Kong. The view of Lantau Peak and over the monastery complex is magnificent, and the crowds in the early morning, as well as the morning chill and relative peace, are very manageable. The site is easy to reach by bus from all parts of the island, especially the ferry terminals.

The Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island

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Po Lin Monastery and seated Buddha, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China

Lantau Island gives the impression that you are in another world, not Hong Kong, as this island offers some beautiful sights and landscapes – hikes over peaks with panoramic views, interesting towns, and impressive temples like the Po Lin Monastery in the centre of the island. Since the construction of the new Chek Lap Kok airport and adjacent satellite towns, the island’s relaxed atmosphere has been changing. The Po Lin Monastery, founded in 1928, is located on the central plateau below Lantau Peak. It is one of the ten most important Buddhist monasteries and is home to the world’s largest seated bronze Buddha statue – emphasis on ‘seated’ and ‘bronze’, as there are certainly larger statues elsewhere in other poses (standing, etc.), different materials, or inside buildings.