The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, situated in the New Territories area of Hong Kong and perched on the lush, green Po Fook Hill, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, is one of the most peculiar, fascinating places to visit in Hong Kong.
To reach the temple, you’ll need comfortable clothing and shoes and a little staying power. Even if you’re not athletic, however, you can gradually make your way up the 430 steps to the top!
Along the route that leads to a large terrace surrounded by several temple structures, you’ll be accompanied by 500 large statues representing Buddha in different poses and styles, and with a variety of expressions: if you look carefully, you’ll see that no two are alike.
As you climb the steps to the top, let me briefly tell you about the monastery’s history.
First of all, despite its name, the “monastery” is run by laymen, and there are no monks living here; so, if anyone approaches you for a donation, don’t trust them.
This is a recent structure, built between 1949 and 1957 by a very devout Buddhist monk, Yuet Kai, whose body is preserved in the main hall. In the years that followed, the founder built up an amazing collection of more than 13,000 Buddha statues!
I’m sure you’re now wondering why the temple is called Ten Thousand Buddhas.
Ten Thousand is simply a typical expression in the Cantonese region to indicate a very large number.
Now press pause and press start when you’ve arrived at the top of the stairs.
Okay, if you’ve survived the climb, you will now have reached the lower terrace, with the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall, as well as a number of other areas, the marvelous nine-story pagoda and the 18 Arhat Gallery, dedicated to the first 18 true followers of Buddha.
An interesting fact: when you reach the area, make sure you don’t confuse the Monastery with the Po Fook Hill Ancestral Halls, a huge burial site on several levels, in an area below the temple you’re about to visit. You might be misled by the gilded statues you can catch a glimpse of at the entrance.
Language: English