# Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha (宝莲禅寺和天坛大佛)

Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region · South China, China · Guidebook rating: 4/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/po-lin-monastery-and-tian-tan-buddha
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** Free
- **Opening hours:** Po Lin Monastery: 8:00–18:00; Tian Tan Buddha: 10:00–17:30
- **Time needed:** 1–4 hours
- **Getting there:** Take bus 23 (New Lantau Bus) from the bus terminus outside Exit B of Tung Chung MTR Station; or take a ferry from Pier 6 in Central to Mui Wo, then transfer at the Mui Wo bus terminus to bus 2 and alight at Ngong Ping Village
- **Good for:** Temples

## About Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha

Po Lin Monastery is known as the Buddhist Kingdom of the South and is the foremost of Hong Kong's four great Buddhist monasteries. The Tian Tan Buddha, which sits on Muk Yu Peak at 482 metres above sea level and directly faces the monastery's ceremonial archway, is the world's largest outdoor bronze Buddha statue. The Buddha's base has three tiers, housing an exhibition hall and more. Inside is a large bell, carved with Buddhist images and scriptures. The bell is computer-controlled and strikes every 7 minutes, 108 times in total, to help people “release themselves from the 108 afflictions.”

## Tips from the guidebook

- Plan your time: Getting to and from Po Lin Monastery takes a fair amount of time, so visitors are advised to go in the morning. The bus journey from Tung Chung or Mui Wo to Po Lin Monastery takes 50 minutes, so plan your day carefully.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 2598. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
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