On the largest of Hong Kong’s islands—Lantau—stands the magnificent Po Lin Monastery, whose name translates as “Precious Lotus.” This monastery, founded in 1906 by three monks, possesses true treasures of Buddhist religious art.
On the monastery grounds there are several temples, whose halls are adorned with beautiful frescoes and exquisite stone carvings. In the Main Temple you will admire golden statues of the Buddhas of the three worlds and carved stone columns, the Skanda Temple is known for its luxurious altars and images of deities, and the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas houses famous relics and a library of ancient manuscripts.
Fantastic statues and monuments are placed throughout the gardens surrounding the temples. The main alley, for example, is guarded by 12 stone generals, each of whom symbolizes a particular year of the Chinese 12-year calendar. It is believed that if you make a wish by the symbol of your year, it will обязательно come true.
The most important statue, for which most tourists come here, is, of course, the Great Buddha, towering above the island and gently smiling at the world. This Buddha, 34 meters high and weighing 250 tons, sits on top of a hill on a lotus flower throne, facing north, and seems to bless all Chinese lands. To bow before the Great Buddha, pilgrims must climb 268 steps. At the top, a viewing platform with a wonderful panorama of the monastery and the islands awaits them.
