Traveling to the Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery 万佛寺
Escaping the Labyrinth
After you first touch down in Hong Kong, days will be spent exploring the alleyways and neon-lit streets of this megacity. No one really needs to research what to do in Hong Kong. The entire island is an attraction in itself. This city-state has a unique culture which can be found in its markets and street corners.
After you finally pick your jaw off the floor and get over the initial state of awe that Hong Kong strikes into the hearts of its visitors, you can then begin to travel to some of the gems located a bit outside of the downtown.
From temples to sleepy hamlets, Hong Kong is a place which takes a lifetime to explore. One of the most popular trips around Hong Kong is to the Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery.
Want to get really off the beaten path in Hong Kong? Be sure to visit Pok Fu Lam and the Wah Fu Estate!
Po Fook Hill Cemetery
After taking the East Rail line to Sha Tin Station and leaving out of Exit B, you will find yourself at the foot of Po Fook Hill. There are actually two entrances which lead to the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple, one on either side of the Po Fook Hill Cemetery.
Due to the monastery being tucked up at the top of the hill, many travelers mistakenly enter the cemetery thinking they can reach the grand hall from the memorial garden’s steps. After climbing nearly to the top of the hill, they will be disappointed to be faced with a dead-end.
The Po Fook Hill Cemetery has its own charm in its Buddhist imagery and its stunning view over the New Territories of Sha Tin. To reach the Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery, however, you will have to return down the mountain in defeat, and search for the elusive gates.
Another popular day trip in Hong Kong is traveling to the rainbow buildings of the Choi Hung Estate!
How To Get To Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery
Hopping on the MRT and take the East Rail Line to Sha Tin Station is by far the easiest part of reaching the Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery. After leaving out of Exit B and not mistakenly entering the Po Fook Hill Cemetary, you have two options to reach the summit of the mountain.
The most common route to reach the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple is taking the right path which passes rows of either horrifying or comical looking golden buddhas. While it may be difficult to find, as long as you keep to the right of the Memorial Garden, you will be able to find the sign and the entrance.
The second and less taken option is through Pai Tau Village. This path is simply on the left side of the Po Fook Hill Cemetary. As long as you keep on the path and follow the handrail, you will eventually be greeted by another Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery Sign. This route is also a common playground for local monkeys who like to swing from the bamboo and occasionally scare tourists.
Traveling to Taiwan? You won’t want to miss the massive Fo Guang Shan Monastery!
Marveling at the Monastery
While monks and nuns have called the top of Po Fook Hill their home for nearly a century, the name “Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple is actually fairly new.
Originally there was a small shrine was built at the top of the hill in memory of a nun who was killed during the fighting during World War II. In the 1950s the land was then handed over to the Buddhist teacher Yuet Kai. Following the construction of the monastery and the death of the head monk, the temple was no longer home to any monks despite the name.
The installment of the arhats or buddhas actually did not begin until 2001. Most of the statues are modeled after the arhats located at Qiongzhu Temple in Kunming. The Buddhas continued to line the pathway and even the courtyard of the temple until their number well exceeded 10,000.
To really get in touch with Chinese folk religions you need to visit a temple fair, check out this one in Ruifang Taiwan!
The Top of Po Fook Hill
The temple and pagoda located at the top of Po Fook Hill is not really anything to write home about. The red plaster building and cheap concrete tower hardly rival some of the more ornate temples of Hong Kong. The beauty of the Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery can be found in its endless rows or statues and the view looking over Sha Tin.
Although this temple is a popular place for those travelers looking to get a bit off the beaten path in Hong Kong, the monastery grounds is not too crowded with tourists. Due to Sha Tin being located just far enough out of the center to deter hoards of tour groups, people can still find a sense of seclusion and adventure amongst the beaming golden Buddhas.
Crossing over to Mainland China? Why not explore the largely misunderstood city of Yulin?
Traveling Off The Beaten Path In Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a city which is frequented by travelers from around the world. Despite the island being both a travel and tourism hub, the city has maintains a sense of adventure and mystery. While many stick to the brand name stores and more iconic sites of Hong Kong, there is far more to be discovered off of the beaten path.
The Ten Thousand Buddha Temple is a popular way for travelers to escape the crowds of Kowloon and Central, and tap into a side of Hong Kong tucked away in the hillside. After visiting this monastery you are sure to be researching even more places which will take you deeper into the true heart of Hong Kong.
