Ngong Ping

Tian Tan Buddha (aka Big Buddha)—world’s tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha

Dates visited: March 25, 2013

We visited the Ngong Ping village on Lantau Island to see Tian Tan Buddha (aka Big Buddha)—world’s tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha statue (112 ft tall). It was an exciting trip just getting to the statue. We took the glass-bottomed Ngong Ping Cable Car from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping; a 3.5 mile aerial ride across Tung Chung bay. It was windy so the cable car swayed quite a bit and having a see-through floor only added more excitement to the feeling of flying in the sky. The clouds seemed to waft in and out, and the view of Buddha suddenly appearing through the mist was a sight to remember. We climbed the 268 steps to get to the base of the statue. It was an indescribable feeling to see the serene giant statue peacefully smiling and welcoming your presence.

We also visited the nearby Po Lin Monastery. The temples were very nicely decorated. Surprisingly, even though there were lots of people, the ambience was still harmonious and tranquil.