02 Po Lin Monastery

Po Lin Monastery is the living heart of Ngong Ping. While many travellers come for the Big Buddha, the monastery is where the day slows into something calmer: incense in the air, chanting that drifts through the halls, and monks moving quietly between courtyards. It is not a museum set piece – it is an active place of worship that welcomes visitors who behave respectfully. The monastery’s story begins with a small group of monks who built a simple retreat on this mountain plateau, long before Ngong Ping became a major tourist stop. Over time, it grew into one of Hong Kong’s best-known Buddhist sites, with ornate halls, statues, and carefully kept gardens that feel surprisingly sheltered from the crowds outside. A good visit is unhurried. Walk through the main courtyard, step into the prayer halls, and notice the details: lanterns, carved beams, and the steady glow of butter lamps. If you time it well, you can enjoy a vegetarian meal at the monastery kitchen, then continue to the Big Buddha or the nearby Wisdom Path for a quiet walk.