6 Must-Visit Monasteries In Hong Kong

monasteries in hong kong
Sin Yee
Sin Yee 
Updated
| 4 min read

Hong Kong might be a bustling city with one of the fastest paces in the world but do you know that this busy city is also famed for their monasteries? Small as it might be, Hong Kong houses about 600 Buddhist and Taoist temples - that is a lot, considering how tiny the city is. The majority of the religious population in Hong Kong follows the traditional Chinese religion and monasteries play a huge role in their lives. In this article, we will be listing out a few world-famous monasteries in Hong Kong - locals and tourists flock to these places just to have a look, give their worship, and to find their inner peace. Check out these must-visit monasteries in Hong Kong.

1. Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery

Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Underwaterbuffalo used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery was first constructed in the 1950s and used to be a the-storey structure. After their USD 60 million revamp in 2010, it has now become a magnificent, 45-metre (147.6 feet) high temple complex with electricity-saving facilities. Located at Lam Tei, in the Tuei Mun District, Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery is not just actively doing their part to promote Buddhism, but is also educating the public about the rich culture and heritage of Buddhism on the principle of practicing mercy. One famous structure in Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery must be the 20-metres (65.6 feet) high Mahavira Hall, located right on top of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall. Inside the hall, you’ll find three gold-plated statues of Buddha Sakyamuni right in the middle, each of them about 5 metres (16.4 feet) tall. But the most significant view in this monastery has got to be Lotus Shrine. Meticulously built right on top of the temple, this shrine resembles a huge lotus when viewed from afar, and even gives off a glow at night.

Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery

Address: Hong Kong, Lam Tei, Castle Peak Road (Lam Tei), Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery Complex

Website: Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery

Opening hours: 9am - 7pm (daily)

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2. Tsing Shan Monastery

HK TsingShanMonastry FrontGate 2011
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Chong Fat used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Tsing Shan Monastery, located at the foot of Castle Peak in Tsing Shan Tsuen is attributed as one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong. It has an interesting history. This monastery was built to remember Reverend Pui To, an Indian Monk who always travelled with a wooden cup. He was attracted by the serene environment of where the temple now stands, so he built his lodging over there to practice mediation. When you enter the monastery, you’ll find a flight of stairs leading you to the main worship hall. The Chinese words, “一切有情、同登覺地” (Everything on Earth Has Ties and Reaches Nirvana Together) was inscribed on the flight of stairs. Connecting the main worship hall is Ching Wan Koon, a hall dedicated to Goddess Dou Lao. People believe that she has the abilities to relieve them of their worries.

Tsing Shan Monastery

Address: Tsing Shan Monastery Path, Tsing Shan Tsuen, New Territories, Hong Kong

Website: Tsing Shan Monastery

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3. Our Lady of Joy Abbey

Our Lady of Joy Abbey
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Nhk9 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Also formerly known as Trappist Haven Monastery, Our Lady of Joy Abbey is a catholic monastery located in Tai Shui Hang, Hong Kong. This monastery doesn’t look very special at first glance but when you step inside, you can see that it was constructed in medieval-style. The founders wanted a very simple, minimal building because they want believers to be more focused on praying, experiencing and opening their heart to Him. For the nature lovers who want to give Our Lady of Joy Abbey a visit, the monastery can be accessed via a 7-kilometre (23 miles) scenic hiking trail along Nim Shue Wan in Discovery Bay.

Our Lady of Joy Abbey

Address: Tai Shui Hang, Hong Kong

Website: Our Lady of Joy Abbey

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4. Po Lin Monastery

Po Lin Monastery 2
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Enochlau used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Po Lin Monastery was also known as The Big Hut before they had their name officially changed in 1924. Located on Ngong Ping Plateau, on Lantau Island, it used to be a remote temple but gained popularity after the Tian Tan Buddha, a giant Buddha statue, completed its construction back in 1993. Aside from the huge giant statue, you can also find three majestic bronze Buddha statues that represents his past, present, and future lives in the main altar. After Po Lin Monastery was dubbed as “the Buddhist World in the South”, pilgrims from all over the world flocked over to visit the temple. If you wish to visit Po Lin Monastery, it is advisable to take the Ngong Ping 360, a gondola that runs between Tung Chung and Ngong Ping.

Po Lin Monastery

Address: Ngong Ping, Hong Kong

Website: Po Lin Monastery

Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)

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5. Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

Man Fat Tsz (Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery), Man Fat Din, Sha Tin (Hong Kong)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Malcolm Koo used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, also known as Man Fat Tsz in Cantonese, is probably Hong Kong’s most well-known cultural heritage site. Founded by Reverend Yuet Kai in 1951 with fundings from the general public, construction of Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery was completed in 1957. It was also listed by the Hong Kong government as a Grade 3 historic building. There is also a nine-storey pagoda, surrounded by Buddha statues adjoined to the main temple complex. It is open to the public and you can climb up the pagoda to catch a glimpse of beautiful Sha Tin. The 8-hectare (19.7 acres) structure is home to an estimated 13,000 miniature Buddha statues that can be found lining the walls in the monastery. In the main altar of the temple, you can see the preserved body of Reverend Yuet Kai, the monastery’s founder, in a glass case. Remember to wear comfortable hiking shoes when you are visiting the temple because you are going to climb up a flight of more than 400 steep steps that are also lined with Buddha statues in various mix of poses.

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

Address: 220 Pai Tau Village, Sha Tin, Hong Kong

Website: Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)

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6. Tsz Shan Monastery

Tsz Shan Monastery - Upper courtyard 01
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Underwaterbuffalo used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Tsz Shan Monastery is a huge Buddhist temple located in the Tai Po District of Hong Kong. It was only first opened to the public in April 2015 so this monastery is considered one of the latest additions to Hong Kong’s rich cultural heritage. The first thing that you will notice upon stepping into the temple grounds is their magnificent 76-metre (249.3 feet) tall bronze Guanyin statue - the second tallest in the world. The construction of this sanctuary cost an estimated HKD 1.5 billion (~USD 19.2 million), took 12 years to build, and was mostly funded by Hong Kong’s tycoon, Li Ka-shing. The temple is very modern, with its exterior lined with expensive zitan wood, featuring various grand meditation halls and even bullet-proof dormitories that are not open to the public. Tze Shan Monastery is free to visit but however, you have to book your trip online in advance since they do not entertain walk-ins.

Tsz Shan Monastery

Address: 88 Universal Gate Rd, Tai Po, Hong Kong

Website: Tsz Shan Monastery

Opening hours: 9:30am - 5pm (daily)

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Embrace the cultural side of Hong Kong

Western Monastery Hong Kong
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Francisco Anzola used under CC BY 2.0

Hong Kong isn’t just a shopper and foodie haven. Modern as it might be, the city is still filled with rich heritage and culture that you wouldn’t want to miss. If you are there, be sure to include a few of these must-visit monasteries in your itinerary. Who knows, you might find your inner peace and nirvana at those attractions. But also remember to do your research in advance because you’d want to dress appropriately and find out more about the do’s and don'ts as they are well-respected religious cultural heritage sites.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Sin Yee is a small-business owner, freelance writer, and content creator. At Basic Theory, she specializes in crafting all-natural, synthetic-free skin and body care products. Beyond her business,...Read more

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