Chi Lin Nunnery (志蓮淨苑)

Chi Lin Nunnery "is a large Buddhist temple. Covering a space of more than 33,000 square meters, the temple complex includes a nunnery, temple halls, Chinese gardens, visitor's hostels and a vegetarian restaurant. The temple halls have statues of the Sakyamuni Buddha, the goddess of mercy Guanyin and other bodhisattvas. These statues are made from gold, clay, wood and stone.

The Chi Lin Nunnery was founded in 1934 but was rebuilt in the 1990s following the style of Tang Dynasty traditional Chinese architecture. The present-day buildings are wood frame buildings built without the use of any iron nails. This construction is based on traditional Chinese architectural techniques dating from the Tang Dynasty that uses special interlocking systems cut into the wood to hold them in place. The Chi Lin Nunnery buildings are the only buildings to be built in this style in modern day Hong Kong. 

The temple halls and the Chinese garden in front of the nunnery are open to the public daily free of charge. (Wikipedia)"

To reach Chi Lin Nunnery, you will want to stop at Diamond Hill if you're on the MTR. I think you'll be able to find it if you follow the signs.

This is a map/picture of the whole nunnery

I think this was the entrance

After walking in a circle (in the garden), I think you reach another set of stairs that will take you to a temple hall.

This is the hall.

A hall in the hall.

It's a really, really pretty garden. Please go if you can. I went to this after I went to Wong Tai Sin. It's only a few MTR stations away! I love the set up of the whole place. It's so... zen. :) It's a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of HK.

Go there on a day when you can leisurely walk around and really take in the beauty of the garden. You won't be disappointed.

Jenn

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (萬佛寺)

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is located in Shatin. It is a Buddhist temple containing.. literally 10,000+ statues of Buddhas! It's just a short walk away from the Shatin MTR.

Guess what though? You also have to climb 400+ stairs in order to reach the temple...

Entrance

The start of the stairs...

More stairs...

More stairs...

More stairs...

More stairs...

More stairs...

ALMOST at the entrance of the temple

Even closer...

Tada! We've reached the entrance of the temple

So that will mark the end of your stair climbing. Upon arrival, you will see a directory.

The directory

View from the temple

I actually went a little before it closed, so I don't think I explored the whole temple. I was mostly only in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall area.

This is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall... There are a LOT of little Buddha statues in here... Also, no pictures allowed inside.

It closes around 4:30PM or 5PM... We spent less than half an hour inside before we had to leave. :( But, we did see a lot of little monkeys (I don't know the species...) roaming around while we walked all the way back down. :)

Going back to the entrance

Oh, there were some mosquitoes flying around... so make sure you have some sort of mosquito repellent. I didn't... so I got a lot of freaking mosquito bites. -___-

Even though I had to climb a lot of stairs, I really enjoyed being in the temple. It was so peaceful and relaxing. Maybe it's the high altitude... kind of makes you feel like you're no longer in the city. It's nice being away from the hustle and bustle of HK sometimes.

FYI, there are no nuns or monks residing in the temple, so you won't be seeing them around.

Jenn