New Territories - Hong Kong: Top Sights, Local Life, Made Easy - page 245

Don't Miss
The Statue
Not many know this but the likeness of Lord Gautama was created by China Aerospace
Science and Technology - the company that designs China's spaceships. The right hand is
lifted in a gesture symbolic of a vow to eliminate suffering; the left is placed on the thigh,
signifying compassion.
Exhibition Hall
The statue is reached by 268 steps. Inside the pedestal is an exhibition hall ( 10am-6pm)
containing oil paintings and ceramic plaques of the Buddha's life and teachings. The large
computer-operated bell chimes 108 times during the day to symbolise escape from the
'108 vexations of mankind'.
Po Lin Monastery
Eclipsed by the new buildings in front is the century-old Po Lin Monastery ( www.plm.org.hk ;
9am-6pm) , founded here by three monks from Jiangsu province in 1906. There are
temples, a tea garden and a restaurant.
Ngong Ping 360
The most spectacular way to reach the plateau is by the 5.7km Ngong Ping 360 (360;
www.np360.com hk; adult/child one way $86/44, return $125/62; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6.30pm Sat & Sun) , a
cable car linking Ngong Ping with Tung Chung downhill. The journey over the bay and
the mountains takes 25 minutes in glassed-in gondolas.
admission free
10am-6pm
Top Tips
› Unless you like cheesy multimedia shows, skip Ngong Ping Village where the cable car stops uphill.