The sovereign nation of Hong Kong has a heritage that is as colourful as it is expansive, and goes back millennia. A heritage site that is closer to the modern day is the iconic Po Lin monastery.
![Po Lin Monastery and Big Buddha | Image Credit: By User: (WT-shared) Inas at wts wikivoyage [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons](https://www.wellknownplaces.com/blog-data/uploads/2018/06/1024px-Lantau_tian_tan_buddha.jpg)
History
The temple was founded in 1906 by three monks, who were visitors from mainland China, from within the Jiangsu province. Originally, the humble temple was simply known as Tai Mao Pung, which means ‘The Big Hut’.
The Temple Complex
The compound that exists today was built not too long after the initial monastery and was constructed in 1924. It consists of several buildings, with many of them built during very recent times. Prominent structures include the Main Shrine Hall of Buddha and the Hall of Bodhisattva Skanda.
The Tian Tian Buddha
More commonly referred to as Big Buddha, this statue was built in 1993 and is situated on an extension of the temple. It is one of the biggest Buddha statues in the world and measures a height of 112 feet. It is a Hong Kong hallmark, attracting visitors from many Hong Kong luxury hotels situated nearby such as The Murray Hong Kong.
Wooden Bracelets
The wooden bracelets of Po Lin are quite famous and can only be found here, and are sold quite close to the Buddha statue. These are definitely one of the top souvenirs you can find in Hong Kong
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+
