天壇大佛 | |
22°15′15″N113°54′19″E / 22.254106°N 113.905144°E | |
Location | Hong Kong |
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Material | Bronze |
Height | 34 m (112 ft) |
Completion date | 29 December 1993 |
The Big Buddha | |||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 天壇大佛 | ||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 天坛大佛 | ||||||||||||
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The Big Buddha is a large bronze image of The Buddha,completed in 1993,and located at Ngong Ping,Lantau Island,in Hong Kong. The image of the Buddha,located near the Po Lin Monastery which built it,is a tourist attraction. [1]
The image’s base is a model of the one in the United Kingdom. One of the five large Buddha images in China,it is enthroned on a lotus on top of a three-platform altar. [2] Surrounding it are six smaller bronze images known as "The Offering of the Six Devas" that are posed offering flowers,incense,lamp,ointment,fruit,and music to the Buddha,representing the Six Perfections of generosity,morality,patience,zeal,meditation,and wisdom,necessary for Enlightenment in life. .[ citation needed ]
The 34 m (112 ft) tall image weighs over 250 metric tons (280 short tons ),and was constructed from 202 bronze pieces. In addition to the exterior components,there is a strong steel framework inside to support the heavy load. Visitors have to climb 268 steps to reach the Buddha, [2] though the site also features a small winding road for vehicles to provide access for disabled people. The Buddha's right hand is raised,representing the removal of affliction,while the left rests open on his lap in a gesture of generosity.
The monument also features three internal exhibit floors beneath the image:the halls of the Universe,of Benevolent Merit and of Remembrance. One of the most renowned features inside is a relic of Gautama Buddha, [3] consisting of some of his alleged cremated remains.
The Big Buddha was constructed beginning in 1990,and was finished on 29 December 1993,which the Chinese reckon as the day of the Buddha's enlightenment. When the statue was completed,monks from around the world were invited to the opening ceremony. Distinguished visitors from mainland China,Hong Kong,Taiwan,India,Japan,Korea,Thailand,Malaysia,Singapore,Sri Lanka,and the United States all took part in the proceedings. [4]
On 18 October 1999,the Hong Kong Post Office issued a definitive issue of landmark stamps,of which the HK$2.50 value depicts The Big Buddha. [5] On 22 May 2012,it was also featured on the HK$3 value of the Five Festival set,this one celebrating the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha.
Po Lin Monastery and the Buddha are open to the public between 10:00 and 17:30. Access to the outside of the Buddha is free of charge,but there is an admission fee to go inside the Buddha.
Visitors can reach the site by bus or taxi,travelling first to Mui Wo (also known as "Silvermine Bay") via ferry from the Outlying Islands piers in Central (pier No. 6) or to Tung Chung station via the MTR,or cable car. Visitors may then travel to and from the Buddha via the following bus routes:
The Ngong Ping 360 gondola lift between Tung Chung and Ngong Ping (25 minutes). [6]
Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong,located west of Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula,and is part of the New Territories. Administratively,most of Lantau Island is part of the Islands District of Hong Kong. A small northeastern portion of the island is located in the Tsuen Wan District.
The Islands District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is part of the New Territories. It had a population of 185,282 in 2021.
Hong Kong counts approximately 600 temples,shrines and monasteries. While Buddhism and Christianity are the most widely practiced religions,most religions are represented in the Special Administrative Region.
Mui Wo is a rural town on the eastern coast of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The 2011 Census recorded 5,485 people living in Mui Wo and its environs.
The New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited,commonly known as New Lantao Bus or NLB,is a franchised bus company operating in Hong Kong. It mainly operates bus routes on Lantau Island.
Tung Chung,meaning "eastern stream",is an area on the northwestern coast of Lantau Island,Hong Kong. One of the most recent new towns,it was formerly a rural fishing village beside Tung Chung Bay,and along the delta and lower courses of Tung Chung River and Ma Wan Chung in the north-western coast of Lantau Island. The area was once an important defence stronghold against pirates and foreign military during the Ming and the Qing dynasties.
Tung Chung is a station on the Tung Chung line of the MTR rapid transport system in Hong Kong. As the western end of the Tung Chung line,it is also a transfer point of those wishing to use the Ngong Ping Cable Car and by bus to the rest of Lantau Island. As with all other MTR stations,Tung Chung has a unique colour scheme used throughout the station,in this case lavender.
Po Lin Monastery is a Buddhist monastery,located on Ngong Ping Plateau,on Lantau Island,Hong Kong.
Tai O is a fishing town,partly located on an island of the same name,on the western side of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The village name means large inlet,referring to outlet for the waterways merges as it moves through Tai O.
Ngong Ping 360 is a bicable gondola lift on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Intended to improve tourism to the area,the aerial lift was previously known as Tung Chung Cable Car Project before acquiring the Ngong Ping 360 brand in April 2005. It consists of the Ngong Ping Cable Car,formerly known as the Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail,and the Ngong Ping Village,a retail and entertainment centre adjacent to the cable car's upper station. Ngong Ping 360 connects Tung Chung,on the north coast of Lantau and itself linked to central Hong Kong by the Tung Chung line,with the Ngong Ping area in the hills above. This is home to the Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha,both already significant tourist attractions in their own right. Before Ngong Ping 360's opening,the only access was via a mountain road and bus service.
The Lantau Trail,opened on 4 December 1984,is a long-distance footpath on Lantau Island in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The 70 kilometres (43 mi) trail is a loop starting and finishing in the rural town of Mui Wo. It is the third longest trail in Hong Kong,after MacLehose Trail and Wilson Trail. The Lantau Trail has good visitor facilities along the way,and the route is well marked. There are information boards and maps at junctions between each stage. Distance posts around 500 metres apart help hikers know where they are. At each turning,route signs give instructions about directions,place names,and the distances and times for hiking between various locations.
Ngong Ping is a highland in the western part of Lantau Island,Hong Kong. It hosts Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha amidst the hills which is about 34 m tall. There are several hills nearby which are also an attraction to tourists. It is now the terminus of the cable car ride Ngong Ping 360 which travels to Tung Chung. New facilities and tourist attractions have opened including the Ngong Ping Village,Walking with the Buddha,the Monkey's Tale Theatre and Ngong Ping Tea House. A youth hostel is located near the monastery. The second highest peak of Hong Kong,Lantau Peak,is at its southeast.
Nei Lak Shan is the eighth highest mountain in Hong Kong. With a height of 751 m (2,464 ft),it is situated on Lantau Island immediately north of Ngong Ping where the Buddhist Po Lin Monastery is located.
Shek Pik Reservoir is a reservoir in Shek Pik on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Built between 1957 and 1963,it has a storage capacity of 24 million cubic metres and is the third largest reservoir in Hong Kong after High Island Reservoir and Plover Cove Reservoir.
A Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a special area to protect wildlife,habitats and geographic features based on scientific interest in Hong Kong. Scientific interests are special features relating to animal life,plant life,geology and/or geography. After being identified by the Agriculture,Fisheries and Conservation Department,these areas are documented by the Planning Department and added to maps. From 1975 to 2005,67 locations were designated SSSIs throughout Hong Kong.
Tong Fuk is a village and an area on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. It is a popular place for holiday recreation. Tong Fuk Beach,to the south of the village,is a popular local attraction alongside the other beaches of South Lantau.
Articles related to Hong Kong include:
Buddhism is a major religion in Hong Kong and has been greatly influential in the traditional culture of its populace. Among the most prominent Buddhist temples in the city there are the Chi Lin Nunnery in Diamond Hill,built in the Tang dynasty's architectural style;the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island,famous for the outdoor bronze statue,Tian Tan Buddha,which attracts a large number of visitors during the weekends and holidays.
Silvermine Bay Ferry Pier or Mui Wo Ferry Pier is a ferry pier located on the waterfront of Silver Mine Bay in Mui Wo Ferry Pier Road,Mui Wo,New Territories,Hong Kong. There are two ferry routes provided in the pier. One is the service between Mui Wo and Central,operated by Sun Ferry. Another one is the "Inter-Island" service among Peng Chau,Lantau Island and Cheung Chau,also operated by the same operator.