Hong Kong | China: Tian Tan Buddha

Today, we sought out a little spirituality. We don’t do it enough, but in whatever form it may come, taking time to reflect, particularly in extraordinary spiritual places provides a wonderfully cathartic experience.

We are staying in the famed Chunking Mansions in Kowloon, immediately opposite of Hong Kong Island, which is pretty much the heart of the city. A brief walk to the convenient metro stop located right outside of our guest house put us on the way eastward to Tung Chung.

The Tian Tan Buddha was until 2007, the largest outdoor seated Buddha in the world. The pictures may not provide the appropriate justice, but the Buddha really is GIANT. It is perched on top of a hill, and a lotus throne, but the statue itself is 110 feet tall, and an incredible 250 tons.

From the Tung Chung metro stop, you have the option to take a really picturesque cable car ride lasting about 30 minutes to the perch. The view inside of the cable car can get pretty incredible, and as you ride from peak to peak up to the Buddha perch, the distance between your car and the ground seems endless.

Unfortunately, pollution from mainland China extends right into Hong Kong, providing an unwanted haze to your view.

The Buddha statue is so big, you first get a glimpse with more than 5 minutes left of your cable car ride. Some have said on a clear day you can see it from Macau, which is incredibly far away.

Getting to the summit, where the Buddha is seated requires a little step work, 268 of them to be specific. Memories of The Great Wall, flashed into our minds, and this seemed wonderful in comparison.

With our spiritual tanks full, and our souls energized to once again go forth into the world, we took off on the bus for Tai O Fishing Village.