Location
The Tian Tan Buddha, also called the Big Buddha, is a large bronze statue located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Considered Hong Kong’s most recognizable and iconic landmark nestled 34 metres high from the land. It was completed in 1993 and is a major center of Buddhism in the region.
History
The statue is located at an altitude of 482 meters near Po Lin Monastery. Statue was composed of 202 pieces of copper, 26.4 meters of height, 34 meters with lotus pedestal and base with a total weight of 250 tonnes. The Tian Tan Buddha statue work project was started during 1990 and completed in 1993, completions of work took more than 2 decades.Today Buddha sat on the 268 stone steps and to construct the statue they spent a total cost of 60 million Hong Kong dollars. Over a period of time stone, base, and stairway are shown varying degrees of sailing and erosion due to numerous days of sun and rain effects. It is recommended to take a series of steps or by taking the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area.
Entrance fees
Access to the Big Buddha or The Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin monastery are free of charge and you need not pay any entry ticket to it. But if you are using the cable car or accessing the site by other means, then you have to pay a certain amount like $ 195 for adults and $ 95 for children. Tickets for Big Buddha Cable Car services can be purchased at the official website in advance or at a site.
Cable car service
The cable car service, Ngong Ping 360, is a popular option for reaching the Big Buddha. It is a newly launched crystal + cabin offer with 80% of visibility. It is a total 25 minutes of cab ride which shows us Tung Chung bay, Lantau island, Ngong Ping plateau. It operates from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping Village, providing a scenic and convenient way to access the statue and monastery. They charge $350 for adults and $135 for children.
Overall, visiting the Tian Tan Buddha or Big Buddha is surely a mesmerizing feeling to every traveler. One of the must-see experiences for anyone interested in exploring the cultural and religious heritage of ancient China and Hong Kong architectures.
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