A Hong Kong Cultural Icon but very hard to visit

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Photo of the day No. 15 - 10,000 Buddha Monastery Hong Kong

A Hong Kong Cultural Icon but very hard to visit

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“The Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery, Shatin, Hong Kong and there’s a dead bloke coated with lacquer and gold leaf in the glass cabinet oh and it is 13,000 Buddha’s not 10,000!”

Visit Hong Kong | The Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery, Shatin, Hong Kong

Known locally as Man Fat Tsz established in 1949 and it opened for business in 1957., apparently there are NO monks who reside or practice rituals at the Monastery, the facility is overseen by lay people.

I am known for my blunt assessments of various attractions in Hong Kong and sometimes no matter how amazing the attraction is, the location and number of steps to take just make it very difficult to fit into a tour itinerary. The monastery is a fair distance away from civilisation although there is an MTR (Train) Station just 10 minutes away from the lower level entrance of the Monastery.

Pavilions, Pagoda’s, troops of nasty wild monkeys, funny signs, weird and freaky gilded statues, 13,000 Buddha’s not 10,000, mummified human remains in a glass box, a very confusing entrance, fake Buddhist Monks, packs of wild dogs, sounds amazing doesn’t it.... well I think so.

....and it is except for one small detail | 431 steps, that’s right, you heard me, 431 nasty, steep steps and yes, I am guessing that the 500 gilded statues that line the steps are designed to distract you from the exertion, it does not work.

I have been 8 times to this place since 2010, 4 times with guests and 4 times on my own but it has been a while since I have been, just the thought of those darn steps fills me with dread.

There is no secret entrance with an elevator, it is not linked to the Ancestral Hall next door. | even in Hong Kong’s cool, dry winters it is challenging and frankly most of my guests are simply put off by the thought of doing these steps and I agree with them, speaking bluntly, it is simply horrible even for young fit people!!

This is not a working Monastery by the way, it is actually hard to describe, to me it is a large columbarium as quite a few of the buildings store cremated remains in line with local beliefs and customs, so it is a privately owned business enterprise designed to make a profit and has been from the day it opened for business.

Anyway once you have made it to the Monastery, enjoy yourself, for me the fascinating thing is in the main Temple building which houses the 13,000 Buddha’s - you will notice a glass box and inside a statue which apparently is the real remains of the founder of the Monastery the Venerable Yuet Kai, this was his dying wish and his body was coated with lacquer and gold leaf, it is a great legend, I am a little sceptical based on the fact that there are very strict rules and regulations about disposing of the deceased in Hong Kong and there always has been.. So believe what you want to believe... I think it is a little creepy by the way.

Finally, three things

The grounds of the Monastery are on 2 levels, make sure you walk up the steps to the 2nd level, it is fascinating, the steps are to the right of the main entrance once you have recovered from doing those steps!

The rhesus macaque monkeys there (sometimes you do not see them) are not cute and friendly, they are quite nasty with huge teeth, hunt in packs and carry off bags, possessions and small children. You have been warned., every now and then there are press reports of people being attacked by these nasty buggers with one quite recently in 2024 where the unfortunate male victim aged 37 died after being bitten by a monkey and contracting a very rare virus.

Please do click on the link below, Zolima Magazine always publishes excellent articles and saves me a job, they always do a lot of research and yes, they do mention those horrible 431 steps.

The amazing panoramic city view from the Lugard Road Lookout at Victoria Peak

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