Nicknamed the “Big Buddha”, the Tian Tan Buddha is the world’s largest outdoor bronze Buddha. While docked in Hong Kong, students on the Spring 2015 voyage journeyed to Lantau Island to see the 34 meters tall monument for themselves.
It was amazement at first sight, as the large Buddha peaked above the lush hillside. As students reached the front, they witnessed a straight staircase that lead to the base of the large monument. Visitors must climb 268 stairs to reach the lotus, where Buddha sits. Finished in 1993, the statue is in pristine condition, as it sits tall, welcoming visitors from around the world. The students climbed the stairs to the big, bronze Buddha and wandered, only to find six smaller statues circling the base. Known as “The Offering of the Six Devas,” these figures hold offerings for the Buddha such as a flower, fruit and incense.
After the climb, students then observed The Po Lin Monastery, located very near the large Buddha. The monastery is said to be the principal center of Buddhism in Hong Kong. Noe Martinez, from the University of California, Merced, reflected on his time on Lantau Island, “It’s important to remember that the temples are a result of one mans quest to find what it means to be.”
Nestled in the lush hillside, the striking architecture of the monastery is rivaled only by the grandiose golden interior. Newly added, the Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas was opened to the public in October of 2014 and adds to the lavish draw for worshipers and visitors alike.
It’s these majestic, cultural attractions that hint to personal growth and inspiration as the Spring 2015 voyage rounds the globe.
