Hong Kong's Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden -- A Photo Essay
Not to be missed, this traditional Buddhist nunnery and garden is a much-guarded respite midst the chaos of the city's construction boom.
On our second day in Hong Kong, we had hoped to tour more of the city under sunny skies, but we were met with gray clouds and the threat of rain. We packed raincoats and umbrellas into our backpack and left the ship around 9:30 AM to embark on a mysteriously titled excursion called Nine Dragons Tour.
We first visited Nan Lian Garden and the adjacent Chi Lin Nunnery. This was one of the more surprising and welcome aspects of our tour—a garden sanctuary of landscaped beauty and a Buddhist nunnery evoking spiritual tranquility in the midst of noisy, chaotic Hong Kong.
Low-lying clouds embraced the nearby hills, and a steady rain greeted us as we arrived at the gardens. We eagerly entered the first building to escape the downpour.
Inside, it showcased replicas of famous buildings from the Tang Dynasty and provided information about the various joining methods employed during that era.
Examples of interlocking pieces of cypress wood illustrated how parts of the buildings were constructed without nails. To me, it looks like it could also be a piece of abstract art.
A footbridge from the Nan Lian Garden connects the garden to the Chi Lin Nunnery. It spans above a busy highway, yet the traffic noise is muffled.
Entering the front court of the complex, we were met with the geometrically symmetrical Lotus Pond Garden, a collection of four water gardens adorned with various colorful lotuses.
Climbing another set of stairs from the Lotus gardens, we arrived at the entrance to the Chi Lin Nunnery. It’s an extraordinary example of Tang dynasty architecture made entirely of cypress wood and held together without nails.
The nunnery’s inner courtyard has a series of altars with adorned golden Buddhas, but no photography is allowed as a sign of respect.
Looking back from the entrance of the nunnery, one can see the four lotus ponds, a central incense burner, and the distant exit to the gardens.
The rain slowed and then stopped as we began our tour of the garden. All the foliage glistened with the moisture from the rain.
The Rockery houses an enormous collection of polished rocks, all brought to Hong Kong from China. Surrounded by raked sand, each rock stands as an island of solemnity and stunning beauty.
A small part of the garden is misted and feels especially ethereal; it was my favorite part of the garden.
The garden's many layers are particularly visually appealing, featuring a pond with koi, landscaped pine trees and bonsai, polished rocks, pagodas, trees, as well as low buildings and towering apartments.
Woven brick paths wind in and out of all the corners of the garden, and eventually lead back to the beginning—and the entrance/exit gate.
An exhibition of pottery was featured in the art gallery, but we were pressed for time by then, and so we had only a cursory glance. We needed at least another hour!
The Pavilion of Absolute Perfection, or the Golden Pavilion, is connected to the landscaped garden by red arched bridges.
The garden and nunnery were only the first destination on our Nine Dragons Tour, but since this stop was so photogenic, I decided to divide the tour into two parts.
Hong Kong: Part Two will feature the markets of everyday life in Hong Kong—bird market, wet market, street market, jade market, and flower market.
The contrast of the various architectural structures along with both garden/urban settings is fun to see! I can see why you would have wanted more time to explore! So much to look at!
The contrast of the various structures along with both garden/urban settings is fun to see! I can see why you would have wanted more time.