Not everything in Hong Kong is new and shiny, some old traditions are still kept. A visit to Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden showed me how new and old have been reinvented in Hong Kong.
Not too far from Choi Hung Estate is Chi Lin Nunnery, a Buddhist complex originally built in the 1930s. It feels new given that it was rebuilt in 1998, but since they used traditional Chinese Tang dynasty methods it still has an old school vibe. The entire Nunnery was rebuilt using only natural materials (wood, stone, and clay) and not one single nail was used to hold the structure together! The symbolism behind this is to emphasize that humans are one with nature. The center of the Nunnery is rich in lotus ponds and bonsai trees, creating a peaceful hideaway in the loud city of Hong Kong.
As you walk around the Nunnery, you can catch glimpses of nuns offering fruit and rice to Buddha and arhats, Buddhist disciples, and chanting behind screens. You feel like you are one with nature, until you see the high rises erected behind the Nunnery. But they offer you an interesting contrast of old and new, hustle and calm. Entry is free for both the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden.
Just across from the Chi Lin Nunnery is Nan Lian Garden, now managed by the Nunnery. Like Chi Lin Nunnery, Nan Lian Garden is also very new. It was opened in 2006 and modeled after a Tang-style Chinese garden. As I was wandering around, I was surprised I couldn’t hear the noise of cars and traffic right outside the garden. The garden was created with noise barriers to shield any incoming noise and filter exhaust and dust from the city. Some highlights from Nan Lian Garden include the Lotus Pond with the gold Perfection Pavilion connected by two red painted timber Zi Wu Bridges and The Mill.
If you are looking for a modern, new take on Buddhism and Taoism on the outskirts of the city, head to Kowloon and discover these quiet hideaways for yourself.
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1 comment
Great blog! Amazing pictures looking very beautiful. I hope keep posting.