Lord Buddha was born an ordinary man, and his long path towards enlightenment overcoming all desires and materialistic feelings makes him an honoured figure among the many that follow his philosophy as Buddhists. All over the world Buddhists honour statues of the Buddha, and worship them with utmost loyalty. These statues are made in various sizes, from small ones ideal for the home to large creations that travellers cross borders to see. One of the finest Buddha statues in the world is seen in Hong Kong, and is said to be one of the most loved attractions among the sites frequented by visitors to the city.
The Tian Tan Buddha is located opposite the Po Lin monastery on the island of Lantau. Though it is not the tallest of all Buddha statues in a seating posture, as there are a few taller, it is the tallest of its kind made up of copper, standing at a height of 43 metres. The construction of the Tian Tan Buddha took approximately a decade of hard work and wise engineering, and the finished product is well worth it; it was open to the public for the first time in 1993. For visitors, reaching the site itself is an achievement as there are 268 stairs to climb in order to reach the top. It is best to visit on a clear day, as from the top the view of the surroundings is nothing short of breathtaking.
It is admirable how much precise details the statue consists of, and the various physical marks that are said to have been unique to the Buddha are visible here. Every detail has been made with care by those who built the structure and this is reflected in the magnificence of the site. While some may prefer to visit the site during special religious celebrations where they can watch the rituals performed by worshipers, others will prefer to visit on days where there is less of a crowd on site. Regardless of when they visit those who stop over here are expected to act and behave appropriately to maintain the sanctity of the place of worship. There are many other attractions around the Tian Tan Buddha as well as places to eat and it is a place that must be visited when in Hong Kong.
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