Tsz Shan Monastery, Hong Kong｜The World's Second Tallest Outdoor Standing Guanyin Statue

Tsz Shan Monastery is quite different from traditional temples. It is not an ancient temple; it was officially opened to the public in 2015. The monastery does not offer incense burning, only water offerings. Built by Mr. Li Ka-shing, it is nestled between mountains and the sea, with a serene environment. The architecture features Tang Dynasty style, harmoniously blending with the surrounding landscape. Tsz Shan Monastery combines a temple and a museum. Devotees can participate in Buddhist courses, meditation, sutra copying, and visit the museum within the monastery (Tsz Shan Monastery Buddhist Art Museum). The daily visitor limit is 400 people, and tour groups are not accepted. Visitors must make a reservation on the official website in advance (entry is denied if more than 30 minutes late), ensuring a very pleasant visiting experience. The monastery houses the world's second tallest outdoor standing Guanyin statue. This Song Dynasty-style Guanyin statue stands 70 meters tall, second only to the Nanshan Sea Guanyin statue in Sanya (108 meters). The museum is built beneath the bronze lotus pedestal of the Guanyin statue. The museum officially opened in 2019, featuring high-quality exhibits. I was initially attracted here by the Gandhara sculptures in the collection. Staff on site speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. They guide visitors in batches for entry, and before entering the hall, a guided video is shown explaining the birth of the Buddha and the origins of Buddhist statues. The museum showcases exquisite statues from various Chinese dynasties as well as from India, Nepal, Japan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, and the Gandhara region. Materials include stone, wood, clay, bronze, and more. In addition to statues, there are some ancient sutras on display, such as the "Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra" translated by Master Xuanzang, which is very precious! The lighting of the exhibits is excellent, combined with low-reflective glass, making it very photography-friendly, allowing visitors to take photos freely.