Well actually 13,000 Buddha's but who's counting!, 423 steps to the top, colourful and over the top statues and watch out for the wild monkeys.
The location of the entrance to the Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery in Shatin, NT.
The reviews are true finding the entrance to this place is tricky as there are NO signs at all... so here is the easiest and simplest way.
Firstly you need to get to Shatin Station on the MTR, take the red line to Mongkok, cross the platform and get onto the green line train and get off at Kowloon Tong and then switch to the East Rail Line (light blue line) just follow the signs at Kowloon Tong, Shatin is the second stop beyond Kowloon Tong - if you have any problems ask someone.
Leave via exit B at Shatin MTR Station, turn left, follow the crowds down the long ramp that leads to the bus / taxi ranks, half way down the ramp look left, you will see a large building grey / glass (refer to the image above, the building to the left) this is the Shatin Government Offices Building, follow the path (and the people) which leads directly to this building,
When you get to this building you need to walk down either side to get to the back of the building and the entrance is there. simple really.
Just so we are straight, I love this place, it is not for everybody and the 423 steps are a killer in hot and humid weather but WOW is it photogenic or what and you might just run into a troop of wild monkeys.
This is a visual treat so here goes.
This is NOT the 10,000 Buddha Monastery, this is the Po Fook Ancestral Hall, if you see this like this then you are on the right path to the entrance to the 10,000 Buddha Monastery
This is the entrance
These are FAKE monks, they are con artists, they are NOT real and do NOT give money to them, give them the 1,000 yard stare, if that doesn't work use harsh language! they can be very irritating and there are normally 3 - 5 of them,
This is what awaits you, 423 steps.... I always take it very slowly and there are places to sit on the way up, the steps are a lot easier than the path by the way
In case I wasn't clear enough .. the fake monks.
This is what greets you when you get to the top. He looks awfully like Pearl the fat vampire in the original Blade movie
You will probably realise that gold and red are the colours here.
The actual 10,000 Buddha Monastery - please note this is NOT a working Monastery, there are no monks it is run by lay people only
Yup - red, gold and dragons
There are signs posted saying "no photos" ignore them, this is NOT a working monastery, they want your donations so you take pictures!
One of my personal favourites
...and another
A magnificent view of Shatin, in the mid 1970's this was a swamp
Get creative
I just love the colours
If the mood strikes you walk up the steps in here to the top
or just zoom in
There are over 13,000 Buddha's in the main hall + the somewhat bizarre mummified remains of the founder of this place are in a glass case
I actually prefer the place above the main monastery, follow the signs and walk up even more steps, it has many new buildings.
You can really give your camera a good workout
There is a definite WOW factor on a sunny day
The obligatory haunted house
Another great view of Shatin
Back to the red and gold
I bet it took a while to make this "badge" just lovely
If you can afford it you can store your ashes here on a rolling 5 year contract
Yet another great view of Shatin
The red building has a statue in it that resembles the character Eddie Murphy played in the movie, Vampire in Brooklyn
No Monastery worth it's salt is without the lucky turtles
Yet another statue
One of my favourite images
That view again and notice the amount of construction going on
I bet this looks spooky in moonlight
It is a lot more fun going down what I call the back entrance which is easy to find.
This is NOT a friendly critter, I had a heart attack inducing encounter with this creature in December 2012. It is a Rhesus Macaque, they bite and are chock full of diseases, if you see one, do not approach them or feed them, they have huge teeth and are NOT frightened of humans. There is a large troop living around the Monastery.
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