Monument, Religious Sight

On Lantau Island in Hong Kong there is an amazing landmark that attracts many tourists and followers of Buddhism every year. The bronze statue of Buddha is 34 meters high and weighs 250 tons, it is one of the tallest bronze statues in the world depicting a seated Buddha. It took about three years to assemble it from 202 bronze fragments. In addition to its colossal size, the statue of Buddha in Hong Kong has a number of features. The statue's gaze is directed towards China, while all other Buddha statues look only to the south. It is located on the top of Muk Yue Mountain, which is reached by 268 steps. The throne on which the statue sits is also a temple, it includes three sacred halls and a gallery where you can learn about the history of the spiritual teacher, a huge bell, a statue of Ksitigarbha and a sacred handful of Buddha's ashes. The statue symbolizes the unshakable harmony between religion, nature and man. A cable car leads to the attraction; the cabins have a transparent floor and carry tourists at a great height above the mountains and the sea.