Chi Lin Nunnery + Nan Lian Gardens

Nan Lian Gardens with apartment buildings all around.  Check out that amazing orange!

One of my favorite things about Hong Kong is that, while you’re in the middle of a giant city, you can always find an escape. In these oases it’s easy to forget that you’re in the epicenter of a bustling metropolis. And then you look up and all around you are cement buildings and skyscrapers and malls. But for just a moment, you could have been a million miles away.

Chi Lin Nunnery

Amazing architecture and greenery

Recently I took an afternoon trip to the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden in Kowloon. The Nunnery and Garden boast beautiful grounds, maintained to a T. The Nunnery was founded in 1934 and rebuilt in the 90's in traditional Tang Dynasty (618AD to 907AD) architectural style. That means that they are built without any iron nails and there are special interlocking systems cut into the wood to hold the buildings together! Pretty amazing. The Nunnery buildings are the only buildings in Hong Kong built using Tang Dynasty techniques.  Inside are massive gold statues of Buddhas and goddesses. They are awe-inspiring.

The Garden, built in 2006, was built in the classical style of the Tang Dynasty.  The position of each structure, rock, plant and tree in the garden was perfectly crafted to accommodate the rules of the Tang style.  It’s a gorgeous area to stroll through or to relax in the shade and escape big city living.

Beautiful gardens and ponds

Hard at work maintaining the feng shui of the tree!

Visitors at The Nunnery