Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Saquon Barkley Plaque
Kirkkasik Bedesten inside
Kirkkasik Bedesten
Someshwar Temple
Someshwar Temple
Grilled cheese and tomato soup are soulmates.
The Palisades Restaurant
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
A skeleton on display contemplating its own mortality.
Kid Mai Death Awareness Cafe
This classic London pub has a surprising history behind it.
John Snow
The beef, Guinness, and oyster pie sports a rich, flaky crust.
The Guinea
Welcome to one of the only floating pubs in the world.
Tamesis Dock
This may be the oldest pie in the world.
St Helens 'Oldest Pie' at The Turks Head
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Decoy’s wines reflect the terroir of California.
How a Wooden Duck Migrated From the California Wetlands to a Wine Label
11 days ago
There’s more to the French capital than the Eiffel Tower.
Dear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
15 days ago
The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
22 days ago
“There may be a collective sense of a dark loneliness,” Dahl says, referring to Norway’s natural landscape.
In Norway, Easter Means Tucking Into Crime Stories
22 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Hong Kong Ngong Ping Tian Tan Buddha

Tian Tan Buddha

Climb to the top of the world's largest seated bronze Buddha.

Ngong Ping, Hong Kong

Added By
Alex Timian
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
(Flickr/DoNotLick)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/donotlick/422...
(Flickr/DoNotLick)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/donotlick/422...
(Flickr/ronocdh)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronocdh/29713...
(Flickr/ronocdh)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronocdh/29724...
(Flickr/oriolsalvador)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/boarderland/4...
(Flickr/Peregrino Will Reign)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamperegrino/...
(Flickr/vince42)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/84609865@N00/...
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Tian Tan Buddha, by Alan Tigwell   Bearded Zombie / Atlas Obscura User
Tian Tan Buddha, by Alan Tigwell   Bearded Zombie / Atlas Obscura User
Tian Tan Buddha, by Alan Tigwell   Bearded Zombie / Atlas Obscura User
Tian Tan Buddha, by Alan Tigwell   Bearded Zombie / Atlas Obscura User
The Offering of the Six Devas   tvgirl
Dragonfly and Big Buddha   rebekahburgess / Atlas Obscura User
Big Buddha   rebekahburgess / Atlas Obscura User
On a misty morning from a distance…floating above the trees.   petrahudson / Atlas Obscura User
My What Big Hands You Have   Jim Bowen
  Allison Fender
  coljay72 / Atlas Obscura User
Low cloud cover at the Big Buddha   Mathew Browne / PhotoHound
detail   tvgirl
detail   tvgirl
stairs to the Buddha   tvgirl
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Seated peacefully atop a lotus flower, the Tian Tan Buddha dominates the valley on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Although its size is average compared to some of the world's most massive Buddhas, the Tian Tan Buddha holds the distinction of being the largest seated bronze Buddha in the world.

Ignoring its size completely, the statue seems more impressive due to its location, in a valley surrounded by densely forested peaks. At 112 feet (34 meters) high, the Buddha can even be seen through the mountains from nearby Macau on a clear day. With eyes closed and right hand raised, the Buddha's calm and wise appearance seems to control the energy of the valley. 

The Buddha was constructed between 1990-1993. Adventure-seekers climb the 268 steps to the Buddha's feet, but the monastery does not discriminate; a ramped path makes the trip up to Buddha's pedestal accessible for families and the handicapped. 

The path to the Big Buddha is lined on both sides by the Twelve Divine Generals, each of them symbolizing a different animal from the Chinese Zodiac. Every General is armed with a specific weapon and represents two hours of the day, thus, together they add up to 24 hours.

Although access to the site is free, entrance to the Buddha costs money. The inside of the Buddha allegedly holds the cremated remains of the Buddha inside a relic, but even a quick view is going to cost you.

Related Tags

Monuments Giant Buddhas Statues

Know Before You Go

Take the Ngong Ping 360 cable car.

Community Contributors

Added By

atimian

Edited By

Jaszmina Szendrey, Rachel, aribrown, EverythingZany...

  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • Rachel
  • aribrown
  • EverythingZany
  • TeaAndCoffeeLover
  • tvgirl
  • rebekahburgess
  • Bearded Zombie
  • petrahudson
  • mathewbrowne
  • AlliB
  • coljay72

Published

December 7, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://everythingzany.com/travel-itinerary-to-hong-kong-and-macau-sar-china/
Tian Tan Buddha
Ngong Ping
Hong Kong
22.252573, 113.899663

Nearby Places

Old Tai O Police Station

Tsai Po, Hong Kong

miles away

Cheung Po Tsai Pirate Cave

Hong Kong

miles away

Noah's Ark, Hong Kong

Hong Kong

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Asia

Places 30
Stories 13

Nearby Places

Old Tai O Police Station

Tsai Po, Hong Kong

miles away

Cheung Po Tsai Pirate Cave

Hong Kong

miles away

Noah's Ark, Hong Kong

Hong Kong

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Asia

Places 30
Stories 13

Related Stories and Lists

Sarira: Buddhist Human Pearls

relics

By Kevin Lo

Related Places

  • Carving the gigantic head

    Shangrao, China

    The Giant Buddha of Guifeng

    China's mysterious record-setting sleeping Buddha.

  • Sakura tie in Showa Daibutsu, Aomori

    Aomori, Japan

    Showa Daibutsu

    The tallest bronze seated statue of the Buddha in Japan.

  • The Great Buddha of Nihon-ji Temple, Mount Nokogiri.

    Kyonan, Japan

    Nihonji Daibutsu: The Great Buddha of Nihonji

    This giant seated Bhudda of Healing dates to the 1780s.

  • Photo by Ginza-line

    Ushiku, Japan

    Ushiku Daibutsu: The Great Buddha of Ushiku

    The third-tallest statue in the world depicts the "Buddha of Infinite Light," complete with observation deck in his chest.

  • Librarian with Donkey Monument

    Ürgüp, Turkey

    Librarian With the Donkey Monument

    A monument to the Turkish librarian who delivered books on the back of a donkey.

  • Lyon, France

    Saint Exupéry Monument

    This statue stands in honor of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the French author of 'The Little Prince' and an aviation hero.

  • Chuck and Snoopy

    Saint Paul, Minnesota

    Peanuts Gang Bronzes

    A tribute to Charles M. Schulz, who created the iconic cartoon that features Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and more.

  • A crowd of statues

    Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Garden of the Generalissimos

    A Taiwanese garden teems with the retired statues of the island's former dictator.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.