Tian Tan Da Fo, Hongkong’s great bronze Buddha above Lantau
Published on 09/19/2026 at 18:38 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Tian Tan Da Fo on Lantau Island in Hongkong is a large outdoor bronze Buddha seated above Ngong Ping, facing the surrounding hills and the South China Sea. Completed in 1993 and linked closely with Po Lin Monastery, this Buddha has become a fixed reference point in Hongkong’s landscape as well as a major landmark of modern Buddhist sculpture.
A seated Buddha in bronze above Ngong Ping
Tian Tan Da Fo is a bronze statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni, seated in meditation on a lotus throne atop a high pedestal structure at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. The statue was commissioned by Po Lin Monastery and constructed using hundreds of bronze components by engineering works in mainland China over several years before its completion in 1993.constructed by the Nanjing Chenguang Machinery Plant The completed figure and its lotus throne reach a height of about 34 m (112 ft) from base to the top of the Buddha, placing it among the largest outdoor seated Buddha statues in bronze.cast with 250 tonnes of bronze and standing 34 m in total
The statue sits on a multi-level pedestal inspired by the Tian Tan, or Temple of Heaven, in Beijing, which gives the Buddha its name. This base is built in granite and rises in three tiers, forming broad platforms around the lotus throne.three-level granite structure imitating the Tian Tan pedestal Tian Tan Da Fo faces north towards mainland China, and its raised right hand shows a gesture of blessing, visible from various points on Lantau Island and the nearby sea.the statue’s right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing and protection
Po Lin Monastery and the plateau of Ngong Ping
Tian Tan Da Fo stands immediately above Po Lin Monastery on the Ngong Ping plateau, forming together a large Buddhist complex at the peak of Mount Muk Yue on Lantau Island.sits atop the peak of Mount Muk Yue in front of Po Lin Monastery The monastery dates from the early twentieth century and has developed into one of Hongkong’s principal Buddhist centres, with halls, courtyards and accommodation clustered on the high ground below the statue.Po Lin Monastery on the peak of Muyu Mountain with Tian Tan Big Buddha Around Ngong Ping, the wooded slopes of Lantau rise and fall, and the plateau provides views down to coastal inlets and the broader island landscape.
The pedestal of Tian Tan Da Fo contains several internal storeys that serve as exhibition halls, holding Buddhist relics and artworks associated with the monastery’s religious life.inside the pedestal is a three-storey exhibition hall presenting Buddhist items Pilgrims and visitors move between the monastery’s courtyards and the statue platforms, passing through incense-lined areas, smaller shrines and halls that frame the view of the giant Buddha on the ridge above.
Approach, steps and the surrounding hills
The approach to Tian Tan Da Fo from Ngong Ping Village leads towards a long staircase that climbs in stages to the main statue platform. The staircase has hundreds of stone steps, rising steadily from the level of the plateau to the base of the granite pedestal, and forms a direct route for visitors wishing to come close to the Buddha.climbing up 268 steps to reach the pedestal On the ascent, views open back towards the monastery roofs and the hills of Lantau, with the figure of the Buddha growing larger as each terrace and flight of steps is passed.
Ngong Ping can be reached by several transport routes from other parts of Hongkong, including a cable car line known as Ngong Ping 360 from Tung Chung and bus links from Tung Chung and Mui Wo.Ngong Ping 360 cable car from Tung Chung and bus line 23 The cable car crosses sea channels and hillside valleys on its way to the plateau, while road routes climb the island’s interior. However travellers arrive, the statue, pedestal and stairway are framed by surrounding green slopes, and the complex forms a distinct ensemble of religious architecture, sculpture and mountain terrain on Lantau.
Visiting Tian Tan Da Fo: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Tian Tan Da Fo stands at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island in Hongkong, above Po Lin Monastery on the peak of Mount Muk Yue; the plateau is reached by road and the Ngong Ping 360 cable car from Tung Chung on the MTR.
- The approach from Ngong Ping Village to the statue involves a staircase of several hundred stone steps, which climbs steeply to the pedestal platforms and requires a sustained ascent on foot.
- Ngong Ping lies in Hongkong’s outlying islands area, with wooded hills around the monastery and statue; weather on the plateau can be more exposed than in central urban districts.
- The official languages in Hongkong are Chinese and English, and the currency used is the Hong Kong dollar.
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Frequently asked questions about Tian Tan Da Fo
Where is Tian Tan Da Fo located?
Tian Tan Da Fo stands on the Ngong Ping plateau on Lantau Island in Hongkong, above Po Lin Monastery on the peak of Mount Muk Yue.
What should visitors expect on a visit?
Visitors encounter a large seated bronze Buddha on a high pedestal, Buddhist halls at Po Lin Monastery and a staircase with several hundred steps leading to the statue platform.
What makes Tian Tan Da Fo distinctive?
The combination of a 1993 bronze Buddha of about 34 m (112 ft) in height, a pedestal modelled on Beijing’s Tian Tan and its mountain setting above Lantau’s hills gives the site a distinctive character.
