Things To Do In Hong Kong Before You Die: Visit Nan Lian Garden
Things To Do In Hong Kong Before You Die
Visit Nan Lian Garden
Hong Kong's newest attraction is Nan Lian Garden, a Tang Dynasty-style park designed to complement the adjacent Chi Lin Nunnery.
Based upon the Jiangshouju
Gardens and Ponds in Shanxi, China, the 3.5 hectare park was created to be an 'ancient garden within the city', and offers visitors a
place of serenity amidst the chaos of city life.
Nan Lian Garden contains several precious timber structures, including square and hexagonal pavilions, podiums, multi-layered buildings, and pavilions with thatched roofs. Among the largest structures is Xiang Hai Xuan, which occupies the Southern quadrant, and the Song Cha Xie tea house, which resides in the Eastern quadrant.
Plants and trees adorn the landscaped areas, including Buddhist Pines, bonsai trees, shrubs, flowering species and bamboo; and are accompanied by bizarre rocks and boulders, including petrified wood. The Banyan Grove offers a shady place to rest for a few minutes and soak in the tranquility.
The park's centerpiece is the Pavilion of Absolute Perfection, a gold-leaf covered tower set amidst bright orange connecting bridges spanning the Lotus Pond, while the Blue Pond contains a large school of giant koi.
All sections of the garden are seen from a one-way path that keeps people moving and prevents overcrowding. The Long Men Lou vegetarian restaurant and a snack shop provide food as eating is not allowed elsewhere in the park.
As a photographer, my only complaint is that tripods are banned. The justification is that they're a safety hazard, but the real reason is that photograph booklets of the garden are being sold in the souvenir shop. Banning commercial photography is mercenary — a strange attitude for a place run by Buddhists.
Admission to Nan Lian Garden is free and the park is open from 7am to 9pm. To get there, take the MTR to Diamond Hill, Exit C2, and follow the signs.