Attraction
Victoria Peak
Hong Kong Island's highest hill, reached by the historic Peak Tram from Central, with harbour views from Sky Terrace 428 and the level loop walk along…
Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden
A Buddhist nunnery rebuilt in 1998 in Tang dynasty style from cypress wood without nails, paired with the classical Nan Lian Garden across the road in Diamond Hill.
At a glance
- Type
- Buddhist nunnery and classical Chinese garden
- Area
- Diamond Hill, Hong Kong
- Official site
- en.chilin.org
Good to know
- Free entry
- Classical Tang-style garden
- Wooden halls built without nails
Why we recommend it
Chi Lin Nunnery was founded in 1934 as a retreat for Buddhist nuns and was rebuilt in 1998 in the style of the Tang dynasty. The design was based on a drawing of a Buddhist paradise found in the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang, and the halls were built from cypress wood joined with interlocking brackets rather than nails. They are the only buildings in this style in Hong Kong today.
The complex of 16 halls covers more than 33,000 square metres and also includes a library, a school, a pagoda, a bell tower and a drum tower. The halls contain statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Guan Yin and other bodhisattvas. The halls are said to make up the largest hand-made wooden building in the world, and they were floodlit in a lighting project in 2018. As an active nunnery, it asks visitors to behave quietly, and photography may be restricted inside the halls.
Across Fung Tak Road, Nan Lian Garden is a public classical Chinese garden laid out in the same Tang style and maintained by the nunnery. It covers about 35,000 square metres and has its own address at 60 Fung Tak Road. Because the two sites are run together and share the same style, it is worth seeing both, ideally starting in the garden before crossing to the halls.
The nunnery is open from 9am to 4.30pm and Nan Lian Garden from 7am to 9pm daily, and both are free. Allow about 90 minutes for the two together. Morning is the most pleasant time, before the heat builds, and the garden is quieter on weekdays.
Nan Lian Garden has separate contact details from the nunnery, and both organisations publish their own phone numbers and email addresses for enquiries. Because the garden stays open until 9pm, it can also be visited in the cooler evening after the nunnery halls have closed at 4.30pm.
The site suits anyone who wants a calmer counterpoint to the city, including photographers and families. Wong Tai Sin Temple is in the same district, which makes it easy to see both in a morning. Bring water in summer, as the heat builds quickly in the middle of the day.
Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden FAQs
When is Chi Lin Nunnery open?
The nunnery is open from 9am to 4.30pm.
When is Nan Lian Garden open?
Nan Lian Garden is open from 7am to 9pm daily.
Is there an entry fee?
No. The nunnery halls and the garden are free to visit.
How was the nunnery built?
It was rebuilt in 1998 in Tang dynasty style from cypress wood with interlocking joints and no nails.
Where is Nan Lian Garden?
Across the road at 60 Fung Tak Road, Diamond Hill. It is maintained by the nunnery.
Can you contact the garden separately?
Yes. Nan Lian Garden has its own phone line on 3658 9312 and email at [email protected].
Is it suitable for families?
Yes. The garden and halls are free and calm, though children should keep quiet in the nunnery.
How long should you allow?
About 90 minutes covers both the nunnery and the garden.
What is nearby?
Wong Tai Sin Temple is in the same district of Kowloon.