The Bite Magazine - issue 16

symbols and has a peaceful ambience. It is said the temple is a picturesque tribute to the God of Literature (Man) and the God ofWar (Mo), both of which were worshipped by ambitious students seeking to succeed in the civil examina- tions of Imperial China. Perhaps the most fascinating sight in all of Hong Kong, located on Lantau Island is Tian Tan Buddha known as the Big Buddha, especially at night time when it shines like precious gold. It sits 34 metres high and faces north looking out toward mainland China, drawing pilgrims from all over Asia. For the adventurous, there are 268 steps to conquer before you get a much closer look at this magnificent statue but you can also enjoy the sweep- ing mountain and sea views seen from its base. Not too far from the statue is the Po Lin Monastery, one of Hong Kong’s most important Buddhist sanctums and dubbed ‘the Buddhist World in the South’. It has rich colourful Buddhist ico- nography and its pleasant garden offers tranquil peace with the singing of birds and flowery scents.You can also indulge in a healthy cuisine from its popular veg- etarian restaurant. There is so much to do in Hong Kong that it would be much too long to list here but other interesting sights and interests include The Peak, Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Temple Street Night Market, Golden Bauhinia Square, Clock Tower, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Lan Kwai Fong (well- known party hot spot) andWong Tai Sin Temple (a Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian temple honouring the famous monk of Yore,Wong Tan Sin, also known as Huang Chu-ping). Hong Kong is generally sunny, cool and pleasant from October to early Decem- ber while spring is cloudy season. Other than that the city is mild for more than half of the year with relatively dry winters and hot, humid and wet summers. Flights to Hong Kong can be made via Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Lufthansa from major international cities coming into Hong Kong International Airport. bite travel