HK 2013 : Nan Lian Garden & Chi Lin Nunnery
December 2, 2013 | 1,664 viewsFor an overview of the entire trip, refer to Hong Kong & Macau 2013 Food & Travel Guide
Not something that you would casually expect from a Motormouth’s food and travel post; but Nan Lian Garden & Chi Lin Nunnery (adjacent, almost seamless transition to one another) at Diamond Hill, Hong Kong are definitely worth a detour.
Before I proceed with today’s feed of Hong Kong shots, Happy Monday and Happy December dear readers. You are not seeing things, this is still Motormouth From Ipoh; the food and travel blog that you have grown to love (or detest). Currently on a traveling spree (more like catching up on the crazy load of backlogs for travel stories for the full year), I will write several chapters on Hong Kong and Macau, which ironically was the latest journey that I made last month.
Memories not good mah …. better start the other way round …. 🙂
Anyway, aside from repeated onslaughts of food, we also did make effort in walking them off. Or at least that calmed our minds a little … But anyhow, Nan Lian Garden and Chi Lin Nunnery should definitely be on your list if you have done all the tourist hotspots. More after the jump.
The pathway towards Nan Lian Garden, right under the imposing overhead highways.
To reach Nan Lian Garden at Diamond Hill, you barely have to digest maps, draw routes, scramble helplessly for mini buses or cabs, etc. Diamond Hill MTR is on the Green Line eastbound, one station away from Wong Tai Sin MTR station; where that famous temple with a battalion of fortune tellers is depicted in the movies. (Reminder to self : To share the story on Wong Tai Sin in a later post from the 2011 Hong Kong/Macau archives)
Upon alighting from the train, go towards C2 exit and you will be led to Nan Lian Garden in mere minutes, the garden is almost hidden from clear sight, but the signboards should be easy enough to be found and deciphered. Entrance is FOC by the way, hence you might bump into hordes of visitors on weekends, though nothing compared to what Lantau Island’s Big Buddha, Disneyland, Ocean’s Park and The Peak are attracting even on normal days.
I’ll just leave you with the pictures and captions, as the route should be a cinch to follow. Keep a calm & open mind, soak in the breath-taking view filled with greens in the midst of the city and take a breather at the Teahouse or Chi Lin Vegetarian Restaurant if you need to.
*Excerpt from Discover Hong Kong’s website : Nan Lian Garden
Cutting through Diamond Hill’s myriad of high-rise apartments is the tranquil Nan Lian Garden, a public park also built in the style of the Tang dynasty. Its scenic garden is meticulously landscaped over an area of 3.5 hectares, in which every hill, rock, body of water, plant and timber structure has been placed according to specific rules and methods. There are permenant exhibitions of Chinese timber architecture, rocks and potted plants, while the hungry might want to try the vegetarian restaurant or teahouse.
The Teahouse that opens from breakfast onwards (as opposed to Chi Lin Vegetarian Restaurant that starts operating from lunch hour onwards only)
We had the Summer Ice Drink which was an icy cold blend of lychee and strawberry juice, despite the chilly weather on the outside
The Vegetarian buns here were good, filled with lots of sour pickled vegetables, carrots and wood ear fungus, and the cup of milk tea lent a comforting warmth to the body. They serve various dim sum and light bites as well, but we were there a tad too early, hence they were not ready yet.
For a more filling meal, go for Chi Lin Vegetarian but from 11.30 onwards on weekends. Bear in mind though, there is a minimum charge per person of HKD100/RM42/USD14
Rockery. The name says it all. There are also similar houses showcasing exquisite artworks made from timber and wood.
Gateway to Chi Lin Nunnery
Chi Lin Nunnery houses several shrines for prayers; and this immense sensation of tranquility upon setting foot into the compound with lotus ponds. The chants at the background calmed these nerves ….
Chi Lin Nunnery
5 Chi Lin Drive, Diamond Hill, Kowloon
Tel:+852 2354 1888
Nan Lian Garden
60 Fung Tak Road, Diamond Hill, Kowloon
Tel:+852 2329 8811
- Refer to the updated Hong Kong & Macau Food Map 2013
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