2 Best Sights in Hong Kong, China

The Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, is the world's largest seated, outdoors bronze Buddha. It's fair to say that the vast silhouette is impressive. Its 268 steep steps lead to the lower podium, allowing you to stare up at all 202 tons of Buddha as you ascend. At the summit, cool breezes and fantastic views over Lantau Island await. Nearby, the Wisdom Path runs beside 38 halved tree trunks arranged in a hillside infinity loop. Each trunk is carved with Chinese characters that make up the Heart Sutra, a 5th-century Buddhist prayer that expresses the doctrine of emptiness. The idea is to walk around the path—which takes five minutes—and reflect. Follow the signposted trail to the left of the Big Buddha.

These pavilions and prayer halls, founded in 1950, bring together the three streams of Chinese thought: Buddhism (which emphasizes nirvana and physical purity), Taoism (nature and inner peace), and Confucianism (following the practical and philosophical beliefs of Confucius). The main three-tier red pagoda is a copy of the centuries-old Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and houses 60 statues representing the full cycle of the Chinese calendar—you can look for the one that corresponds to your birth year and make an incense offering. To reach the institute from Tsuen Wan MTR, head to Shiu Wo Street and take the #81 minibus.