Li
Ka-shing-Funded US$193 Mln Monastery Opens to
Public
2015-04-15
12:31:13
CRIENGLISH.com Web Editor: Li
Linxi
Hong Kong's new
monastery, funded entirely by tycoon Li Ka-shing, opened to the
public on April 15, 2015. The monastery features the world's
second-tallest Guanyin statue--the Goddess of Mercy--and
bulletproof VIP rooms.
The monastery is
funded entirely by Asia's richest man, Li Ka-shing, who contributed
193 million US dollars from his personal foundation to fund the
monastery's construction.
The newest Tsz
Shan monastery is located in the lush hills on the outskirts of
Hong Kong. The premises, modelled after Tang dynasty-era
architecture, sprawls across a lush, green area of 500,000
square-feet, or roughly 46,452 square-meters.
The monastery
features a 76-meter (250 feet) tall Guanyin statue. It overlooks
the site and breathtaking view of Hong Kong's harbor and several
islands.
It also features
several grand halls, including one which houses three ornate
24-karat gold-plated Buddhist statues, where people can meditate
and learn about Buddhism.
But perhaps the
most intriguing feature is the monastery's bulletproof dormitory
rooms.
One of the three
dormitories that provide housing for visiting monks from all over
the world has built-in bulletproof windows to protect "important
guests."
"We installed
the bulletproof glass windows because we hope there could be a
place to protect our important guests, such as the Supreme
Patriarch of Thailand, and other top monks," Walter Ngai Kai-shu,
secretary general of the monastery told local media.
The rooms are
still empty, and Ngai added that they were not designed for Li or
any specific individual.
The monastery
can accommodate up to 500 visitors per day, but will not open to
tour groups in order to preserve the tranquil atmosphere. Visitors
are required to book or register online beforehand.
Visitors aren't
allowed to bring joss sticks, meat, alcohol or other food offerings
in order to be environmentally friendly--instead, the monastery
will provide water.
Li initiated the
project in 2003 to promote Buddhism in the city; construction of
the monastery took five years to complete.