Tsuen Wan

On Saturday Mrs CBL and I took the MTR out to Tsuen Wan in the New Territories which is on the mainland close to the border with China. Tsuen Wan is a rather unattractive new town but out on the edge of the town are two very colourful places of worship.

The Yuen Yuen Institute was founded in 1950 to spread the principles of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and uphold its eight virtues (filial piety, respect, loyalty, fidelity, propriety, justice, honesty and honour) as well as promoting social welfare.

Its sprawling grounds are a mix of temples, pavilions, monasteries and prayer halls dedicated to these three religions. One of its many worthwhile attractions is a replica of Beijing's magnificent Temple of Heaven. We enjoyed looking round the grounds.

Adjacent to the institute is the Western Monastery. It may be just a couple of minutes walk away but we felt as if we had entered into a completely different world. It was so peaceful and the gardens were a sight to behold, simply beautiful.

Traditional Buddhist art and architecture, including a nine-storey pagoda which has 10,000 Buddhas on display, caught the eye at every turn. It is a hidden gem and well worth making the long journey out from the city to see.

We spent some time wandering around the monastery before heading back into Tsuen Wan for coffees and treats in one of the modern shopping malls, having been shaken, if not stirred, on the bus journey back into town.

From there we headed back into the city and strolled round Hong Kong Park which, being the weekend, was busy with many of families on the go. Lots to see there and enjoy but alas the aviary (a netted area of tropical trees offering branch-level viewing of some 80 species of birds from a walkway) was closed for repairs due to the damage caused by the recent typhoon. There was still much to enjoy in the park.

After a delicious meal at the Crystal Jade restaurant we returned to the hotel tired but very happy!

Once again, if you have time to look, the extras illustrate my diary notes.