Ngong Ping Piazza - Connection between Ngong Ping Village and Tian Tan Buddha @ Lantau Island [Hong Kong] #ngongpingpiazza

I thought it would be a straight route to the majestic Tian Tan Buddha after Ngong Ping Village but no, you still have to cut across the Ngong Ping Piazza! Interestingly; piazza is an Italian word and it's weird to have a western term for a place so intentionally built to showcase Chinese culture.  

Buddhist World in the South - that's what the archway claimed to be. Known also as paifang (牌坊) or pailou (牌楼); this particular one was said to "reflect the northern architectural style of Qing dynasty".

Bodhi Path - it's not a path you want to take under the hot summer sun! If it's a cloudy day, you may marvel at the boring "lotus-shaped stone lanterns installed on both sides".

More impressive, however, were the statues of the "twelve divine generals"; besides being blessed with the role of being protectors of Buddha, they also represent the Chinese hours (every two-hour) and Chinese zodiacs.

How to know which zodiac? You can either see it from the plaque in front of the 1.8-meter tall statue or check out the animal on their head! The one above is of a dog! p.s. i didn't know about it until now. 

Last section of the Ngong Ping Piazza; a three-platform structure that i initially thought was awaiting an injection of new funds to build a pagoda or something. I couldn't have been more wrong! 

Facing the Tian Tan Buddha; the structure is called Di Tan (地壇) and was used for religious rituals from time to time. Even though i have been to Beijing, i didn't have the opportunity to check out the original Temple of Earth (地壇) and hence, couldn't compare with this one in Hong Kong.

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Location

Between Ngong Ping Village and Tian Tan Buddha.

Directory

As above.

For the summary of my seven days' itinerary to Hong Kong (with a day trip to Shenzhen), please click here.