Chuk Lam Sim Yuen

Also known as the Bamboo Forest Monastery, Chuk Lam Sim Yuen is one of the most impressive temple complexes in Hong Kong. The bamboo forest is long gone, but its location high in the foot hills above Tsuen Wan is still peaceful and serene.

The large boat shaped temple was completed in 1932 after an Earth God told one of the elderly monks to build it. Inside the temple you'll find three of the largest golden Buddhas in Hong Kong (second only to the Giant Buddha on Lantau Island). Yeuk Si Fat and Amitabha, rulers of the Eastern and Western Paradise, sit either side of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism.

The monastery is quite large, and it can take quite a while to explore temples, pathways and gardens. It's also possible to arrange a vegetarian lunch at the complex.