Hong Kong Lung Shan Temple

　　    Lung Shan Temple is located at the foot of Lung Shan in Fanling. It was originally named Longxi Nunnery. The "Reconstruction Inscription of Longxi Temple" states: "Longxi, an ancient divine realm. When clouds gather, it rains, as detailed in the county records, hence it is called the Divine Mountain. When the stream flows, it is called Longxi. The Jin people built a temple here to respond to the divine presence." It is believed that Longxi Nunnery may have been first built during the Jin Dynasty. Some also say it was initially constructed in the late Yuan or early Ming Dynasty. It was later reconstructed in the 26th year of the Qianlong reign (1761). At that time, it was built by nearby villagers for the purposes of "worshipping the gods and honoring ancestors."

　　    A Scenic Spot in Luofu

　　    Later, due to the passage of time and damage from unrest and neglect, the nunnery fell into disrepair, leaving only ruins. In 1986, with strong support from local gentry, elders, and devotees, reconstruction began. After seven years of planning and construction, on December 19, 1993, a brand-new seven-story temple was completed and officially named Lung Shan Temple.

　　    There is an hourly shuttle bus from Fanling Railway Station to Lung Shan Temple. Covering an area of over 20,000 square meters, the temple stands seven stories high, symbolizing the "Seven-Level Pagoda." The reconstructed Lung Shan Temple boasts a magnificent exterior and is hailed as one of the "Thirty-Eight Scenic Spots of Luofu." The fifteen-meter-high and seven-meter-wide statue of Guanyin on the temple’s outer wall alone is an exquisite masterpiece. This statue is crafted from over 300 ceramic pieces, each weighing 50 kilograms, and is the ingenious work of Guangdong ceramic sculptor Mei Wending. Beneath the statue lies a large-scale inscription of the Heart Sutra. On the left side of the temple, the ancient stone carvings of Longxi Nunnery are preserved, and from some of the partially damaged and blurred inscriptions, the history behind the reconstruction of Lung Shan Temple can be traced.

　　    The ground floor main hall is the Thousand-Armed Guanyin Hall, with a gold-lacquered plaque inscribed with the handwriting of Zhao Puchu, former president of the Buddhist Association of China. The hall enshrines the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The front section of the second floor is the Mahavira Hall, which houses statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Medicine Buddha of Longevity, as well as the guardians Sangharama Bodhisattva and Skanda Bodhisattva, and the patriarch Huineng. The rear section of the second floor is the Dharma Lecture Hall. The front section of the third floor is the Amitabha Hall, enshrining the Three Saints of the West and providing space for merit-making ceremonies. The fourth floor includes the Merit Hall, Ancestral Hall, and Scripture Repository. The fifth floor houses the Abbot’s Quarters, reception room, and dining hall. The sixth floor is the office of the Lung Shan Management Company. On the rooftop is the Si En Pavilion, where, from a high vantage point, the temple is surrounded by mountains — with the Green Dragon on the left, the White Tiger on the right, a ceremonial table in front, and a solid backdrop behind, making it regarded as a rare geomantic treasure.

　　    Buddhist Light Shines Constantly

　　    The current abbot of Lung Shan Temple, Venerable Jizhao, took office and was enthroned on March 30, 1998, becoming the second abbot after Venerable Xin Cheng. Venerable Jizhao became a monk at the age of 25 and later received full ordination from Venerable Jidu on Mount Wutai in Shanxi. He returned to his hometown to establish Yuanming Lecture Temple and, in 1990, formed the Yuanming Charity Relief Group to engage widely in public welfare activities.

　　    In August 1994, Venerable Jizhao came to Hong Kong and resided at Western Monastery, later becoming a disciple of the monastery’s abbot, Venerable Yongxing. With deep compassion, Venerable Jizhao not only oversaw various dharma assemblies but also, with the support of the management company, worked diligently to expand the temple grounds to serve as a refuge for all beings. A model in the temple shows that the overall architectural vision for Lung Shan Temple includes additional structures such as a Temple of Heaven Hall, Mahavira Hall, elderly care home, and monastic dormitories, indicating ambitions for a large-scale development.

　　    Transportation Guide

　　    Address: Pok Oi Tau, Liu Lok Tsuen, Fanling, North District, Hong Kong

　　    Getting There: By taxi