Okay. Not really. It’s the Temple of the 10,000 Buddhas. But given the fact that I was a tasty feast for ravenous Chinese mosquitoes, well you get the idea…

It’s been a week and I’m still scratching.

Mosquitoes aside, the Temple of the 10,000 Buddhas in Hong Kong is great for B watching. Where else in the world will hundreds of them guide your way up 431 steps on the side of a mountain?

While I did not actually count all the Buddhas, I do believe them when they say there are at least 10,000 of them here (Official estimates are around 13,000) and each one is unique.

I met Buddhas of all shapes, sizes, sentiments, and kookiness.

Small Buddhas lining the wall

After awhile, I started to get uncomfortable with all the testosterone, so I was pleased to find out this isn’t only a men’s club. A few ladies were hanging around here and there.

Construction of The Temple of the 10,000 Buddhas was started in 1949 and completed in 1957. It took 10 years more to create the statues. On the site, there is also a 9- story pagoda, a temple, and pavilions. The founder of the temple, Yuet Kai, himself carried building materials up the mountain for construction.

Getting to the Temple of the 10,000 Buddhas: Take the train from Tsim Sha Tsui to Sha Tin station. Look for signs for the temple inside the station map and follow the path past Pai Tau Village. The temple is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is free. Don’t forget to generously spray yourself with bug repellent.