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In pictures: how Hong Kong’s Big Buddha statue was built on Lantau Island

Twenty-five years ago the giant Buddha statue was ceremonially unveiled at the Po Lin Monastery in Ngong Ping, Lantau. Post photographers chronicled the stages of its construction

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A crane hoists one of the statue’s giant hands towards the main body of the Big Buddha (right) during its construction at the Po Lin Monastery on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. Photo: SCMP
Mark Sharp

The Big Buddha that gazes down serenely on visitors to the Po Lin Monastery at Ngong Ping on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island opened to the public 25 years ago. Thirty-four metres (112 feet) high and weighing more than 250 tonnes (276 tons), the statue has since become one of the city’s top tourist attractions. Many visitors climb the 268 steps to its podium to see the statue up close and take in the view.

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The Tian Tan Buddha, as it is also known, looks north towards China, where its 202 bronze sections were cast by a producer of satellites and space rockets in a process that took three years.

The tallest statues in the world

We look back at how Post photographers captured the Big Buddha’s construction.

One of the bronze plates from which the Bib Buddha is built is hoisted towards the frame of the statue. Photo: SCMP
One of the bronze plates from which the Bib Buddha is built is hoisted towards the frame of the statue. Photo: SCMP
A monk at the Po Lin Monastery blesses the first bronze plate before it is fixed to the framework of the Buddha statue.
A monk at the Po Lin Monastery blesses the first bronze plate before it is fixed to the framework of the Buddha statue.
Construction workers manoeuvre one of the Big Buddha’s huge hands into place. Photo: SCMP
Construction workers manoeuvre one of the Big Buddha’s huge hands into place. Photo: SCMP
Scaffolding protects the Big Buddha as it nears completion. Photo: SCMP
Scaffolding protects the Big Buddha as it nears completion. Photo: SCMP
Monks hold a purification ceremony for the nearly completed Tian Tan Buddha statue. Photo: Sam Chan
Monks hold a purification ceremony for the nearly completed Tian Tan Buddha statue. Photo: Sam Chan
The Big Buddha statue at Po Lin Monastery ready for its official unveiling. Photo: P. Y. Tang
The Big Buddha statue at Po Lin Monastery ready for its official unveiling. Photo: P. Y. Tang
A procession of Buddhist monks moves through a crowd of 10,000 attending the colourful inauguration ceremony for the giant Tian Tan Buddha. Photo: Martin Chan
A procession of Buddhist monks moves through a crowd of 10,000 attending the colourful inauguration ceremony for the giant Tian Tan Buddha. Photo: Martin Chan
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