VISIT GUIDE
Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery – Visit Guide
A hillside climb past hundreds of golden arhats above Sha Tin — free, a little hard to find, and worth the effort.
Hong Kong packaged · Ritual-inspired · Ships to Thailand
Quick answer
The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is a hillside Buddhist site in Sha Tin, reached by about 430 steps lined with golden arhat statues. From MTR Sha Tin Station, Exit B, walk 10–15 minutes past Pai Tau Village to the trail. Go on a cool weekday morning, and allow 1.5–2.5 hours.
Key facts
- Location: above Pai Tau Village, Sha Tin, New Territories
- Getting there: MTR Sha Tin (East Rail line), Exit B, then via Pai Tau Street and Sheung Wo Che Road to the path
- Time to allow: 1.5–2.5 hours, including the climb
- Hours: daytime only, and it may close in heavy rain or typhoon signals — confirm on the day
- Dress & etiquette: practical clothes and shoes with grip; don’t touch the statues; keep food away from the monkeys
- Known for: golden arhat statues, a hall lined with thousands of small Buddhas and a red nine-storey pagoda
Last updated:
Above Pai Tau Village in Sha Tin, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (萬佛寺, Man Fat Sze) is reached by a steep stairway of roughly 430 steps, lined on both sides by life-size golden arhat statues — each with a different face and pose. At the top: a hall whose walls hold thousands of tiny Buddha figures and a red nine-storey pagoda. Entry is free. This visit guide covers how to find the (easy-to-miss) entrance, an hours snapshot, the climb, etiquette, what to see, and an easy Sha Tin pairing with Che Kung Temple — always verify on the day.
What is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery known for?
The complex was founded in 1949 by the Buddhist master Yuet Kai and took around eight years to complete (1957). The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s listing describes temple halls, pavilions, a pagoda and an Eighteen Arhats corridor spread over about 65,000 sq ft, with more than 12,000 Buddha statues — so the name is, if anything, an understatement. The main hall (Man Fat Din) and the pagoda were graded Grade III historic buildings in 2010.
Despite the word “monastery”, no monks live here; the site is looked after by lay followers. The golden arhats on the stairway are a newer addition (early 2000s). It is a place of worship on a steep wooded slope rather than a managed attraction — so expect simple facilities, occasional upkeep works, and a climb that is part of the visit.
How do I get to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery and find the entrance?
MTR
Sha Tin · Exit B (East Rail Line)
Walk
~10–15 min to the trail
Climb
~430 steps · 15–30 min
The entrance is the part most visitors get wrong. There is little signage until you are almost at the path, and a large cemetery complex next door is easy to mistake for the monastery. Route as described by multiple local guides (checked 2026-10-05) — use a map app alongside it:
- Sha Tin Station, Exit B (East Rail Line). Turn left and walk down the long ramp beside the bus terminus to street level.
- Pass the old houses of Pai Tau Village on your left and continue to Pai Tau Street (the Grand Central Plaza / HomeSquare mall is across the road). Turn left along Pai Tau Street.
- Take the right turn onto Sheung Wo Che Road, passing the post office and the Sha Tin Government Offices.
- At the far end of Sheung Wo Che Road, look to the left for a narrow paved path by a fence and bamboo — small signs and the first golden statues appear soon after. That is the start of the climb.
Wrong-turn warning: if you reach an ornate gateway with escalators heading up the hill, that is Po Fook Hill (a columbarium and ancestral halls), not the monastery — turn back to Sheung Wo Che Road. Landmarks can change with roadworks, so treat this as a helpful guide and follow the signs on the day. Tap Octopus and check MTR on the day.
HOURS
When is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery open, and when should I go?
Snapshot as listed consistently by local and travel sources checked 2026-10-05 (the official site at 10kbuddhas.org lists 9:00am–5:00pm; confirm on the day):
- Monastery: 9:00am–5:00pm daily.
- Weather: it may close in heavy rain, under a Black Rainstorm Warning, or when Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above is hoisted. The only access is an open hillside stairway, and the site has closed for repairs after slope damage in the past.
- Last sensible start: reach the bottom of the steps by about mid-afternoon so you are not rushing the climb or the halls before closing.
- Food: the old vegetarian canteen is reported closed — do not plan a meal on the hill. Bring water; eat in Sha Tin before or after.
Best time: weekday mornings soon after opening — cooler for the climb and quieter for photos. October to February is the most comfortable season; in summer, go early and carry more water than you think you need.
What should I know about etiquette, safety and photos?
- This is an active place of worship — keep voices low and give way to people praying.
- Modest, practical clothing works best; wear shoes with grip — some steps are uneven and can be slippery after rain.
- Photos: the stairway and courtyards are widely photographed; follow any no-photo signs inside halls and do not photograph worshippers up close without asking.
- Do not climb on, lean on or pose with your hands on the statues.
- Wild monkeys live on the hillside — keep food and plastic bags out of sight, do not feed them, and do not eat on the climb.
- Entry is free. If anyone at the base asks for an “entrance fee” or presses you for donations, politely decline — give only at donation boxes inside if you wish.
- Follow barriers and signs: parts of the complex may be fenced off for upkeep.
Hong Kong Temple Gifts pieces are Hong Kong–packaged and taken to temples for chanting — a meaningful keepsake of your visit to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery.
Browse the Gift Shop or Top Sellers after your visit.
The arhat stairway — hundreds of gilded figures, no two alike.
Signature sights: the golden arhat path, Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall & pagoda
The arhat stairway. Roughly 500 life-size gilded arhats line the climb, created in the early 2000s — some serene, some comic, some holding animals or everyday objects. Take it slowly: spotting the oddest figure is half the fun, and there are places to pause on the way up.
Lower terrace. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall (Man Fat Din) is lined floor to ceiling with small Buddha figures; local accounts note the founder Yuet Kai’s preserved, gilded remains are enshrined here. Outside stand the red nine-storey pagoda (its interior is sometimes closed — treat going inside as a bonus), large bodhisattva statues riding a white elephant and a blue lion, and pavilions with views back over Sha Tin. Hong Kong film fans may recognise the courtyard from Infernal Affairs.
Upper terrace. Around another 69 steps lead to further halls and pavilions, including Kwun Yam (Guanyin). It is quieter and worth the extra effort if your legs allow — check that the stairs are open on the day.
Nearby: Sha Tin half-day with Che Kung Temple
- Che Kung Temple — Sha Tin’s other classic temple stop, known for its brass fortune windmills. From Sha Tin Station, ride the East Rail Line one stop to Tai Wai, change to the Tuen Ma Line, and go one stop to Che Kung Temple Station. Plan that temple with our Che Kung Temple visit guide; this page only covers the Ten Thousand Buddhas half.
- Order that works: climb to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery soon after its 9am opening (cooler, quieter), recover over lunch in Sha Tin, then head to Che Kung in the afternoon — allow roughly half a day for both.
- Before or after the climb: the malls beside Sha Tin Station (New Town Plaza and neighbours) have food, air-con and restrooms; the Shing Mun River promenade is a flat walk to cool down.
- New Territories side-trip: Tsz Shan Monastery, Tai Po — on another half-day, the East Rail Line continues north from Sha Tin to Tai Po Market, where minibuses climb to Tsz Shan and its 76m white Guan Yin. Unlike Ten Thousand Buddhas, Tsz Shan visits typically need free online registration booked in advance (no same-day), so confirm on the official site before you go rather than squeezing it in after the climb. Plan it with our Tsz Shan Monastery visit guide; this page only covers Ten Thousand Buddhas.
- Heading back to Kowloon? The Tuen Ma Line from Che Kung Temple Station runs direct to Diamond Hill for Chi Lin Nunnery — see the Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden visit guide.
Plan more temple visits
See all guides on Explore Hong Kong Temples, or plan a multi-stop day with the Hong Kong temples itinerary.
Golden arhats, halls, and monkey and stairs tips: Ten Thousand Buddhas — what to expect (deep stairs count stays on the stairs guide).
Getting there: How to get to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (Sha Tin Exit B, avoiding Po Fook Hill).
Before you climb: Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery stairs: what to expect.
Sha Tin pair: Che Kung Temple visit guide.
Sister stops: Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden visit guide · Wong Tai Sin Temple visit guide · Man Mo Temple visit guide · Big Buddha & Po Lin Monastery visit guide.
FAQ — Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery visit
Is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery free to visit?
Yes — there is no admission fee and no ticket booth. Donations inside are optional. If anyone at the foot of the path asks for an entrance fee or pushes for donations, decline politely; that is not the monastery. Your main cost is the MTR ride to Sha Tin.
What are the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery opening hours?
Local and travel sources checked 2026-10-05 consistently list 9:00am–5:00pm daily — re-verify on the day. It may close in heavy rain, under a Black Rainstorm Warning or Typhoon Signal No. 8+. Start the climb by mid-afternoon so you are not rushed before closing.
How do I find the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery entrance from Sha Tin MTR?
Leave Sha Tin Station by Exit B, walk down the ramp past Pai Tau Village, turn left on Pai Tau Street, then right onto Sheung Wo Che Road past the Sha Tin Government Offices. At the end of that road, a narrow path on the left leads to the first golden statues — about 10–15 minutes from the station. If you see a grand gateway with escalators, that is Po Fook Hill cemetery, not the monastery.
How many steps are there, and is the climb hard?
Expect roughly 430 steps to the main level (431 is the count most guides quote), plus around 69 more to the upper terrace. Most reasonably fit visitors take 15–30 minutes with photo stops. It is steep, can be hot and humid, and steps may be uneven — wear shoes with grip, bring water, and rest whenever you need to.
How long should I spend at the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery?
Allow about 1.5–2 hours from Sha Tin Station and back: the walk to the trail, the climb, the main hall and pagoda, and some time on the upper terrace. A quick photo visit can be done in about an hour. Add a few hours if you pair it with Che Kung Temple.
Can I take photos at the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery — and what should I wear?
The arhat stairway and courtyards are widely photographed; follow any no-photo signs inside halls and ask before photographing people praying. Wear modest, practical clothes and shoes with good grip. Keep food hidden from the wild monkeys and do not lean on or climb the statues.
Can I combine the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery with Che Kung Temple?
Yes — both are in Sha Tin and make an easy half day. Climb to the monastery in the cooler morning, then ride the East Rail Line one stop to Tai Wai and the Tuen Ma Line one stop to Che Kung Temple Station. Plan the temple itself with our Che Kung Temple visit guide.
Is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery worth visiting?
Yes, if you are happy to climb: it is free, close to the MTR, and the golden-arhat stairway is unlike anything else in Hong Kong. Skip it if stairs are a real problem, in heavy rain, or on a very short trip. For calmer, flatter temple visits, browse Explore Hong Kong temples.
Is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery OK for kids and visitors with limited mobility?
Older children who enjoy a climb usually love spotting the statues — hold hands near drops and keep snacks away from the monkeys. There is no lift or road access for visitors, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers, and visitors with knee, heart or breathing concerns should think carefully. Che Kung Temple is a flatter Sha Tin alternative.
Which Hong Kong Temple Gifts pieces make a meaningful keepsake of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery?
Our Hong Kong–packaged temple gifts — fortune wheels, red cords and wind-spinner motifs — echo the golden arhat path and climb to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, so they make a meaningful keepsake of your visit. Browse the Gift Shop or Top Sellers.