Nan Lian Garden Hong Kong
A Showcase of Traditional Chinese Landscaping
In the 7th Century

Entering Nan Lian Garden Hong Kong

The Nan Lian Garden is an extension of the Chi Lin Nunnery . My husband and I were there twice within one trip. The main theme of the garden is to show traditional Chinese landscaping.

The entrance of Nan Lian Garden Hong Kong

The landscaping along the way heading towards the first exhibition hall, the Chinese Timber Architectural Gallery

There are 3 main exhibition halls and 2 tea houses, a big fish pond, a waterfall and a few small buildings which are the common set up of the Wealthy in their gardens in the past.

The first exhibition hall shows a scaled down miniature of several buildings built in the past which still exist today. The models highlight some of the differences between the building styles.

The 2 pictures below show you the building of the first exhibition hall, the Chinese Timber Architectural Gallery

Along the way to the second exhibition hall, there are many different plantings and stones used in the garden. They are all very precious in that it can take hundreds of years to grow or form. Therefore, you will see some security guards around and politely request that you do not to touch them.

More Chinese landscaping and garden layout on the way to the Octagonal Pavilion

The full view of the Octagonal Pavilion

After a while, you will start to smell some fragrance which is very natural and welcoming. 'Cos you have just arrived in the "Fragrance Hall".

The second exhibition hall, also called the "Fragrance Hall", always has special exhibitions. The first year when we were there in 2007, we did not need to pay an admission fee. But when I went back in 2009, there is a HK$15 admission fee per person.

The 2 pictures above are showing the Fragrance Hall

After that, you will see a HUGE "Blue Pond" with all the expensive red, silver, gold and pearl Koi fish. The pond is really big. Across the pond, you will see a cedar wood Pavilion of Chinese Pagoda where one of the tea houses is located. You can step in to enjoy tea as you walk further away and round the corner after the pond in order to get to its entrance.

The cedar wood Pavilion is a Chinese Pagoda

Look at all those beautiful Koi fish. There must be at least 100 of them in the pond

If you keep going....you will come across a waterfall about 100 feet away from the pond.

Look closely...there is another tea house behind it.

Can you see the people behind the waterfall?

When I went back in 2009, my family and I came to this place for lunch. They serve traditional vegetarian food. If you like to eat healthy and like steamed food, you will love this place. Check out our Hong Kong Vegetarian Restaurants page for more details about this restaurant.

Next to the restaurant, in the Nan Lian Garden Hong Kong, there is a Mill.

Here is the mill

Across from the mill, is the entrance of the tea house in the cedar wood Pavilion of the Chinese Pagoda.

Turning the corner, is the souvenir store. They have some gorgeous ceramic China which are very expensive. The prices are around US$100 - US$1,000 a piece. But the artwork definitely makes it worth every penny. They also have some reasonably priced souvenirs which costs around US$5 a piece. Be aware that some souvenirs are available in the stores out of the Nan Lian Garden Hong Kong as well.

In my opinion, you may be better off to save the extra money if you plan on shopping around later.

The Exterior of the souvenir store at the Nan Lian Garden Hong Kong

Less than 100 feet away, there is another exhibition hall that displays many rocks. They are stunningly beautiful. And you know what? You can sit on them. "Man....on a hot summer day, sitting on those rocks just cools you down inside and out". Feel free to try it.

That's me (Janny) sitting on the rock

Outside of this exhibition hall, there are many gorgeous potted plants.

Potted plants at the Nan Lian Garden Hong Kong

Not long after leaving this hall, you can either exit the garden or walk up to the bridge and check out the HK Chi Lin Nunnery.

The 2 visits that I have made to the Nan Lian Garden Hong Kong were 2 years apart from each other. Some of the scenic spots deteriorated a bit. They didn't break, but just aged a lot compared to my first visit when it was brand new.

Learn more about the Nan Lian Garden Hong Kong.

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