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Sha
Tin
 Sha
TinThe metropolis of Sha Tin
is one of Hong Kong's fastest-growing New Towns, offering plenty
of recreation for visitors' pleasure. Extensive housing projects
are now being pursued at areas that were once rice paddies, and
the New Town Plaza - a huge shopping mall and entertainment complex
- offers cinemas, designer boutiques, and a musical fountain that
attracts myriad of mall-goers.
Temple
of 10,000 Buddhas
 This
secluded temple is situated high on the hillside above the Sha Tin
Railway Station. Visitors can reach the temple via the 431 steps
leading up to the temple's main altar. The altar room has 12,800
Buddha statues along its walls, guarded by huge, fierce-looking
statues of various gods, and by similarly fierce watchdogs that
are chained up in the daytime. Another nine-story pagoda of Indian
architectural design, commemorating a Buddha who was believed to
be the ninth reincarnation of Prince Vishnu, is housed in the main
complex.
Going further
up 69 steps will bring you to the Temple of Man Fat, where you can
see the preserved remains of the man who had created this temple
and pagoda complex. Yuet Kai was a monk who spent his entire lifetime
studying Buddhism and living a meditative life. His foremost concern
was to achieve immortality. Upon his death, he was buried but according
to Chinese custom, his body was later exhumed to be reburied in
its final resting place. When dug up, the body was found to be completely
preserved and radiating a ghostly yellow glow. Since there was something
paranormal about Yuet Kai, it was decided to preserve his body in
a gold leaf for posterity.
Amah
Rock
A view of
the Amah Rock from the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas is absolutely stunning.
The rock was named so because it looks like an amah, or nanny, with
a baby on her back. Based on a legend, it is said that a local fisherman
once went to sea and did not return with his fleet. His wife waited
patiently for his return day after day, but to no avail. After a
year, the gods took pity on her and transformed her into stone.
Today, the rock is a place of worship for Chinese women and stands
as a symbol of women's loyalty and faithfulness.
Sha
Tin Racecourse
A popular
place for gamblers looking for quick and easy money, the Sha Tin
Racecourse is crowded during the months of October to May every
year when the racing season begins. Profits from the racecourse
are spent on charitable projects.
Hong
Kong Railway Museum
The museum
opens daily, except for Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is complete
with vintage train carriages housed in a former train station. Close
to the museum is Tai Po Kau, a developing town with a population
of 250,000 people.
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