Nan Lian Garden

Love this beautiful garden in Diamond Hill, Hong Kong. Built in the Tang Dynasty style, it has water features, hills, manicured trees, rocks and buildings. It is so peaceful and soothing to take a walk and escape the urban hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. The garden is so lush and the landscaping is unbelievable. The trees are sculpted so beautifully. Loved the collection of bonsai at the Rockery. The garden was built in collaboration with the Chi Lin Nunnery and the Hong Kong government. Walk across the paths to the nunnery. It is also stunning. Thank you to Jacky from This is Asia for sharing this gem with our family on your city tour.

This is a nice change of pace for a beautiful quiet and scenic break in your day. Admission to the garden is free and it's basically structured in a loop which you can complete in 20 minutes if you're taking your time. The trees and buildings are very well maintained and there is a large koi pond with an elevated viewing area in the middle. Pretty much everything here is a good photo spot and although the garden is situated in the middle of the city, the large high rise building in the background make for an even better photos as it gives it a very unique Hong Kong style. There's also a restaurant behind the waterfall if you get hungry. However, it's vegetarian only.

Nan Lian Garden looked like a great spot to escape the busy city of Hong Kong so we came by for a stroll. It's a quick walk over from the MTR station and you really feel like you've been transported out of Hong Kong when you enter. The garden is very clean and well kept. There are hidden security cameras everywhere so be on your best behavior. Don't ask how I know but Mink found out the hard way lol. Surprisingly they have a lot of security guards visible and hidden on property. When we visited, they were undergoing a bit of renovations but we still enjoyed how tranquil the place was. The garden was larger than I expected so bring comfortable walking shoes. It's free to enter but there is an area where you have to pay admission to see the exhibits in the showroom. This is optional if you wish to see the artifacts inside the building. There is also food and beverages available for purchase. Nan Lian Garden is a nice tranquil area in the skyscraper filled city of Hong Kong.

Beautiful and quiet morning visit to the gardens. It was my second time this year and enjoyed the well manicured and organized gardens. There also was a small museum, tea house and vegetarian restaurant (behind the waterfall) on site. Lots of koi in the small lake by the tea house. A couple of pathways were closed especially the one leading to the pagoda. After walking around we visited the Nunnery right afterwards.

It's definitely a beautiful garden, but it is tourist central, with everyone taking selfies. I really would have liked to walk across the red bridge, but that section was roped off to visitors. They have many old, super large koi in their pond. They are well fed. They look like they are a hundred years old. I don't recall whether or not I have seen such large koi before. I enjoyed catching a dim sum snack and cappuccino at the cafe that is located on the premises.

What can you say about a garden in the heart of Hong Kong? Basically, all you can say is that it is a garden in the heart of Hong Kong. And, that is what this location is; a garden. There is really not much to discuss in regard to this garden. It is a gated area and it is fairly nice to walk around. They have for a couple of places you can eat. One is a full-fledged restaurant. The other is a little café where you can grab some snacks and or a coffee or tea. For me, the high point of this garden is there a Koi fish pond. There, You will see some very beautiful Koi fish. And, a lot of them. Some of them are obviously quite old as they are very large. A beautiful sight to see Overall, if you just feel like kicking around Hong Kong, it's a nice place to visit.

This is a great Hong Kong garden. We swung over on our last day and we're really glad we did. It's serene, super clean and manicured. Just a beautiful place. If you're around Causeway Bay area, go to Central station with MTR, change to Red line and stop at Yau Ma Tei then change to the Green line and stop at Diamond Bay, and exit at C2, for the closest to the entrance gates. It's free of charge, no Pokemon Go allowed (sad that they had to actually put a sign for it...), Stay on the path (aka don't jump into the grounds for your selfie), and really enjoy the space. It's really beautiful. And it's attached to the Nunnery across the way which was beautiful as well as great traditional architecture.

After having visited Hong Kong so many times, I finally get a chance to visit the Nan Lian Garden given the beautiful landscapes I saw prior that featured a golden temple with a pond that features a HK skyline in the background. In a high intensity urban environment, these gardens offer a beautiful and almost tranquil escape from the outside world. The Nan Lian Garden is free to visit and great for a nice walk during the day. You get to see an amazing Chinese garden with its own rock museum that is explained by the lovely guides walking around. The views are spectacular from various angles as you see the juxtaposition of urban and mother nature. Despite us going on a weekend, it never felt like it was ever too busy to have a relaxing time. Definitely visit even for just an hour. You'll be happy you did! Gardens are easily accessible from the Diamond Hill MTR station.

Absolutely stunning grounds and another not to miss destination while in HK. If you have researched the Chi Lin Nunnery and curious on how these two are related, they are basically attached, yet separated by a small bridge. Both do not cost a dime if I remember correctly, but tips are welcome. Navigating the garden grounds is pretty simple as it is one large circle, but there are maps available if need be. As for proximity to MTR, there are two stations within a five to ten minute walking distance, so no need for a taxi if you want to save yourself the hassle. There are limited snack options inside, but outside the grounds is your typical HK food fare, so I'd suggest eating before entering. Shopping wise, there is one shop selling "authentic" goods, but not really for me and a tad pricey if you ask me. The whole point of this location is relaxation and appreciation of the flora and fauna (Minimal fauna), so take your time, sit and watch time go by in this beautiful garden!

Wow. Quite a stunning garden. It's very well maintained and pretty. Check out the rock gardens and the various buildings on the grounds. Go later in the evening for the best photo taking light.

The garden is beautiful, easy to get to by MTR, and free. It is a traditional garden.....don't expect thrill rides! The bonsai trees and plants are well maintain, the koi pond is very big and serene. They have a Chinese Timber Architecture Gallery, with excellent models. They have a big waterfall, and behind that a vegetarian restaurant. One of my favorite places in Hong Kong.

Nan Lian was such a peaceful temple. I could not stop staring at the gold pagoda. It was one of the nicest temples I saw during my trip to Asia. The red bridge that connects was really cool. The garden was so green. It is also connected to the Chi Lin Nunnery So many great photo spots here. No fee to enter. The entrance to the garden is pretty subtle, easily missed if you are not paying attention. Not located within the main area of Hong Kong but totally worth the train ride. Not as touristy crowded which made it even better. One of my favorite sites when I was in Hong Kong.

Absolutely must see in HK. Free admission w excellent examples of traditional Chinese garden surrounded by freeways and high rises and yet peaceful. Nice exhibit of traditional Chinese wood building construction. Many of the building displayed are still standing in mainland. Wood from Canada- yay!!!! The garden is extensive and contains a man made waterfall, pagoda, model mill and waterwheel and a vegetarian restaurant.

You definitely should check this garden out if you're in Hong Kong! It's extremely well-kept, with multiple workers stationed throughout to make sure that you don't enter any closed off places. It reminds me of a mini version of Japan's garden, but nonetheless pretty to look at and take pictures of. There are many beautiful plants to look at, along with tea plants. I don't know much about them but it was interesting to look at all the different types. There are also nice views for pictures! It's cool to take pictures here because Hong Kong's skyscrapers are visible in the background :) Easy to get here, just follow the signs !

REVIEWER # 20 This is definitely a MUST SEE in Hong Kong. I fell in love with this place at first sight! Beautiful views of Hong Kong and such a wonderful place to relax and forget about all the worries! **Totally free to enter** This was definitely on my "to-do" list when I came to visit HK. Nam Lian is a very well kept Japanese-style garden that is very peaceful and quite. It's a great beautiful walk around the garden. You have the chance to walk at your own pace and take everything in. When I came in November it was not crowded at all. I was speechless during my first impression of this garden. The architecture, the peacefulness and the garden is amazing! Just a 5-10 min walk from the Diamond Hill station (very accessible), there are signs showing the exit and thereafter the route to take. Once I walked through the gates, I quickly noticed the music that was playing in the background, so serene! Make sure to collect an informative map here and follow the garden route signs as the park is immaculately maintained with. The garden consists of several cafes, a beautiful vegetarian restaurant in the back behind the beautiful waterfall, an exhibition and ceramics exhibition. You are also able to experience the nunnery that is connected by a bridge. Please note, that if you come solo, you are not allowed to use your selfie stick in the garden. There are staffs that work and keep a close eye on the garden. If any of them see you using your selfie stick they will tell you to put it away. If you would like to eat at the restaurant, I would encourage you to book in advance as it does seem to fill up quickly. I encourage you to plan about 1-2 hours to see the Garden as well as Chi Lin Nunnery FYI: This garden has a bridge that connects to Chi Lin Nunnery. P.S-Such a great way to escape the crazy fast life in Hong Kong! WOULD I RECOMMEND? Heck yes! This was one of my favorite things to do when I was in HK! REVIEW 227/196

The garden is exquisite; it is easily one of the most beautiful places I've ever experienced. It is an expertly designed oasis and an immaculately maintained natural respite within a dense urban centre. The garden's range of trees and rocks are expertly curated and accessible through various walking paths, a reflection pond with koi and turtles, bridges, water features, and a pagoda. The elements of the garden are perfectly harmonious and embody the essences of calm, mindfulness, and balance.

Finally some natural greenery in Hong Kong. Hong Kong does not have many public parks or even trees planted on the streets. I'm glad this garden exists, because everyone needs to see some greenery! If you need a place to relax away from the steel concrete buildings of Hong Kong, this garden will give you a sense of peace and tranquility. This garden is great to walk around in as it give you time to just think to yourself and to set your mind away. There are temples that serve vegan food. One of the best vegan food I've had. Some are made to look like meat, but it's mainly made of soy and veggie based flour. It may get busy when tourist come visit, but the garden still takes your mind of them and a must visit when you are in Hong Kong.

Oh my god this is such a must visit, it's the nicest zen garden I have ever been to and that says a lot since I been to a few, I enjoyed it more than the ones I visited in Japan. The garden has been open since November of 2006 and is a Buddhist garden. The garden is very well maintained and everything seems to be properly in place. There is an unusual smell when you enter but that's from the type of manure they use, I guess that's what makes the trees so prestine. I still have two more days left in HK but I already know this will be the highlight of my trip. I was in such awe at how much I enjoyed the garden, I felt such a sense of calm and tranquility, it almost felt like the outside world didn't matter. Your mind set will change immediately when you visit the garden. This place is an a absolute must.

Beautiful area in Diamond Hill few minutes from the Diamond Hill MTR exit. Too bad its in the middle of a city and not on the side. Recommended by my mom as well as other guides online, its a place to visit in HK. The buildings kind of kill the entire feeling of the place. Nan Lian Garden was built years later after the Chi Lin Nunnery was established. Free entry ! A mild escape from the "city" Upon entry of the garden, there is a huge wooden sign with the name of the garden in chinese. As you follow the pathway, theres a small building to the left which features many very intricate and detailed wooden structure models of larger/older buildings. Continuing along the path, you'll see a large golden structure surrounded by a pong. Very nice visual except for the modern high rises behind :( Its quite a nice walk (too bad it was a little hot that day and of course humid). The garden has a tea garden and a restaurant but very pricey. I heard its good to try the vegetarian meals there too but my friends were highly uninterested in that fact. You can check out the "rock museum" and gift shop that also showcases these high valued tea sets that my friends and I can't but wonder why they are so expensive. Lol The garden is connected to the Chi Lin Nunnery which has an extensive temple area which i will review individually from this. Great place to check out on a day of temples. Close to the popular and widely known Wong Tai Sin Temple (few stops away)

This is such a beautiful place to relax and take a nice walk. It is free for admission and you can take a stroll through the park, which can easily take 2-3 hours. There's a great variety of beautiful items to see throughout the park. There are beautiful plants and trees that I have never seen before in USA. There are plenty of beautiful photo opportunities including the bonsai trees, a beautiful pagoda with Hong Kong's famous sky scrapers in the background, a koi pond, a waterfall with a watermill, and of course the beautiful temples. I would have enjoyed this 10x more if it wasn't so HOT and HUMID, but hey, what can you expect mid-day in September? They also have gift shops, which were nice to browse around and to...take advantage of the nice A/C. It was such a nice and relaxing walk through the park. I would definitely go back! One thing I didn't like was that I was not able to use my selfie stick! :( Boo hoo..

Wonderful garden that offers a relaxing stroll in greenery away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The place is actually big and surprisingly not very crowded so it feels really spacious. The bonsai and other plants are beautiful. A number of sections were cordoned off which may disappoint those who want to walk deeper but I'm happy to admire the view from a distance. Definitely a gem!

As it pertains to "green, outdoor areas, that you can hear the birds, be around beautifully manicured grounds and silence out the city life," this place is an absolute 5. Kind of larger than I would have thought and also built only a handful of years ago being constructed in the 21st century, this garden is really quite lovely and a definate to do sometime. It's 35,000 sq meters and there are beautiful pagodas, pavilions, bridges, waterfalls and galleries throughout. There are over 60 varitials of plants and trees alone all chosen for their sustainablity. There is a vegetarian sit down restaurant for a meal and also a quicker more casual small cafe to grab a drink and a quick snack. There is no fee to visit the garden, but we did pay an extra $20HKD to see a special exhibition of Murano glass in their exhibition hall. The weather was perfect today and we had visited the nunnery across the street before coming to the park. It is a lovely, open, airy space to "just be." It is beautifully manicured and they are taking exceptional care of the grounds and all it holds.

Beautifully preserved and maintained gardens attached to the Chi Lin Nunnery (monastery) in Kowloon. You can easily spend two hours here, it's very peaceful with amazing sculpted trees in the Bonsai style (generally thought of as part of Japanese culture, but invented by the Chinese named as pun-sai in 700 AD). Along with the trees are beautiful, large rocks, water elements and gardens. The landscaping is inspired by Tang Dynasty design. There's a small, high-quality gift shop, snack bar and plenty of quiet walking trails. Highly recommended.

A great place to a break from the busy city and have a stroll through Nan Lian Garden's grounds. It was a serene and beautiful place to visit! Admission is free and it's easy to spend a few hours at. If we're ever back in Hong Kong, I'd definitely visit again on a sunny day.

Oasis of peace in a city that runs at a frenetic pace. The garden is not large makes for a very pleasant stroll. The bonsai trees, large rocks, wooden bridges and lotus pond create a tranquil, Zen-like atmosphere. In addition, there is a gold pavilion in the center, as well as an attached nunnery that are well worth a visit. And if you're hungry, you can stop by the restaurant that serves some pretty innovative and tasty vegetarian food.

The Nan Lian Garden is attached to the Chi Lin Nunnery. Both are fantastically tranquil destinations that I highly recommend visiting if you find yourself in Hong Kong. When you stroll around the gardens, you forget you're still well inside a massive, bustling city...until you look up and realize you're surrounded by skyscrapers, hehe. The gardens are lovely to walk around, and are replete with greenery and moving water in various forms. There are some restaurants within the gardens that you can eat at (we didn't do this)--I'd recommend a reservation since they looked pretty packed. Once you've finished exploring the gardens, you can walk across the bridge that connects Nan Lian to the nunnery. The nunnery is a glorious structure of its own. Oh, and did I mention it's all totally free?

This review covers the Nan Lian Garden and the adjoining Nunnery. These connecting entities form an oasis in the middle of a bustling city: a wonderful FREE must-see attraction providing a spiritual respite. Just steps away from the Diamond Hill metro station and Hollywood Plaza, it felt like another world. We entered the Nan Lian Garden very early in the morning. The space was practically deserted with no visitors in sight probably because of the light drizzle. It's was super calming walking along the quiet path surrounded by lush greenery looking so fresh, dewy and alive. A challenge (for me, at least) taking pictures in this beautiful, photogenic space with its bridges, waterfalls and carefully manicured trees/plants was to exclude the tall concrete structures in the background. The scenery got even better as we approached the Nunnery with its magnificent temples and lotus ponds. Absolutely gorgeous! I got a whiff of the fragrance of blossoming orange jasmine flowers. During our two-plus-hour visit, we also stopped by the Rockery with its gorgeous stone display, the craft souvenirs shop, and the tea house. The serenity gradually dissipated with increasing foot traffic and noise later in the morning. We heard chanting but did not run into any nuns, just gardeners and maintenance staff. Overall it was a marvelous self guide tour.

The first thing you think upon entering Nan Lian is that someone really wanted to make a Japanese Garden in Hong Kong but wasn't allowed to. So they went with this instead. Now...the history of even Japanese gardens goes back to China where places such as Nan Lian were supposed to represent what heaven might look like. And what an improvement over the western conception of heaven with all it's boring-ass whiteness, which would drive anyone mad. There are many stunning gardens all over China (check out Suzhou) but to be perfectly honest, none can compare to what the Japanese have accomplished in this art. And China should take credit since Japanese culture is just an outgrowth of Chinese. And so without being hyper obvious about it, the creators of this space really created a hybrid Japanese-Chinese and by not following the best methods of either, the result is an aesthetic failure. If it was me...I would have created an elaborate ostentatious Hong Kong style garden right out of the 50's-60's with the color and energy of Old Hong Kong. And pay homage to the history of the city. Perhaps have included a vintage street with remakes of some of the famous shops and restaurants that once existed. What we have instead is a very polished, very NEW...and I mean super NEW looking...old looking wannabe Japanese garden. And it is trying way too hard, with WAY too much to see in every inch. Jesus. How can you contemplate a rock with another rock and another and another and a waterfall and a pagoda and a bridge and another bridge and BONSAI! (poorly cared for I might add). It's just so much, so cramped in such a small space. While the garden is a nice size, there is enough here to fill 100's of gardens around the world. Back to the Bonsai...yellow leaves, dying grass beneath, very poor maintenance with growth ALL over the place -- no trimming...I mean, if you're going to bring in 1000's of dollars worth of trees, hire someone who knows how to take care of them. And again...a very Japanese looking display even though the art started in China... Lastly, so many of the nicest spots are BLOCKED OFF because of bad behavior of previous tourists. In fact, when I was there, I noticed an idiot Asian-American yanking on the trees to see if "they were real". These fools ruin it for everyone but instead of blocking the garden off, why not just fine these morons? I think for western eyes, this place will be an incredible experience but whereas the Emperor's Garden in Tokyo is a once in a lifetime experience, this is not. It's worth seeing because yes, there is beauty here but it's artificial. You're better off just walking through the more local Hong Kong parks and streets to get that same feeling of majesty that you are expecting here.

If you ever get the feeling that Hong Kong's a little too claustrophobic for your liking, welcome to the club. Now that you're in the club, let me fill you in on a bit of knowledge. A short walk from Diamond Hill MTR is a secret sanctuary of mine: Nan Lian Garden. Quick inconspicuous summary: it's a free-of-charge public park. But it's that, and so much more... Nan Lian Garden is THE location for quiet contemplation, meditation, a vacation from this city of agitation and aggravation. Perhaps some elaboration: Renovated in the style of the Tang dynastic buildings, the architecture is a welcome change from those cut-throat urban skyscrapers. Paths are laced with rocks, gentle streams, and best of all - the biggest Bonsai trees I've ever seen! And they're absolutely everywhere! They're tended to with immaculate care by the park staff, and the whole landscaping project is specifically treated according the Feng Shui philosophy, which just adds to this feeling of otherworldliness and scenic perfection. Did I mention that there's also the gentle, lulling sound of a stringed instrument that follows you through the 3.5 hectares of garden? I always feel a bit peckish after my walking tour so I hit up Long Men Lou, a restaurant that is located right under a running waterfall. They serve vegetarian set meals following the Buddhist tradition. There are a few exhibitions - some free, some not. If you want to get all tourist up in this thing, the exhibitions clue you in on some of the Chinese artefacts, Chinese architectural history, and Japanese occupation history. If you're just looking for a couple hours out of the shoebox, sidle on by to the Pavilion of Absolute Perfection and get your Buddha smile on.

My wife and I were visiting in the area and we decided to grab lunch here. First of all, there's a massive line of people waiting to get in and reserving, so make sure you either get there early or call ahead. As for the food, it is vegetarian. They offer a deal where you can sample 4-5 different dishes or you can order off the menu a la carte. Because of the amount of customers they get, I can understand that they were very busy but unfortunately they forgot one of my dishes and didn't get it to me until 45 minutes into our meal. As for the food, it is ok but not worth price or the wait. I would suggest getting vegetarian food elsewhere.

This was part of our favorite day in Hong Kong, and a nice break from the hustle and bustle of TST, where we were staying. We loved the nice walk, beautiful trees, and the tea we had in the center of the park. A truly relaxing afternoon.

Awesome picture spot in Hong Kong. Just make sure to bring a hat and water as you will be walking a lot under the Hong Kong sun/humidity. Worth the try. Second time here for pictures.

This is a lovely garden smack-dab in the middle of the city. I loved the contrast between this serene, gorgeous garden and the high rise buildings just beyond. This is definitely worth your time. There is a nunnery inside the garden, and you'll love seeing Buddha, of course. And what a deal ---- it's free!