Consider the lilies ....

Hong Lok Park Lily Pond.

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6:28-29.

Yesterday I decided to visit Hong Lok Park in Fanling. This is another Chinese Jiangnan style garden. To get there I went to Fanling MTR Station, exited through exit C, walked past the minibus station and the sports ground and went up on a walkway to cross San Wan Road, near its roundabout.

Fanling Sports Ground.

I then continued onto The Hong Jockey Club Road and went left at its roundabout. I could see Fanling Magistracy Building overlooking the roundabout. This was constructed in 1960 and was the first magistracy in the New Territories. It was closed down in 2002 when the new Fanling Law Courts Building was opened. The six buildings making up the former magistracy have been vacant ever since they closed down.

The Former Fanling Magistracy.

I continued along Hong Kong Jockey Club Road for about another five minutes or so until I reached Cheung Wah Estate. Hong Lok Park was on my right. I entered the park through a gateway in its walls.

Hong Lok Park sign.

Map of Hong Lok Park.

Entrance to park.

The main feature of the park is its pond. There is a walkway all the way round and there are a couple of pavilions jutting out into the water.

Pavilion by the pond.

Pavilion by the pond.

Pavilion by the pond.

Pavilion by the pond.

Reflections.

Chinese calligraphy in the pond.

It's peaceful in the park yet high-rises are all around.

High-rises and school.

I could also see the walls of a temple at the far side of the park. This is closed to the public. It's a Taoist temple called Zangxia Jingshe. The temple building dates from the 1950's and is linked to a Taoist temple in Guangzhou.

Looking towards the Taoist temple.

The Taoist temple from the front.

Temple doorway.

The Taoist temple from the side.

The Taoist temple from the side.

There were quite a few waterlilies in the pond and some floating lily shaped lights which will be illuminated at night.

Water-lilies.

Water-lilies.

Water-lilies.

As well as the Water-lilies there were lots of other beautiful flowers, including some lovely orchids.

Pathway in the park.

Orchids.

Orchids.

Blue butterfly.

Shooting star.

Brazilian red cloaks.

I climbed up to a pavilion on the hill at the back of the park where several old men were playing ehrus. These are Chinese two-stringed musical instruments played using a bow. The men would have made a good photo, but I felt it would be a bit cheeky to take it so didn't.

The pavilion on the hill.

Looking down from hill.

I had noticed that on my walk to Hong Lok park the 79K bus had passed me by. That was the bus I had used to go to Wun Chuen Sin Koon, the Taoist temple in Ping Che. I had taken that bus from Sheung Shui and it had taken ages even to get to Fanling. When I was at this temple, I learned its lotus pond is covered with flowers in the summertime. I have been meaning to go.

I passed this lovely old tree on the walk to the bus.

I found the bus stop for the 79K. It's not a frequent service, so I had to wait a while. That didn't matter at least the bus stop was in the shade. I hadn't bought any water yet, so was relieved to be able to buy some at the temple, not far from the entrance, opposite the vegetarian restaurant.

Wun Chuen Sin Koon was founded by a group of Taoist monks from Guangdong Province, who fled China in 1938 during the Japanese Occupation.

Statues at the entrance.

I went straight to the lotus pond and quickly discovered I had got my timing wrong yet again. Most of the lotuses had already bloomed and were now just seed pods. However, there were a small number left, so I contented myself with photographing them. To be honest this temple is so lovely it is worth visiting at any time of the year and I wasn't actually disappointed.

Lotus bud and dragonfly.

Lotus blossom.

Lotus blossom.

Lotus blossom.

Lotus blossom.

Lotus blossom.

Fallen frangipani flower.

Seedpods.

Seed pods.

I wandered all around the lotus pond enjoying the pavilions and bridges and statues.

Lotus pond.

Pavilions on the lotus pond.

Boats in the pond.

The temple across the pond.

I decided to have a wander around the temple grounds, but it started thunder, lightning and raining, so I just had a quick look before escaping back to the bus stop and shelter from the storm. I caught a 52K minibus back to Fanling Station. The minibus is a lot quicker than the bus.

I began my quick look round with the temple itself which is very ornate and beautiful. I had the whole place to myself.

This is the gateway to the temple.

Looking back at the gateway.

Main temple building.

Main temple building.

I also had a speedy look around the gardens. These are so well kept and absolutely beautiful.

Pink bonsai.

In the garden.

Moongate and mural.

Moongate.

Statue.

Statue.

Statue.

Statue.

I noticed some lovely water hyacinths just before I left for my bus.

Water hyacinth.

Water hyacinth.

When I got back to Fanling Station, the thunderstorm had run its course, so I decided to go and have a quick look at Fung Ying Seen Koon. This is another Taoist temple right next to the MTR station. It's been being renovated since 2020 and I felt surely it must be done by now. Unbelievably, it still wasn't finished, though this time I could get in to the main temple which has always been closed before.

Looking in the doorway.

Inside the main temple.

Looking down from the main temple building.

Looking down from the main temple building.

Animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Animals of the Chinese zodiac.

I was fortunate enough to leave the temple and see a bus to Tsing Yi Station approaching, so I jumped on that, headed to Tsing Yi and did some food shopping in Marks and Spencers before coming home.

View from the bus.