🌸 Nan Lian Garden Hong Kong Review: A Serene Tang-Style Garden in Kowloon

From all the tourist spots I’ve visited in Hong Kong, Nan Lian Garden is the one I love the most.
It’s peaceful, serene, quiet, and utterly relaxing — like a magical forest tucked away in the middle of towering skyscrapers. Every time someone asks me about Hong Kong, I can’t help but show off the photos I took here while excitedly talking about how I long to go back.

 Lands & Seas Rock Arrangement

Shadow Wall as seen through the entrance inside the Garden

Garden's registration area

🧘‍♀️ I could easily stay all day, reminiscing or simply soaking in the classical beauty and calm energy of this place.

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🌿 A Classical Tang-Style Garden in the City

Trees just beside the registration area and along the path going to the Garden

Nan Lian Garden covers an area of 35,000 square meters and is inspired by the Tang Dynasty-style garden of Jiangshouju Garden in Shanxi Province. Despite being in the heart of busy Kowloon, the garden’s peaceful ambiance makes you forget the chaos outside — unless, of course, you look up and spot the buildings above.

 Chinese Timber Architecture Gallery

But even that doesn’t bother me. The moment you step in, you’re surrounded by perfectly arranged rock formations, pavilions, flowering trees, and the sound of flowing water.

🌳 It’s no wonder this spot stole my heart.

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🌄 Garden Design & Rock Arrangements

Chinese gardens are designed not to be seen all at once. The layout invites you to explore slowly and mindfully — with every turn revealing a new element: rocks, water, timber structures, and plants.

🪨 The garden features six rock arrangements:

• Lands & Seas
• The Spring Hill
• Cloud Rocks
• Semeru Vision
• The Nan Lian Rock
• The Host Rock

Most of the rocks came from Red River of Xijiang and are displayed either in isolation or in clusters. I was able to visit three of these because some areas were closed during our visit.

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🌲 Trees, Plants & Nature Harmony

The garden houses over 3,000 trees and 59 species, including:

• Buddhist Pine
• Japanese Black Pine
• Chinese Elm
• Sago Palm
• Pagoda & Cypress Trees
• Penjing (miniature trees)

The trees are not just decorations — they’re carefully planted to act as natural fencing, noise buffers, and privacy screens using traditional techniques like borrowing, concealing, sheltering, and penetrating scenes.

👷 I even saw staff members documenting the plants, showing just how well-maintained the garden is.

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🏯 Notable Structures & Architecture

The Pavilion of Absolute Perfection or Golden Pavilion

Nan Lian Garden has many Tang-style timber structures such as:

• Shadow Wall (Light Wall) at the entrance
• The Pavilion of Absolute Perfection (Golden Pavilion)
• Zi Wu Bridge
• Viewing decks, tea houses, and the Chi Lin Vegetarian Restaurant
• The Mill and Silver Strand Waterfall

View of the Tea House from the view deck of Blue Pond

📸 Sadly, many of the pavilions, bridges, and paths were closed to the public. We asked an elderly woman about it and she shared a meaningful explanation:

"Nature is meant to be enjoyed from afar."

That simple phrase stayed with me. And yes, even from a distance, the garden’s beauty is captivating.

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💧 Water Features: The Garden’s Soul

Blue Pond with the Pavilion Bridge as the background

 Pavilion Bridge

Water is considered the skin and flesh of a traditional Chinese garden. At Nan Lian, you’ll find:

• Blue Pond with koi and rock features
• Silver Strand Waterfall (beside the watermill)
• Lotus Pond
• Pine Brook
• Spring Hill

The Silver Strand

🪷 My favorite was the Blue Pond — its reflection of the pagoda and surrounding pavilions was mesmerizing, especially with the wind gently blowing and the waterfall nearby.

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🍵 Dining, Drinks & Gallery

While the Chi Lin Vegetarian Restaurant was closed during our visit, we found comfort at the Snack House beside the Tang Gallery.

I had the best fresh juice — pulpy, cold, and not a hint of bitterness. Unfortunately, take-out wasn’t allowed because maintaining cleanliness is a top priority.

The Tea House and Tang Gallery open in the afternoon. If you’re interested in exploring or dining, be sure to go after 12 noon.

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🛕 Connecting to Chi Lin Nunnery

Path going to the Chi Lin Nunnery - Tang Gallery on the right side

From the Snack House, you can walk to the bridge connecting Nan Lian Garden to Chi Lin Nunnery.
Before crossing, don’t forget to look back — the view of the Golden Pavilion from the stairs is spectacular. I wasn’t allowed to enter the bridge or pavilion, but the detailed architecture is still visible and picture-perfect from afar.

📸 I wish I could take just one photo from inside those closed pavilions to complete my photo collection — it would be a dream come true.

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🌟 Final Thoughts: Why You Should Visit

View of the Golden Pavilion from the Brdige connecting the Garden & the Nunnery

"This is the only place in Hong Kong that I truly want to return to."

If you’re not into shopping or thrill rides, Nan Lian Garden is a haven of peace and classical beauty. For me, it's even more beautiful than the Giant Buddha or Po Lin Monastery.

It’s truly a must-see — a soulful blend of nature, artistry, and tradition in the heart of Hong Kong.

📍 For directions, click here to read my full guide.
🌐 Visit their official website: www.nanliangarden.org

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📣 🌿 Have you visited Nan Lian Garden too?

📸 Share your favorite memory or photo in the comments!

If you're planning a peaceful Hong Kong trip, make sure to include this garden in your itinerary — and if you need help figuring out how to get there, check out my detailed MTR and walking guide or leave a question below. I'm always happy to help fellow travelers. 💬