At a glance

  • The two places are close, but their opening hours differ. Nan Lian Garden is open from 07:00 to 21:00. Chi Lin Nunnery is open from 09:00 to 16:30, according to its official contact information. If you plan an evening garden stroll, the nunnery may already be closed. To see both, visit the nunnery in the morning, then head to the garden.
  • Exit C2 at Diamond Hill MTR station is the access point listed in Nan Lian Garden’s official information. Save the garden address as 60 Fung Tak Road and the nunnery address as 5 Chi Lin Drive. Use the road and garden paths to get between them; don’t cross the road just because the green spaces look close on a map. Allow 90 minutes to 2 hours for both places so you won’t have to rush through just to take photos.
  • The highlights are the wooden halls, the arrangement of stones and trees, and the view of pavilions across the water—not one oversized Buddha statue. First walk the garden paths, then take a break wherever you like. At the nunnery, don’t cross in front of people praying, and follow signs about photography indoors. Don’t step onto decorative bridges or into restricted areas for a photo.

Day by day

Suggested itinerary

See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.

Morning

Diamond Hill Station → Chi Lin Nunnery → Nan Lian Garden → Lunch

Which order to visit the two places

When including a meal in a half-day outing

Plan for free admission to the public garden and nunnery, and budget separately for transport and meals. The vegetarian restaurant inside the garden is not included with admission, so check seating and ordering arrangements directly. Visiting the nunnery, relaxing in the garden, and having lunch make a comfortable outing. If you can’t get a restaurant reservation, eat at Plaza Hollywood near the station to keep the route short.

If you arrive late or it rains

If it’s close to 16:30, first check whether you can still visit the nunnery interior; the garden stays open later. If the nunnery is already closed, you can just visit the garden without forcing another temple into the same day. Stop outdoor walks during heavy rain or thunderstorms. The nunnery says it closes during a No. 3 or higher tropical cyclone signal or a Black Rainstorm Warning. Even after a warning is lifted, check whether it has reopened.

How to fit it in

After 09:00, visit the nunnery first, then head to Nan Lian Garden. In the late afternoon, keep the nunnery’s 16:30 closing time in mind.

Reality check

Transport

Walk between the two places from Diamond Hill station and pair them with Wong Tai Sin for a half-day outing.

Time

Allow 90 minutes to 2 hours for the nunnery and garden, or 3 hours including a meal.

Cost

Admission to the public garden and nunnery is free. Restaurant, teahouse, and souvenir costs are extra.

Safety

Respect dress and photography restrictions in religious spaces, and take care on the garden’s stone paths after rain.

If plans change

Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden: Heavy rain

Shorten your garden walk and move to a nearby indoor venue.

Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden: No restaurant reservation

Eat at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill after visiting the garden.

Small tip

Book a vegetarian restaurant as well for a quiet lunch outing.

Final check before departure

  • Check opening hours and photography etiquette
  • Save the garden and restaurant entrances
  • Prepare a rainy-day alternative and lunch options

Check opening hours, garden facilities, restaurant reservations, and weather alerts on the day of your visit.

Information checked: 2026-10-03

Google Maps

Check the location on the map

Use Google Maps to review the location and nearby route. Recheck opening hours and prices with the official source before visiting.

  • Chi Lin Vegetarian

    This article links to these materials for further reading.

    Chi Lin Vegetarian in Nan Lian Garden is a place to enjoy a vegetarian lunch after visiting the garden and Chi Lin Nunnery. Official hours list lunch from 12–3 p.m. on weekdays and 12–3:30 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. Since the garden and restaurant open at different times, it works well to pair a morning walk with a lunch reservation.

  • Wong Tai Sin Temple

    This article links to these materials for further reading.

    Wong Tai Sin Temple is an active place of worship that tourists can visit for free. Allow 45–60 minutes in the morning, then continue to Nan Lian Garden in Diamond Hill. General temple admission and the paid Taisui Yuenchen Hall and fortune-telling consultations are separate options, so there’s no need to buy a ticket first.

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