"Journey to the West" Park
Story
The story "Journey to the West" written by Wu Cheng'en is based on the true event of a Chinese Buddhist monk named Xuanzang (A.D. 602 – 664). He went to India (old name as 'Tianzhu') study Buddhism on foot. After a decade, he returned to China.
The story mainly around Tang Sanzang, Monkey King (Sun Wukong), Pig of Eight Percepts (Zhu Bajie) and Water Buffalo (Sha Wujing). Once upon a time, Monkey King (Sun Wukong) learned Seventy-two Transformation and went to heaven and fight with many gods and goddess and created a chaos. Finally, Gautama Buddha punished him and jailed him into Mountain of Five Fingers (Wuzhi Mountain).
Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin) guided Tang Sanzang how to tackle problems on the road and mentor three human beings whose bodies are in animal forms: Monkey King (Sun Wukong), Pig of Eight Percepts (Zhu Bajie) and Water Buffalo (Sha Wujing). Tang Sanzang does not know martial arts but the three. So, the three followers fight devils along the journey in protection of Tang Sanzang. Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin) returned Commmute Cloud and The Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod (Ruyi Jingu Bang to Monkey King (Sun Wukong). In addition, Goddess of Mercy placed a circlet on his head in order to discipline him. When Monkey King is naughty, Tang Sanzang can cast spells on the circlet and make Monkey King in agony.
Eventually, Monkey King (Sun Wukong), Pig of Eight Percepts (Zhu Bajie) and Water Buffalo (Sha Wujing) helped Tang Sanzang fight all evils along the journey and reached the heaven. Gautama Buddha ascended the fellows into heaven and they all became Buddhas.
Opening Hours
The park literally opens every single day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
How to Reach Park of Journey to the West (Fung Tak Park)
A bridge across the road. Surprisingly, the bridge was uncovered during my childhood.
The entrance of Fung Tak Park
To reach Park of Journey to the West (Fung Tak Park), the most convenient transportation is MTR. We are going to land off Wong Tai Sin Station. Grab an Information Guide at Customer Service Centre just in case. It has a map of the area so that it can assist you when getting lost! Exit E is our first checkpoint. The second checkpoint is the bridge. When turning left after Exit E and walk approximately five minutes, you will see a bridge ahead. The direction is not so difficult. All we need is to walk straight until we can locate the entrance. Passing under the bridge we will see a footpath after numerous stores. The footpath will lead you up to the entrance of fire station which is a wrong way. So, we are going to ignore it and we will see a wall structure. The entrance is in the middle of the structure on our left.
Flame Mountain
The place Flame Mountain is borrowed in Journey to the West. The story tells us that Monkey King attempted three times to borrow Iron Fan from Princess Iron Fan to put off the fire on the mountain in order to remove this obstacle and continue their journey.
Flame Mountain (Fo Yim Shan)
Crystal Palace
The story is about Monkey King went to The Palace of Dragon King and crated chaos in the palace.
Crystal Palace (Shui Jing Kong)
Mountain of Blossoms and Fruits
The storyline of Journey to the West told us that Monkey King was living at Water Curtain Cave in Mountain of Blossoms and Fruits (Mount Huaguo) which s actually located in Jiangsu Province. There are also many monkeys living with Monkey King in the cave.
The first time when I went into the cave feeling really scared! It was dark with few nights. The most scary thing is the waterfall sound echoes in the dark. It gave me a similar feeling of going into a deep cave on an island.
Mountain of Blossom and Fruits (Shui Lim Don)
Mountain of Five Fingers
The storyline of Journey to the West tells us that Monkey King (Sun Wukong) learned Seventy-two Transformation and went to heaven and fight with many gods and goddess and created a chaos. Finally, Gautama Buddha punished him and jailed him into Mountain of Five Fingers (Wuzhi Mountain).
I lived in Wong Tai Sin when I was young. I was witnessing the establishment of Park of Journey to the West (Fung Tak Park) from scratch. I saw the structure and thought that it was amazing especially Mountain of Five Fingers. I was so amazed and excited! I told my mum that I was very keen to visit Mountain of Five Fingers. She told me that Mountain of Five Fingers was actually a place for Columbarium. She advised me not going to Mountain of Five Fingers.
Eventually, I went to Mountain of Five Fingers in the park and nothing happened!
One of the five fingers
