Diamond Hill: two temples, one garden, and where to eat
Diamond Hill (鑽石山) is one MTR stop from Wong Tai Sin and a short walk from Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden — two of Hong Kong's most striking free attractions. And directly above the station sits Plaza Hollywood, a mall with a whole floor of restaurants.
The three things people come for
There are three main attractions around Diamond Hill, and all three are free to enter: Chi Lin Nunnery, Nan Lian Garden (next to each other), and Wong Tai Sin Temple one MTR stop away. The first two are walkable from the station and take about an hour together.
Chi Lin Nunnery (志蓮淨苑)
A Buddhist nunnery rebuilt in Tang dynasty architectural style. The halls are put together with traditional interlocking wooden joinery — no nails. It is one of the largest hand-built wooden building complexes of its kind. Free to enter.
Nan Lian Garden (南蓮園池)
Next door to the nunnery, a Tang dynasty style garden laid out around a golden pavilion, rock formations and a timber corridor. Free to enter. Between them, this is easily an hour or two.
Wong Tai Sin Temple (黃大仙祠)
One MTR stop away and one of Hong Kong's best-known Taoist temples. Busy on weekends and especially around Lunar New Year. Free to enter.
All three are free
Chi Lin Nunnery, Nan Lian Garden and Wong Tai Sin Temple all charge no admission. The nunnery and garden are also quiet by Hong Kong standards — a genuine contrast to the rest of Kowloon.
Where to eat: Plaza Hollywood
Plaza Hollywood (荷里活廣場) is connected directly to Diamond Hill MTR station — about a five-minute walk from the nunnery and garden. Roughly 220 shops, with an entire floor of restaurants.
Most of the useful dining is on Level 2 and Level 3. Options range from Cantonese and Taiwanese to Japanese ramen, sushi, Singaporean and Western — including a udon restaurant and a Hainanese chicken rice shop.
Two worth knowing about
Using Diamond Hill as your base
Wong Tai Sin Temple is one MTR stop from Diamond Hill — about two minutes. Many visitors pair them: temple first, then one stop to Diamond Hill, where Plaza Hollywood holds around 220 shops with dining concentrated on Levels 2 and 3, so there is more choice and more seating.
It works the other way too — eat in Diamond Hill first, then head to the temple. The hop between the two stations is short either way.
On a rainy day
Diamond Hill MTR station is directly connected to Plaza Hollywood, so the walk from the platform to the restaurants is entirely indoors. The mall also has a 24-hour covered passage on Level 2 leading to Fung Tak Estate and the ground-level public transport interchange.
So on a wet day you can come straight from the MTR without going outside. Walking over from Chi Lin Nunnery or Nan Lian Garden takes about five minutes.
Getting there
- Station
- Diamond Hill (鑽石山) — MTR Kwun Tong Line and Tuen Ma Line
- To the mall
- Directly connected to the station, exits A1 / C2
- To the garden
- About a 5-minute walk from the station
- To Wong Tai Sin
- One MTR stop
- Cost
- All three attractions are free to enter
A suggested half day
- Start at Chi Lin Nunnery — the wooden halls are the highlight
- Walk through to Nan Lian Garden next door
- Walk 5 minutes to Plaza Hollywood for lunch or an early dinner
- Optional: one MTR stop to Wong Tai Sin Temple
Common questions
The questions that come up most often about visiting Diamond Hill and eating nearby.
Are Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden free?
Yes. Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden are both free to enter, and they sit next to each other — a few minutes' walk apart. Wong Tai Sin Temple is free as well. None of the three charges admission, which is part of what makes this route worth doing.
Where can I eat near Chi Lin Nunnery?
Plaza Hollywood, directly above Diamond Hill MTR station and about a five-minute walk from the nunnery. The mall holds around 220 shops, with dining concentrated on Levels 2 and 3 — Cantonese, Taiwanese, Japanese ramen and sushi, Singaporean, and Western. The walk from the garden is signposted.
How long do I need?
Allow around an hour for the nunnery and garden together, plus another hour for a meal. With travel, half a day covers it comfortably. If you add Wong Tai Sin Temple — one MTR stop away — allow roughly another 45 minutes.
What are the opening hours?
Both restaurants sit inside Plaza Hollywood and are open Monday to Sunday and on public holidays, 11:30–22:00 — straight through lunch and dinner with no afternoon break. Yummy Sanuki Handmade Udon is on Level 3 and BUGIS Laksa & Hainanese Chicken Rice on Level 2. These are the regular opening hours; holiday arrangements can differ.