KUN IAM TEMPLE

Kun Iam, one of the largest and richest temples in Macau, was founded in the th century. The current buildings, with the roof adorned with mythical figurines date back to 1627. The goddess of mercy Kwan Yin is known in Macau under the name of Kun Iam. We enter another world. A large ombragée shaded courtyard leads to the stairs of the main temple. These are guarded by two stone lions holding each in their mouth a stone ball. They are lucky if you can turn them three times to the left. The temple is dedicated to the three Precious Buddhas, the Buddha of Longevity and Kun Iam. The goddess is dressed in a embroidered silk robe crowned with the typical cap. It is guarded by 18 gilded gilded statues on each side of the altar. One of them represents Marco Polo (famous for kissing Buddhism at the Grand Khan court in Beijing). Her face is characterized by exorbités eyes, a large nose and an curly beard. Behind the temple, gardens are bathed in terraces. Township King Ki Ying, and the U.S. minister, Caleb Cushing signed the First Sino-American Treaty in 1844. In these gardens, the famous «tree of lovers», four old banians whose branches have fused to form more than one tree, is set up.