Hsi Lai Temple

Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights is a breathtaking and peaceful sanctuary nestled in the mountains. From the moment you step onto the grounds, you’re surrounded by calm and beauty. The architecture is stunning, and the gardens are perfectly kept, creating a serene environment for reflection and spiritual practice. I’ve been taking meditation classes here, and the experience has been deeply calming and enriching. The monks are kind and approachable, and the temple itself is very welcoming to visitors. The temple also has a beautiful museum filled with traditional Buddhist art, intricate carvings, and incredible statues made from jade and ivory. The craftsmanship and detail in every piece are absolutely awe-inspiring. Photography is limited out of respect, which enhances the sacred and peaceful atmosphere. If you're looking for a place to find peace, learn about Buddhist culture, or just appreciate art and nature, Hsi Lai Temple is a hidden gem worth visit. Parking is very limited especially on holidays. You may have to circle around until somebody lets you have a space once you are in everything is free unless you want to give a donation or you are taking a class.

Very spiritual experience. The buildings are beautiful inside and out. The art and the history is everywhere and very beaitifull. The insides of the temples are very ornate and decorated. The statues outside the gardens and fountains are very nice. The whole area is wonderful. The grounds are very clean and well kept. Good job by all the workers and volunteers.

A beautiful temple, where you can reflect on aspects of your life. I recommend going without headphones or music, the natural ambience of the temple is soothing. The sound of running water, the cool breeze from the hills the temple is nestled between, and the sound of people conversing in daily life. Take a day to visit and ground yourself, the world can be a cruel and unsual place, but remembering that the day to day is all we have and to live it well is what's important.

Went with two galpals for a quick walk-around and vegetarian buffet lunch ($10, about 7 items, and new dishes come out every 10-15 minutes), Thursday. Look forward to tea in the gift shop next time. Very clean, friendly, lots of available literature ex. "Tea and Buddhism", steps & elevators, sculptures, garden spaces covered in statuary. Well worth a visit. Donate.

My friend told me about this Temple 5 years ago before retiring and I was never able to visit until now. What a beautiful, spiritual, and tranquil place. It was a weekday visit and not crowded at all except for the people coming for the vegetarian lunch. There are many wonderful statues throughout the grounds and information posted to give you an understanding of them. Thank you Grace😇 a volunteer who's been there for 30 years for providing additional insite and information.

Hsai Lai Temple is an amazing place with breathtaking views. I stop by every couple of months to light incense and take in the peaceful scenery. The temple grounds are beautifully maintained, and there’s a quiet, calming energy that makes every visit feel special. On the first floor, there’s a museum that hosts rotating exhibits throughout the year. While I haven’t attended any, they also offer a wide variety of classes and events. Whether you’re Buddhist or not, the temple is always welcoming and open to all. It’s truly a beautiful and enriching space.

Completed in 1988 and spanning 15 acres this Buddhist temple is the largest on the West Coast. I am not Buddhist myself but love learning about new cultures and different ways of thinking. I was in Whittier, which is just south of Hacienda Heights so decided to stop by this temple because it had been on my list of sites to see for quite some time. It is giant and beautiful complex with lovely art and landscaping all around. Parking is free and right out front of the temple which spans multiple buildings and has indoor and outdoor sites. There’s no photography allowed inside the prayer areas, but you can take pictures or videos in the other areas. It is free to enter and we weren’t accosted or bothered during our walk around. Being a tall white male, I was the only non-Asian there on a Saturday morning, but still felt comfortable walking around. I would highly recommend to anyone who is Buddhist, interested in Buddhism, or someone that wants to see some of the beautiful sites that LA county has to offer.

My favorite spiritual center in Long Beach. Beautifully maintained grounds, Buddhist temple where video and photos are not allowed inside, adding to the peaceful ambience. Dharma in English on Saturdays at 11am at the ancestors pagoda up the hill behind the main temple, gorgeous views from the library where you can read pamphlets on Buddhism translated into many world languages. Yummy cafe and story full of unique items.

Amazing beautiful place! Easy to park, super friendly volunteers, bilingual website with relevant events. Whole complex shaped like a leaf, many small museums, very tranquil. Reminded of Buddhist temples in Asia re tranquility. Highly recommend for peaceful soul-nourishing!

It was about an hour drive from where we live and definitely ended up in traffic on a Sunday so if you have to travel leave early. We arrived and there was zero parking in the parking lot and had to wait behind a line of cars before we headed to the residential area near by and found a spot. I don't mind walking as it's a form of exercise for me and there were beautiful trees and flowers along the way, but if you have anyone that is in a wheelchair, stroller or has a hard time walking, I'd drop them off first because it is uphill and there are a bunch of stairs so you would have to walk on the street in order to get up to the temple. We heard there was a vegan buffet so we went to eat first as it was already 12pm. The food lounge is very large and full of people. The buffet is all you can eat. The food is pretty good although I would not drink the tea as it smelled like chlorinated tap water. The temple is extremely large and has a lot of nature which is beautiful. The bathrooms are easily accessible which is very convenient. If you see a bell on the display case don't ring it or the volunteers will yell at you and call you disrespectful and say it's only for the monks. How would we know if it's on the display? Anyways besides that it was a pleasant experience and will go again.

Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights is the largest Buddhist temple in the United States! I actually visited this temple one year for Lunar New Year when I was in LA. Even if you're not Buddhist, this temple is still worth visiting. The decorations they put up all around were beautiful! The architecture is truly amazing and I just remember looking at every building and statue in awe! As for food, it's standard temple vegetarian food haha. Tends to be on the blander side but that's just what it is. On the east coast, we've got nothing like Hsi Lai Temple around that is as large or as beautiful so definitely super appreciate and grateful to have experienced Hsi Lai! There's no entry fee but always free to donate to the temple;) Highly recommend!

The food is delicious. It's vegan and very tasty. The cost is $10 per person. I enjoy coming to this place with my family. The staff is very attentive.

I have been to the Hsi Lai Temple long long time ago. I don't know why it came back into my thoughts most recently, but it did. I brought my eldest daughter with me this time around. From what I was informed, this Buddhist temple was closed during COVID-19 and had just reopened about one year or so ago. I am glad we got a chance to visit this wonderful and serene temple. The grounds are beautiful and full of colors. It's very well-maintained and nicely landscaped. There is no entry fee to visit. Parking is free. There are donation boxes placed throughout the temple for those who wants to contribute and give thanks. There is a map of the temple right at the base of the stairway before walking up to the front entry. Restrooms are available at different areas of the temple. Please be mindful that no photos or videos are allowed inside any of the buildings. Photos and videos are allowed only on the outside. After entering the front temple, you will either take a right or a left to get to the rest of the temple such as the courtyard and the main temple. You're open to walk the grounds freely. There are lots of statues of the heavenly gods and buddhas. Please look out for signs that say DO NOT TOUCH. There's a wishing tree where you may pay $5 per two wishes and toss them onto the tree... just a fun activity and a way to donate to the temple as well. They have Sunday sermons so do come early if you want to sit inside the main temple and listen to the sermons... language is in Chinese Mandarin. What I enjoyed most was walking the grounds, admiring the statues and taking photos, buying and trying the yummy waffle egg rolls ($12 per bag) that can be purchased at their Tea Room / Book Store, and eating their AYCE vegetarian lunch buffet ($10 per person) at the Dining Hall. They also sell red bean and custard cakes (5 for $10) outside the Tea Room. Our visit was very relaxing, interesting, and fun. We've come here twice already back to back days and we still didn't get a chance to go inside the main temple and see the pagoda as of yet. We'll have to come back here to see more of it next time. Plan to be here for at least 2 to 3 hours. If you haven't visited Hsi Lai Temple before or have visited it in the past, but not recently, do come by and enjoy a lovely morning and/or afternoon stroll and get immersed in the beauty and serenity of this heavenly place. Lunar New Year 2025 for Wood Snake (it has been 60 years since the last time it was here) is just around the corner on Jan 29th. It's a perfect time to come see the festivities and celebrations that it has to offer. It may get really busy so do come early to get a good parking spot. Otherwise, you may need to park on the streets and walk a little bit. There will be lots of walking so wear comfortable shoes, have sunscreen, and bring water. Btw, don't miss the 12 monk figurines who show 12 different simple and easy stretches for daily practice. They are right between the upper and lower parking lots. Watch for oncoming traffic as the figurines are right alongside the curb. Let's move and have fun!

This is our family temple and it is very beautiful and nice. During Lunar new year it is crazy packed but well worth it due to the decorations and festivities. This year we went at night and it was pretty with all the lights on. Make sure to bring all your loose change/coins and try to hit the bell/make a wish at the garden. They also offer many teachings, various language and art classes, tea sessions, and a vegetarian buffet. There are many stores selling real jewelry and other goods. There are multiple meeting rooms, an art gallery, and plenty of history here to learn about Buddhism. Bring your friends and family, this place is very welcoming and open to all!

Absolutely stunning temple that stands the test of time. Even though some purist do not like the modern look of the temple, it's still a beautiful place for people to go gather meet and worship. This place does get really busy on the weekend so plan accordingly. We went on a weekday and it was not too bad. There's educational classes, and group worship, so check the schedule if you wanna participate in any of those. The temple itself is really beautiful. I love all the sculptures And figurines they have throughout the temple. It's quite different from the ancient temples in Asia, but as far as a modernized, modern built temple, I think they did a pretty good job. You can get a map at the entrance and the temples divided into several sections. There is a lot of walking up and downstairs so plan accordingly. We really enjoyed our visit there.

It's the most beautiful and biggest Buddhist temple I have seen in the West. Without getting too technical, this Buddhist monastery is from the Chinese Mahayana School, and belongs to Fo Guang Shan, an international organization and monastic order with headquarters in Taiwan. They practice what is known as Humanistic Buddhism. The temple itself is modeled after their headquarter temple in Taiwan, Guāng Shān Sì; lit. Buddha's Light Mountain Monastery. If you live in SoCal you just have to come and see this place. It's simply mind-blowing!

This is one of the largest Buddhist temple in the US and we were lucky that it was a beautiful day when we came to visit. Large, beautiful and spacious ground. Perfect for leisurely stroll on a hot sunny day. We did seek AC shelter after some time in the sun and found a cute gift shop. We did some mediation and prayers in a few areas. Made a wish at the wishing well. After awhile, we got really tired of walking (we got our steps in!) and decided to head out. Overall, very beautiful and you should expect to spend a few hours here.

Beautiful temple and a welcomed new tradition with my friends to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Wishing everyone another year of health, love, success in all aspects of life with business, family and friendships. It's a vibrant and beautiful space to enjoy with your silken thoughts or to come with friends as we had, roaming around the temple with so many different spaces. We all enjoyed it very much.

This is the temple my family and I used to visit in my childhood. Came back here for the first time in a while and I love this holy, calming, place feels like the atmosphere and the buddhas give you so much power. You can donate money and choose a paper and read Buddha's words. You can get incents, pray, then stick one into the pile of ashes. The temple architecture is beautiful. Up on the mountain so nice view of the city from high up above. There's a small museum in the temple with small Buddha statues. There's also a vegetarian buffet. It's a big place and it feels like you're in China. Lucky to have this diversity of culture in la.

Fun, a top the mountain, fortune paper reading, wishing fountain, everyone is welcome to visit and enjoy the lunar festival.

A beautiful and well maintained temple! It gets quite busy during Chinese New Year, with many visitors. Parking is available on-site, but during the holiday weeks, you'll need to park at Puente Hills Mall and take a shuttle to and from the temple.

Went to the temple this past weekend and oh man was it packed! Ofcourse it was the New Year and we parked quite far and walked up to the temple. If you don't mind the hike up the hill, then this temple is a must! Lots of activities and every where we donated might have spent like over $100+ on goodies, snacks, and donations. The event was also nicely decorated with a very organized stations for different activities. We spent a good amount of our time in the main shrine which was so peaceful. Oh, they also was serving vegetarian lunch till 3pm on the weekend which was quite good as well. Overall, would be back but would wear a more comfy shoe since I didn't account for the hike up the temple.

Beautiful, well-maintained temple. A zen oasis tucked in LA County! The grounds and landscaping is really nice. You're able to walk freely in the front portion of the temple. Inside there are no photos or videos. If you look at the map there's a middle area and a back area as well. We decided to keep exploring and the middle area is blocked off for no outside guests so you have to walk up on the road where you get to the back pagoda and the library. Both are small but also very serene. Overall, a good Sunday morning stop and would love to come back during dining hall hours or for special events!

Love this temple! It is one of my favorite. Great to take guests who visit CA, take photos and enjoy the temple grounds

Completed in 1988 and spanning 15 acres this Buddhist temple is the largest on the West Coast. I am not Buddhist myself but love learning about new cultures and different ways of thinking. I was in Whittier, which is just south of Hacienda Heights so decided to stop by this temple because it had been on my list of sites to see for quite some time. It is giant and beautiful complex with lovely art and landscaping all around. Parking is free and right out front of the temple which spans multiple buildings and has indoor and outdoor sites. There's no photography allowed inside the prayer areas, but you can take pictures or videos in the other areas. It is free to enter and we weren't accosted or bothered during our walk around. Being a tall white male, I was the only non-Asian there on a Saturday morning, but still felt comfortable walking around. I would highly recommend to anyone who is Buddhist, interested in Buddhism, or someone that wants to see some of the beautiful sites that LA county has to offer.

Such a beautiful and peaceful place even on a gloomy rainy day. Decorations for the lunar new year make it looks even better. One of the biggest Buddhist temples in Southern California . It offers great views and inner peace to the visitors. The views are beautiful, providing a sense of tranquility that's hard to find elsewhere.It's serene ambiance makes it a must-visit for those seeking a peaceful escape. It's a delightful spot where you can enjoy a sense of calmness and soak in the beauty of the surroundings. Plenty of parking but during the Lunar New Year celebration, Parking can be tricky .Definitely worth to visit !

Beautiful temple with nice staffs that are quite helpful with the many different rooms that are provided for praying and to simply relax. It's a lovely place to unwind. Has aged wonderfully overtime, well kept, easy to get to. Although I'm not sure how it would go if the temple is over populated considering the parking lot isn't as expansive as most I've seen, but I have never had an issue with parking. No complaints here. I recommend this place and will continue to frequent this temple to honor my family.

回不去的，我們要學會接受，留不住的，我們要學會祝福，得不到的，我們要學會知足，放不下的，我們總要學會看淡～ 每年初一， 西來寺真的是人山人海， 熱鬧非凡呀，今年是甲辰年，在這祝福各位所有的親朋好友～諸事皆如意，四季長平安， 朝朝財運通，夜夜好安眠，新年快樂呀！

Hsi Lai Temple is one of North America's largest Buddhist temples and monasteries. The name means, "Coming to the West," and the temple is modeled after a larger Taiwanese temple, Fo Guang Shan, with Ming and Qing dynasty architectural elements. It spans 15 acres and 100,000 square feet of floor space. The place is absolutely beautiful, especially during the Lunar New Year, where there are thousands of visitors. What's also unique about this place is that it even has a vegetarian buffet. Be prepared to do some steps and stair-climbing, and for those who aren't able to use the stairs, there are elevators to the different levels as well.

Nice view and it very organized I like the foods in lunch buffets The temple is right on hill so you can look all the city

Beautiful views, peaceful and quiet landscapes, amazing temples to serve people regardless of their age or race. Kindness, respect, benevolence, and love is taught here at a very high level. Donations are accepted but never requested by any of their staff members.

This temple is absolutely breathtaking and brings back so many memories in the late 90's/00's when I would come here with my family when I visit SoCal. The vegetarian is so delicious and affordable and last I heard it's only $10 a person. I remember walking around taking photos and praying for good fortune with my family, and there was a room where I think you had to pay $1 to go in to see a real Buddhist bones, I was too little and had no money but they still let me in which was very nice of the monks there that day. Anyone that is a Buddhist should visit this temple at least once because it's the most beautiful temple in California.

I went Saturday and there was a fundraising booth with delicious appetizers and a handsome very talented boy playing cello next to the booth. His music would stop people in their tracks to listen. Considering that it is a fundraising for an event he probably wont be there too long so come quickly! Maybe you can donate too. I did.

A peace giving, cool & breezy, serene, and majestic Buddhist temple up on the high hill. You can stand under the temple arch looking down into the deep valley, and you can feel the gentle breeze just clear away the heavy burden you carry in your mind, body, and soul. The temple sits on a large spacious ground with plenty of space and privacy which for me is key to immerse in your private thoughts and prayers. Inside the temple is. Large Buddha statue with interior gold details which is extraordinary. Sitting inside on a burgundy cushion I was able to find some quiet time to meditate in my own self. If you need a retreat from the hustle and bustle, this is a place for you. They also serve a vegetarian lunch for $10 from 11:30-2:00 pm. Additionally, they do have different services but please make sure you check their monthly schedule.

Rude Volunteer! With the occasion of Lunar New Year the place is crowded and parking can be a nightmare. We came on Sunday so patience will be tested. We thought we were lucky to spot a leaving party and signaled for the space (along curbside in residential area). The truck in front of us backed in and took our spot. The volunteer directing traffics told us that truck was first even when it went past the space. Out of frustration I told the volunteer WTF? (not my finest moments I admit). His response: GO FUCK YOURSELVES. Amituofo.

To reinforce my son's history lessons, we decided to visit this place during the spring break. What a surprise! Its location is awesome - you get a great view of the city! The temple provides a sense of peace. It's very clean and intricately designed. We saw few monks. Staff were so nice too! We even tried the freshly made red bean waffle. Relaxing place to spend at least an hour...

My husband wanted to visit the Chinese Buddhist temple that I told him about a while ago. So off we go on a Sunday afternoon. It is completely free to visit. And they have a daily small vegetarian Chinese buffet for lunch that costs $10 donation per person. The food was simple and decent but I wasn't expecting anything grand. The rest of the property is very large with a Buddhist artifact museum and Chinese painting museum. They have yoga, meditation, a library and many special events and monks that do speaking events. Plus it was not crowded there at all today and it was a beautiful day. Be careful on holidays though like Chinese New Year, it will get super crowded and parking issues. I suggest Uber/Lyft from near by. I also recommend visiting their website for their event calendar and rules for visiting, since it's an active temple. Be respectful and dress accordingly.

First visit - Gorgeous is an understatement- the history contained within is amazing. Even more relaxing than one could ever expect.

I've heard of this place and wanted to try it out since I was eating in the same plaza. I liked that this place has some more unique flavors than your typical boba place. I opted for the Ba-La Matcha, which consisted of pure guava nectar, lactose free milk, and matcha. The drink was very refreshing and tropical. The boba had a great texture to it. Overall, I was pleased with my selection.

Our first time here while visiting LA and Hsi Lai Temple was really impressive. The place was so magical and the biggest temple I've ever seen.

We came to see and experience the Chinese New Year decorations, festivities, and to try out their $10 vegetarian buffet last month. You do not need to be Buddhist to visit, however just be respectful of the customs and dress code while visiting. To enter into the courtyard, climb up the stairs into the main temple (no pics allowed inside this portion of the temple). Bow 3 times, donate, pick a fortune from a little bowl. Then turn left; there is an door-sized opening and hallway that will lead you to the courtyard where the wishing tree, main decorations, a bell, and the restaurant for the buffet is. For a couple of dollars, you can pick a wish, and throw it up to the wishing tree. Pro tip: if you can't read Chinese, there is a paper with translations for each numbered saying. Also, wrap up your ribbon around the medal to get the best trajectory to throw and best chances of your wish sticking to the tree the first time. As for the vegetarian buffet, it was just okay. Noodles, green vegetables, some root veggies, soup. It seemed the options changed during our time there based on what the kitchen could turn out and what was perhaps donated. I wouldn't return for buffet. Overall, however, we had a nice time enjoying the beautiful temple, the peaceful atmosphere, and it's lively decorations. Before we left, we even donated a couple more dollars to ring the bell to improve our chances of our wishes coming true. Hey, it couldn't hurt, right?

First time back after the pandemic and was able to eat at their dining hall. However, this review is specifically to highlight their tea room inside the bookstore next to the dining hall. This is a great area to relax with friends under the open sky light and sip some tea! A pot of tea is only $6 with free refills and comes with a small sample of cookies. This is easily enough for our group of 4 but we decided on two kinds of tea: Lotus and Rooibus. Lotus is yellow in color and beautiful, yet bland in taste. Rooibus was accentuated by the slice of lemon which enhanced its flavor to me (thank you for the lemon tip!) While you are at it, you might as well get some custard or red bean paste pastries, $2 each, made fresh outside to enjoy with your tea. I'm so glad Hsi Lai temple is open again without needing a reservation-will certainly be back for the next new year!

One of the biggest Buddhist temple in the United States. Came here during Chinese new years so all the decorations were up and it was just beautiful. Even on a regular day it's still a really nice temple to come and visit.

Beautiful Buddhist temple with a large campus. Beautiful decorations during lunar new year 2024. Parking is limited but due to the holiday, they did offer free shuttle service at the puente hills mall.

Growing up I've been here many times. This place is always beautiful and well maintained. It hasn't changed much over the years and they do have alot of services to worship. Definitely tons of history to tour or go to pray.

Second temple I ever visited is quite a profound sense in this location for the honorable Buddha. The monks take great care of the place and make you feel at home like it's your sanctuary as well. I like to go here when I need a reminder of wellness or purification.

Great place to experience Chinese Buddhist Temple. One of the largest outside of Asia. Amazing view, building and holiday festivities too

Beautiful temple. Holding strong as a stunning tribute to the culture and traditions of Buddhism. An art gallery, tea room and several shrines beg your exploration. The atmosphere is always joyous and grateful here. I love to visit with my closest friends! 龙马精神 (Lóng mǎ jīngshén!)

Important: Appointments are required which you must reserve on their website. If you're reading this as you're driving by and didn't realize you had to do this, don't fret! Just pull up their website on your phone and simply book the next available 45-minute slot (each appointment starts on the hour, 9am-3pm), it is one ticket for each vehicle and there is always availability from what I can tell. Tons of parking. Very beautiful, clean, peaceful temple to visit. This is one of the biggest buddhist temples that exist. It is located at a higher altitude which results in some beautiful views as you look out from the main parking lot. There are designated areas to pray and burn incense sticks (1 per person). The main worship areas are blocked off so you can't be up close or take pictures inside of those places. The staff keeps a close eye on you while you're in the worship areas and if you accidentally cross over into a restricted area you can be sure they will scold you as they did with me. Restrooms can be accessed on the second floor. Definitely worth a 1-hour visit if you're in the area!

I have bern interested in this Temple for several years and i finally found time to ho and see this magnificent place. I am not Buddhist, but have an appreciation of the history and culture of this religion.

Very nice and big temple. I feel lucky it is not located too far from me. Sometimes I just want to feel at peace. Nobody tries to bother you. People are friendly but quiet. You should all come check it out even if you are not Buddhists!

Beautiful temple! There were buildings that didn't allow hats and or photographs, so keep an eye out for signs. They also had staff making sure that visitors kept their masks on. There were rooms to pray and an area to burn an incense. We saw they had a shop that sold blessed goods. The gardens outside were also stunning! The temple was kept really clean. They had a dining hall, but we didn't have time to try the food. There are lots of steps, so I suggest not bringing a stroller down and using a baby carrier for babies instead. I didn't see any elevators or ramps.

COVID-19: Social distancing is not enforced at this establishment. All of the staff wears a mask. All visitors are expected to wear a mask. Some of the staff also wears gloves. There are some hand sanitizers available for visitors to use. This place is open and available and has some indoor & outdoor seating available with no limited capacity. They are not sanitizing in between visitors. COVID-19 Vaccination Proof: This establishment currently does not require proof of vaccination. They also do not allow pets in their establishment UNLESS it's a service animal. Parking: The parking lot for this establishment is pretty decent. Lots of parking spots for you to choose from. Parking spaces are also not too small nor too big. Temple: The monastery itself is very breathtaking, beautiful, clean, tidy, and well kept. The staff here are very nice, friendly, and welcoming.

People are welcoming and answer all of the questions that we had. Beautiful sceneries and builds. I highly recommend visiting!

Hsi Lai Temple is near and dear to me. I come here often to clear my mind and practice mindfulness. It welcomes visitors and is an active monastery, consisting of both men and women, which is fairly progressive. They also have wonderful vegetarian food in their cafeteria, however, they had stopped service due to Covid precautions. Also worth noting, it is the largest buddhist temple in the West outside of Asia. Their main location is in Taiwan.

Very bad experience on the Lunar New Year Day. We got picked up at Puente Hills Mall by the shuttle around 3:30pm and took us up to the temple. There was a long line as expected. However, the bad experience started when we got ready to leave the temple around 4: 20pm and waited in line for shuttle to drop us off. Our mom is 71 along with our small daughter were waiting in line infront of the temple which was the line for elderly and family with kids. After waiting for almost an hour, there were 2 workers came to our line and shouted this line is for elderly and disability only, if you can walk, walk down the hill to wait in line for the big bus. She kept coming to us and told us to leave even though we informed her our mom can't walk that far. She told us, there was no wait down there, all people were picked up . Then, we finally had to leave the line because of those two workers and walked down the hill area to wait for the big bus. We then recognized that the line down there was even 10 times longer and lot and lot people were still waiting, not all left as they told us. After waiting for another 30 mins, our mom and little daughter couldn't hang in the windy and cold weather so we decided to walk back up to where we started to see if we have a better chance. Walked up, inform the worker then she told us to wait there and shuttle will come shortly. Next you know, 45 mins passed, there was still no shuttle. When around 6:20pm after we waited almost 2.5 hrs, the same workers that made us leave the elderly line announced that there was no more shuttle here so don't wait any longer. There was still good amount of people including lot of elderly and family with kids. People started angrily talking back to the workers so they said , "ok ok, we will send a shuttle then, just wait patiently. " How can a temple do that to us? You dropped us off, you are responsible to pick us up and you can't just said no more shuttle after 2.5 hrs waiting.Our mom and little daughter were shivering in the dark and cold so we decided to call Uber instead as finally, Uber could get through. If you still want to go to this temple, drive your own car and don't even think about the shuttle. Also, even though on their website, they suggested to take shuttle but we still saw people drive their own cars up there.

Hsi Lai is a beautiful and calming temple. We made a reservation to come here in the morning and it was perfect. Not a lot of people and plenty of empty spaces to take photos. Everyone was very polite and nice. We were able to light an incense and place it in the front entrance of the main temple, and made our wishes at the golden fortune tree. It was a blessed and thankful experience. It was a little breezy when we arrived, so bring a jacket. Thank you Hsi Lai Temple for a much needed meditation!