Tian Tan Buddha; Hong Kong

Once the world's tallest outdoor seated Buddha (the Great Buddha of Thailand measures over 300 ft.), Tian Tan Buddha weighs in at 250 metric tons and requires visitors to climb 268 steps. On a clear day, residents of Macau, China can reportedly see the Buddha from more than 25 miles across the South China Sea. The statue takes its name from its base, which is a model of the Altar of Heaven or Earthly Mount of Tian Tan, Beijing's Temple of Heaven. Tian Tan Buddha cost nearly $68 million and took almost three years to build.

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