Tan Xiaomi
LANTAU Island is the largest of the 260 outlying islands of Hong Kong, being almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island. It is best known for its walking trails and beaches, and provides a pleasant respite from the city’s crowds and shopping.
The island is often referred to as “the lungs of Hong Kong” because of its abundance of forest. It used to have a relatively low population, with settlements scattered all over the island.
However, the island has in recent years been changed with several major infrastructure projects completed in the past decade, including Hong Kong’s new international airport, Hong Kong Disneyland and the Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail.
Start your journey from the Giant Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, then visit the traditional stilt-houses at the fishing village of Tai O, and the heritage site Tung Chung Fort, which was built in the 19th century. Tourists staying overnight can also witness the sunrise at Phoenix Mountain.
Po Lin Monastery and Giant Buddha（宝莲寺、天坛大佛）
No trip to Hong Kong should be complete without a visit to the world’s tallest, outdoor, seated bronze Buddha which sits serenely atop the Ngong Ping plateau amid the spectacular mountain scenery of Lantau Island.
Thanks to its seclusion, Lantau attracts monks. In the late 1970s, there were 500 monks living in 135 Buddhist monasteries, and Lantau was called the Island of Prayer.
The best known of the monasteries is Po Lin Monastery, the largest temple in Hong Kong, located on the 520-meter-high Ngong Ping plateau, where three monks set up a meditation retreat in 1905. The monks built stone huts while other recluses joined them, and the monastery was officially inaugurated in 1927.
Beyond the doorstep of this vast temple is the Giant Buddha, with a height of 26 meters and weighing 202 tons.
Visitors can climb the 268 steps to reach the platform where the Buddha is seated.
Besides admiring the massive statue there is also much to see and do at the monastery itself with its various figures of gods and other colorful manifestations of aspects of the Buddhist religion.
A short walk away is the Wisdom Path, which features 38 timber columns carved with an ancient prayer.
You can even enjoy a vegetarian lunch prepared by monks.
The monastery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phoenix Mountain
（凤凰山）
The highest peak in the mountain range is Phoenix Mountain, standing at 935 meters. It is the second-highest peak in Hong Kong.
Most tourists visiting Lantau Island like to admire the sunrise at Phoenix Mountain. Tourists often climb up at night, and reach the top before daybreak. It’s steep in places, so be well prepared before setting out. Remember to take a flashlight.
Tai O （大澳）
Visitors can experience a different lifestyle at this unique village in the northwest of Lantau Island, where hundred of houses stand on stilts over a creek.
Tai O Fishing Village is inhabited mainly by the Tanka people, descendants of Hong Kong’s first settlers. Tanka literally means “egg families” due to the half-egg-shaped boats that were used by their forefathers.
Though many of these houses were damaged in a fire in July 2000, the fishing village with a history for more than three centuries is still one of the most popular attractions on the island.
Locally made traditional Cantonese food like salted fish and shrimp paste can be found there.
Tai O started to attract holiday visitors from the 1970s, and today the fishing village is prosperous and busy. Travelers can enjoy a lunch at the seafood restaurants there.
Tung Chung Fort
（东涌炮台）
Tung Chung Fort was built in 1817 to defend the coast from pirates. Six old granite cannons, dating back to 1832, stand on the ramparts.
During World War II, the Japanese army occupied the fort. In 1979, it was listed as a local historical monument, and was refurbished in 1988.
Ngong Ping Skyrail
（昂坪360）
A key feature of the Lantau tour is Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail, a gondola lift that provides a visually stunning 20-minute journey between the Tung Chung MTR exit and Ngong Ping, where the Po Lin Monastery and Giant Buddha are located.
Breathtaking panoramic views encompass the airport, the South China Sea, lush mountains and valleys, and the awe-inspiring Giant Buddha statue.
The Skyrail takes you to Ngong Ping Village, which incorporates three major attractions, the Buddha, Monkey’s Tale Theater and the Ngong Ping Tea House, along with a diverse array of eateries and shops.
However, its service has been temporarily suspended after an accident earlier this month.
Tan Xiaomi
LANTAU Island is the largest of the 260 outlying islands of Hong Kong, being almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island. It is best known for its walking trails and beaches, and provides a pleasant respite from the city’s crowds and shopping.
The island is often referred to as “the lungs of Hong Kong” because of its abundance of forest. It used to have a relatively low population, with settlements scattered all over the island.
However, the island has in recent years been changed with several major infrastructure projects completed in the past decade, including Hong Kong’s new international airport, Hong Kong Disneyland and the Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail.
Start your journey from the Giant Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, then visit the traditional stilt-houses at the fishing village of Tai O, and the heritage site Tung Chung Fort, which was built in the 19th century. Tourists staying overnight can also witness the sunrise at Phoenix Mountain.
Po Lin Monastery and Giant Buddha（宝莲寺、天坛大佛）
No trip to Hong Kong should be complete without a visit to the world’s tallest, outdoor, seated bronze Buddha which sits serenely atop the Ngong Ping plateau amid the spectacular mountain scenery of Lantau Island.
Thanks to its seclusion, Lantau attracts monks. In the late 1970s, there were 500 monks living in 135 Buddhist monasteries, and Lantau was called the Island of Prayer.
The best known of the monasteries is Po Lin Monastery, the largest temple in Hong Kong, located on the 520-meter-high Ngong Ping plateau, where three monks set up a meditation retreat in 1905. The monks built stone huts while other recluses joined them, and the monastery was officially inaugurated in 1927.
Beyond the doorstep of this vast temple is the Giant Buddha, with a height of 26 meters and weighing 202 tons.
Visitors can climb the 268 steps to reach the platform where the Buddha is seated.
Besides admiring the massive statue there is also much to see and do at the monastery itself with its various figures of gods and other colorful manifestations of aspects of the Buddhist religion.
A short walk away is the Wisdom Path, which features 38 timber columns carved with an ancient prayer.
You can even enjoy a vegetarian lunch prepared by monks.
The monastery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phoenix Mountain
（凤凰山）
The highest peak in the mountain range is Phoenix Mountain, standing at 935 meters. It is the second-highest peak in Hong Kong.
Most tourists visiting Lantau Island like to admire the sunrise at Phoenix Mountain. Tourists often climb up at night, and reach the top before daybreak. It’s steep in places, so be well prepared before setting out. Remember to take a flashlight.
Tai O （大澳）
Visitors can experience a different lifestyle at this unique village in the northwest of Lantau Island, where hundred of houses stand on stilts over a creek.
Tai O Fishing Village is inhabited mainly by the Tanka people, descendants of Hong Kong’s first settlers. Tanka literally means “egg families” due to the half-egg-shaped boats that were used by their forefathers.
Though many of these houses were damaged in a fire in July 2000, the fishing village with a history for more than three centuries is still one of the most popular attractions on the island.
Locally made traditional Cantonese food like salted fish and shrimp paste can be found there.
Tai O started to attract holiday visitors from the 1970s, and today the fishing village is prosperous and busy. Travelers can enjoy a lunch at the seafood restaurants there.
Tung Chung Fort
（东涌炮台）
Tung Chung Fort was built in 1817 to defend the coast from pirates. Six old granite cannons, dating back to 1832, stand on the ramparts.
During World War II, the Japanese army occupied the fort. In 1979, it was listed as a local historical monument, and was refurbished in 1988.
Ngong Ping Skyrail
（昂坪360）
A key feature of the Lantau tour is Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail, a gondola lift that provides a visually stunning 20-minute journey between the Tung Chung MTR exit and Ngong Ping, where the Po Lin Monastery and Giant Buddha are located.
Breathtaking panoramic views encompass the airport, the South China Sea, lush mountains and valleys, and the awe-inspiring Giant Buddha statue.
The Skyrail takes you to Ngong Ping Village, which incorporates three major attractions, the Buddha, Monkey’s Tale Theater and the Ngong Ping Tea House, along with a diverse array of eateries and shops.
However, its service has been temporarily suspended after an accident earlier this month.
Tan Xiaomi
LANTAU Island is the largest of the 260 outlying islands of Hong Kong, being almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island. It is best known for its walking trails and beaches, and provides a pleasant respite from the city’s crowds and shopping.
The island is often referred to as “the lungs of Hong Kong” because of its abundance of forest. It used to have a relatively low population, with settlements scattered all over the island.
However, the island has in recent years been changed with several major infrastructure projects completed in the past decade, including Hong Kong’s new international airport, Hong Kong Disneyland and the Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail.
Start your journey from the Giant Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, then visit the traditional stilt-houses at the fishing village of Tai O, and the heritage site Tung Chung Fort, which was built in the 19th century. Tourists staying overnight can also witness the sunrise at Phoenix Mountain.
Po Lin Monastery and Giant Buddha（宝莲寺、天坛大佛）
No trip to Hong Kong should be complete without a visit to the world’s tallest, outdoor, seated bronze Buddha which sits serenely atop the Ngong Ping plateau amid the spectacular mountain scenery of Lantau Island.
Thanks to its seclusion, Lantau attracts monks. In the late 1970s, there were 500 monks living in 135 Buddhist monasteries, and Lantau was called the Island of Prayer.
The best known of the monasteries is Po Lin Monastery, the largest temple in Hong Kong, located on the 520-meter-high Ngong Ping plateau, where three monks set up a meditation retreat in 1905. The monks built stone huts while other recluses joined them, and the monastery was officially inaugurated in 1927.
Beyond the doorstep of this vast temple is the Giant Buddha, with a height of 26 meters and weighing 202 tons.
Visitors can climb the 268 steps to reach the platform where the Buddha is seated.
Besides admiring the massive statue there is also much to see and do at the monastery itself with its various figures of gods and other colorful manifestations of aspects of the Buddhist religion.
A short walk away is the Wisdom Path, which features 38 timber columns carved with an ancient prayer.
You can even enjoy a vegetarian lunch prepared by monks.
The monastery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phoenix Mountain
（凤凰山）
The highest peak in the mountain range is Phoenix Mountain, standing at 935 meters. It is the second-highest peak in Hong Kong.
Most tourists visiting Lantau Island like to admire the sunrise at Phoenix Mountain. Tourists often climb up at night, and reach the top before daybreak. It’s steep in places, so be well prepared before setting out. Remember to take a flashlight.
Tai O （大澳）
Visitors can experience a different lifestyle at this unique village in the northwest of Lantau Island, where hundred of houses stand on stilts over a creek.
Tai O Fishing Village is inhabited mainly by the Tanka people, descendants of Hong Kong’s first settlers. Tanka literally means “egg families” due to the half-egg-shaped boats that were used by their forefathers.
Though many of these houses were damaged in a fire in July 2000, the fishing village with a history for more than three centuries is still one of the most popular attractions on the island.
Locally made traditional Cantonese food like salted fish and shrimp paste can be found there.
Tai O started to attract holiday visitors from the 1970s, and today the fishing village is prosperous and busy. Travelers can enjoy a lunch at the seafood restaurants there.
Tung Chung Fort
（东涌炮台）
Tung Chung Fort was built in 1817 to defend the coast from pirates. Six old granite cannons, dating back to 1832, stand on the ramparts.
During World War II, the Japanese army occupied the fort. In 1979, it was listed as a local historical monument, and was refurbished in 1988.
Ngong Ping Skyrail
（昂坪360）
A key feature of the Lantau tour is Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail, a gondola lift that provides a visually stunning 20-minute journey between the Tung Chung MTR exit and Ngong Ping, where the Po Lin Monastery and Giant Buddha are located.
Breathtaking panoramic views encompass the airport, the South China Sea, lush mountains and valleys, and the awe-inspiring Giant Buddha statue.
The Skyrail takes you to Ngong Ping Village, which incorporates three major attractions, the Buddha, Monkey’s Tale Theater and the Ngong Ping Tea House, along with a diverse array of eateries and shops.
However, its service has been temporarily suspended after an accident earlier this month.
Tan Xiaomi
LANTAU Island is the largest of the 260 outlying islands of Hong Kong, being almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island. It is best known for its walking trails and beaches, and provides a pleasant respite from the city’s crowds and shopping.
The island is often referred to as “the lungs of Hong Kong” because of its abundance of forest. It used to have a relatively low population, with settlements scattered all over the island.
However, the island has in recent years been changed with several major infrastructure projects completed in the past decade, including Hong Kong’s new international airport, Hong Kong Disneyland and the Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail.
Start your journey from the Giant Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, then visit the traditional stilt-houses at the fishing village of Tai O, and the heritage site Tung Chung Fort, which was built in the 19th century. Tourists staying overnight can also witness the sunrise at Phoenix Mountain.
Po Lin Monastery and Giant Buddha（宝莲寺、天坛大佛）
No trip to Hong Kong should be complete without a visit to the world’s tallest, outdoor, seated bronze Buddha which sits serenely atop the Ngong Ping plateau amid the spectacular mountain scenery of Lantau Island.
Thanks to its seclusion, Lantau attracts monks. In the late 1970s, there were 500 monks living in 135 Buddhist monasteries, and Lantau was called the Island of Prayer.
The best known of the monasteries is Po Lin Monastery, the largest temple in Hong Kong, located on the 520-meter-high Ngong Ping plateau, where three monks set up a meditation retreat in 1905. The monks built stone huts while other recluses joined them, and the monastery was officially inaugurated in 1927.
Beyond the doorstep of this vast temple is the Giant Buddha, with a height of 26 meters and weighing 202 tons.
Visitors can climb the 268 steps to reach the platform where the Buddha is seated.
Besides admiring the massive statue there is also much to see and do at the monastery itself with its various figures of gods and other colorful manifestations of aspects of the Buddhist religion.
A short walk away is the Wisdom Path, which features 38 timber columns carved with an ancient prayer.
You can even enjoy a vegetarian lunch prepared by monks.
The monastery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phoenix Mountain
（凤凰山）
The highest peak in the mountain range is Phoenix Mountain, standing at 935 meters. It is the second-highest peak in Hong Kong.
Most tourists visiting Lantau Island like to admire the sunrise at Phoenix Mountain. Tourists often climb up at night, and reach the top before daybreak. It’s steep in places, so be well prepared before setting out. Remember to take a flashlight.
Tai O （大澳）
Visitors can experience a different lifestyle at this unique village in the northwest of Lantau Island, where hundred of houses stand on stilts over a creek.
Tai O Fishing Village is inhabited mainly by the Tanka people, descendants of Hong Kong’s first settlers. Tanka literally means “egg families” due to the half-egg-shaped boats that were used by their forefathers.
Though many of these houses were damaged in a fire in July 2000, the fishing village with a history for more than three centuries is still one of the most popular attractions on the island.
Locally made traditional Cantonese food like salted fish and shrimp paste can be found there.
Tai O started to attract holiday visitors from the 1970s, and today the fishing village is prosperous and busy. Travelers can enjoy a lunch at the seafood restaurants there.
Tung Chung Fort
（东涌炮台）
Tung Chung Fort was built in 1817 to defend the coast from pirates. Six old granite cannons, dating back to 1832, stand on the ramparts.
During World War II, the Japanese army occupied the fort. In 1979, it was listed as a local historical monument, and was refurbished in 1988.
Ngong Ping Skyrail
（昂坪360）
A key feature of the Lantau tour is Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail, a gondola lift that provides a visually stunning 20-minute journey between the Tung Chung MTR exit and Ngong Ping, where the Po Lin Monastery and Giant Buddha are located.
Breathtaking panoramic views encompass the airport, the South China Sea, lush mountains and valleys, and the awe-inspiring Giant Buddha statue.
The Skyrail takes you to Ngong Ping Village, which incorporates three major attractions, the Buddha, Monkey’s Tale Theater and the Ngong Ping Tea House, along with a diverse array of eateries and shops.
However, its service has been temporarily suspended after an accident earlier this month.
