Lantau Island: Big Buddha and Tai O fishing village



Lantau Island is known for several reasons. It is where the international airport is located, so this is where most visitors arrive. Hong Kong's Disneyland is also here, if anyonce cares. (Certainly not me.) You also find the world's longest (check!) cable car ride that takes you up to the Big Buddha statue located just below the island's highest peak among several Buddhist temples and monasteries in a location known as Ngong Ping Village. You can see the cable car going up the green hill as soon as you step out of the airport. Another noteworthy attraction is the Tai O fishing village. From Kowloon you can get to the island by metro, and if your destination is the Big Buddha and/or Tai O village, you have to go to the last stop, Tung Chung. It is a modern suburb with shopping malls and high rise residential buildings. The cable car starts here but at around HKD 350 (GBP 35) it is grossly overpriced. A cheaper alternative is the public bus, costing around HKD 15 (GBP 1.5). It first climbs over a saddle to reach the island's southern shore from where you get the first view of the Big Buddha statue, then it goes up the hills again and takes you all the way to Ngong Ping Village. The location is as touristy as it can get, nevertheless the Big Buddha statue is impressive (said to be the world's second largest sitting Buddha statue) and the temples are beautiful. You also get some nice views from the base of the statue. There are some bulls roaming free in the area, so take care. From Ngong Ping Village you can take another public bus to Tai O village, the fare costs a few HKD less than the previous ride. While Ngong Ping Village is an artifical "village" for tourists, Tai O - despite also being touristy - is an actual fishing village that retained much of its old character. There are still fishermen here, and the little houses are cute. You can walk around the island over a hill that offers pretty views. From Tai O village another bus can take you back to Tung Chung. Visiting these places is a full day program, a very nice excursion.

































































































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