Lantau island, Hong Kong

This cable car ride is much more than just a ride to the top and back. There is an entire village up here with additional tours. Lots of shops restaurants and even a 7-11 store. I would recommend busting this attraction while here. Be sure to get the crystal car for at least one way if your tour. This means that the cable car has a glass (crystal) floor so that you can look straight down at the water and the hillside below you. It was a great feeling!

Lantau Island is the largest of Hong Kong's more than 250 islands. It is located to the west of Hong Kong Island and is almost twice its size at nearly 147 sq. kilometres. The island is mostly protected country park and rural lands and is considered a major 'green lung' of Hong Kong. It is also the location of Hong Kong International Airport and several major sightseeing venues and locations. Lantau is where you will find Hong Kong Disneyland, the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, Village and Giant Buddha. The island is also home to numerous historical fishing villages, most notably Tai O which is west of the town of Tung Chung. This is a neat heritage location and place to view the rare pink dolphins which reside in the coastal waters nearby. The island is also known for its beaches, particularly at the village of Mui Wo as well as the long and beautiful stretches of sandy shores at Cheung Sha. There are two country parks, Lantau North and Lantau South which protect nearly half of the island, encompassing numerous peaks, valleys, woodlands, coastline and HK's largest reservoir. The island also hosts some of Hong Kong's most popular hiking spots including the famous Sunset Peak Trail and the it 70-km Lantau Trail. While travel around Lantau Island is quite limited compared to Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula, there is regular and frequent transportation to the island by way of MTR, Airport Express, public buses as well as ferries to the village of Mui Wo in the south. There are limited accommodation options on Lantau with a few properties available at Mui Wo, Tai O and Tung Chung being the most accessible. You'll find restaurants, supermarkets, convenient stores and basic services such as banks and cash points at Mui Wo, Tung Chung and the Ngong Ping 360 Village and casual eateries and stores in other villages around the island in areas frequented by tourists.

I absolutely loved the cable car ride. It was beyond amazing and the view is breathtaking. I would do it over and over again. For the best experience take the crystal cabin with glass floor. Round trip per person is 315 HKD. When you enter the cabin one of staff will take your picture and once you arrive on the other side you will see it printed. The price for the picture is almost the price for the ride which is expensive. And you see most of gjr people not buying them which ends up in waste. They should reconsider their prices for the pictures I guess. Other than that it's a beautiful experience and I'll do it again.

The Hong Kong Big Buddha in Lantau Island is one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world. It stands at 34 meters high (112 feet) and is one of Hong Kong's most popular sights. Tian Tan, as the Big Buddha is known, is made of bronze. The Big Buddha is not a "piece of history" but rather a fairly recent endeavor. It was unveiled in 1993 and ever since visitors have been flocking in numbers. In fact, the entire complex has a "newness" feel to it, and with the tourist crowds inevitably comes a bit of commercialisation. Getting to Ngong Ping Village and the Hong Kong Big Buddha with the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car is in itself an attraction and definitely the recommended way to get here to see the Buddha. As you traverse the Ngong Ping Village, the paths beyond will be well-marked, but not really necessary as you can always look up and see the majestic Hong Kong Big Buddha sitting atop the hill so all you have to do is head in that direction. Leaving the Ngong Ping Village, the path to the Big Buddha will be flanked on both sides by the Twelve Divine Generals. Each of the Twelve Divine Generals that guard the statue, symbolizes a different animal from the Chinese Zodiac, is armed with a particular weapon, and represents two distinct hours of the day. Once you pass the Twelve Divine Generals you will see the Staircase that leads to the Buddha atop the hill. There are 260 steps and several areas in between where you can stop for a rest, take pictures, and just enjoy the views. Tian Tan rests on a three-tier podium at the end of the Staircase. The first level contains Six Statues of Bodhisattvas, three on each side of the staircase. The Bodhisattvas are Buddhist deities which are venerated for helping mortals reach enlightment. Each statue weighs about two tons and are made of stone. The Second Level houses a small museum with paintings and various articles depicting Buddha's life and teachings. And finally the closest look at Tian Tan, seating on a wreath of Lotus Leaves. The Lotus has special significance in Buddhism, and is a symbol of Purity. Another symbol of Buddhism is the "reverse swastika". You will see these symbols used in decoration throughout Buddhist temples as well as here carved into the chest of the Big Buddha. The symbol has nothing to do with the swastika, it is merely a symbol associated with Buddhism, like the cross would be a symbol for Catholics. The 260-step climb will be well-rewarded, the views from Tian Tan's podium are magnificent and you can go around in a 360 circle and enjoy Lantau Island's beauty, the valleys and mountains... HOW TO GET TO THE HONG KONG BIG BUDDHA? Getting there is half the fun with the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, an attraction in itself, that will bring you from Tung Chung (take Tung Chung MTR) to the Ngong Ping Village and signs to the Buddha are easy to follow but really not even necessary as you will spot it right away, just walk on that direction or follow the crowds... If you prefer to leave the planning and arrangements to the experts, this Tour of Lantau Island including the Big Buddha, picks you up at your hotel or a nearby one, and bring you to all the highlights. I hope you enjoy your visit as much as we enjoyed ours. There's more to explore around Big Buddha...

If there is ever one place in Hong Kong that you must visit then it's lantau Island with the Beautiful Buddha. take the cable car up , climb all those stairs and appreciate the beautiful culture of the Chinese whilst looking at the beautiful hills and nature . now take a walk to the gorgeous temple and take a moment to reflect . after this stunning tour take a bus down to the coast and catch a super fast ship - Ferry to Kowloon . Your life will definitely be different after this tour - BTW - it's really cheap to do it yourself - ask the hotel Concierge