Lantau Island - The Gentle Way
We start Lantau Island adventure by boarding a cable car for the exciting ride to the Ngong Ping Plateau. During the 25-minute ride we will
enjoy vistas of the rolling grassland slopes of North Lantau Country Park as the views dramatically change from the hustle and bustle of the
city, to the serene and natural surrounds that Lantau is famed for. Ever-changing panoramic views also include the Hong Kong International
Airport, the verdant, mountainous terrain of Lantau Island, the Tian Tan Buddha and the 360-degree view of the Ngong Ping Plateau.
Set amid spectacular mountain scenery, the Po Lin Monastery, established in 1906, is known as "The Sacred Place of the Buddha in the
South" and is the first of the four most popular monasteries in Hong Kong. The Monastery was initially named "The Big Hut" when it was first
built. Having gone through a century of development, Po Lin Monastery is now well developed with a number of structures including the
Mahavira Hall and the Heavenly King Hall.
Next to the monastery and atop the 482m tall Muk Yue Shan, you find the famous Tian Tan Buddha statue. As it is the world's largest, seated,
outdoor, bronze Buddha statue, the 26-metre-high, 202-tonne wonder is generally referred to as "The Big Buddha." To see for yourself, just
how big he is, you are invited to climb the 268 steps for a closer look...
From Ngong Ping we catch public transport for the short trip along winding roads to the popular and traditional fishing village of Tai O at
Lantau's western end. One of Hong Kong’s oldest fishing villages, Tai O possesses a certain charm lacking in many other Hong Kong
villages. The traditional stilt houses are unique to Tai O and the down-to-earth way of life of locals generally help improve impressions. Here
is a chance to catch a glimpse of what life in Hong Kong used to be like. The narrow streets are lined with small shops selling dried seafood
and local delicacies and any number of restaurants serving reasonable priced seafood. Tai O also boasts an impressive number of old
temples as well as a 20-hectare mangrove wetland that is home to many wetland animals and birds.
After lunch, we jump into a small boat to inspect Tai O from the waterside and to go a little out to sea to try to catch a glimpse of the
endangered Chinese White Dolphin (which actually is pink).
Safely back on terra firma, we catch a bus to ride the length of Lantau Island to Mui Wo on the east coast. In 1276 the Southern Song court
fled to Guangdong by boat, fleeing Mongol invaders and leaving Emperor Gong of Song China behind to defend his country. He was
unsuccessful and so all hope of resistance was centred on two young princes, Emperor Gong's brothers. The older boy, 9-year old Zhao Shi,
was declared emperor; and in 1277, the imperial court sought refuge in Mui Wo on Lantau Island…
These days, Mui Wo is really a collection of many smaller villages on the alluvial plain east of Sunset Peak, Hong Kong's third highest
mountain. Should there be interest amongst the group, we will stop here for a brief look-around and - perhaps - refreshments by the
waterfront, before completing the excursion by catching a ferry back to Hong Kong island which allows us another way to enjoy the Hong
Kong cityscape.
We start Lantau Island adventure by boarding a cable car for the exciting ride to the Ngong Ping Plateau. During the 25-minute ride we will
enjoy vistas of the rolling grassland slopes of North Lantau Country Park as the views dramatically change from the hustle and bustle of the
city, to the serene and natural surrounds that Lantau is famed for. Ever-changing panoramic views also include the Hong Kong International
Airport, the verdant, mountainous terrain of Lantau Island, the Tian Tan Buddha and the 360-degree view of the Ngong Ping Plateau.
Set amid spectacular mountain scenery, the Po Lin Monastery, established in 1906, is known as "The Sacred Place of the Buddha in the
South" and is the first of the four most popular monasteries in Hong Kong. The Monastery was initially named "The Big Hut" when it was first
built. Having gone through a century of development, Po Lin Monastery is now well developed with a number of structures including the
Mahavira Hall and the Heavenly King Hall.
Next to the monastery and atop the 482m tall Muk Yue Shan, you find the famous Tian Tan Buddha statue. As it is the world's largest, seated,
outdoor, bronze Buddha statue, the 26-metre-high, 202-tonne wonder is generally referred to as "The Big Buddha." To see for yourself, just
how big he is, you are invited to climb the 268 steps for a closer look...
From Ngong Ping we catch public transport for the short trip along winding roads to the popular and traditional fishing village of Tai O at
Lantau's western end. One of Hong Kong’s oldest fishing villages, Tai O possesses a certain charm lacking in many other Hong Kong
villages. The traditional stilt houses are unique to Tai O and the down-to-earth way of life of locals generally help improve impressions. Here
is a chance to catch a glimpse of what life in Hong Kong used to be like. The narrow streets are lined with small shops selling dried seafood
and local delicacies and any number of restaurants serving reasonable priced seafood. Tai O also boasts an impressive number of old
temples as well as a 20-hectare mangrove wetland that is home to many wetland animals and birds.
After lunch, we jump into a small boat to inspect Tai O from the waterside and to go a little out to sea to try to catch a glimpse of the
endangered Chinese White Dolphin (which actually is pink).
Safely back on terra firma, we catch a bus to ride the length of Lantau Island to Mui Wo on the east coast. In 1276 the Southern Song court
fled to Guangdong by boat, fleeing Mongol invaders and leaving Emperor Gong of Song China behind to defend his country. He was
unsuccessful and so all hope of resistance was centred on two young princes, Emperor Gong's brothers. The older boy, 9-year old Zhao Shi,
was declared emperor; and in 1277, the imperial court sought refuge in Mui Wo on Lantau Island…
These days, Mui Wo is really a collection of many smaller villages on the alluvial plain east of Sunset Peak, Hong Kong's third highest
mountain. Should there be interest amongst the group, we will stop here for a brief look-around and - perhaps - refreshments by the
waterfront, before completing the excursion by catching a ferry back to Hong Kong island which allows us another way to enjoy the Hong
Kong cityscape.
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