Lantau Island

Introducing Lantau Island (from Hong Kong Tourism Board)
As Hong Kong’s largest outlying island, Lantau Island is perhaps most famous internationally for being the home of Hong Kong International Airport. Lantau Island is best known for its natural beauty but is also home to a large mall of outlet stores and excellent airport shopping. Buddhist architecture; fireworks over Sleeping Beauty's castle; a long sandy beach; a mall of shopping outlets – Lantau Island has it all. Whatever your persuasion, Lantau Island brings solace to the soul, senses and shopping bags.

Lantau Island Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Da Yu Shan 大屿山
• Best Time to Visit: September to February
• Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 Day
• Things to Do: Photography, Hiking, Nature, Adventure, Shopping
• Opening Hours: All day
• Entrance Fee: Free for entering the island; attractions inside may charge entrance fee
• Address: Lantau Island, Outlying Islands, Hong Kong

What to expect at Lantau Island
On Lantau, you can go from the beaches to the Big Buddha to a bar-restaurant in Discovery Bay all in the same day. For those who love getting out and being active, Lantau is the paradise you’ve been looking for, but it has loads to offer history buffs and culture vultures, too. Whether you want to hike to a sunset viewpoint or take a glass-bottomed gondola to the tallest seated Buddha in Hong Kong before going back down to a restaurant by the sea, Lantau has something for you.

Ngong Ping 360 & the Big Buddha
The star attraction on Lantau is the 34-metre Tian Tan Buddha, known as simply the Big Buddha, which rests high up on a hilltop. The best way to get there? The Ngong Ping 360 cable car that climbs from Tung Chung to tranquil Ngong Ping Village with stunning views of the Lantau landscape, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Big Buddha. The 25-minute, air-conditioned ride even has the option of a glass-bottom crystal cabin that offers a novel, unobstructed view straight down! The drop-off is just a 10-minute stroll from the foot of the 268 steps to reach the base of the statue. From the top of the stairs, not only do you get breath-taking views over Lantau’s verdant mountain terrain and across the South China Sea, you also get a bird’s eye view of the century-old Po Lin Monastery and its many colourful murals, which you can visit after descending the steps.

Wisdom Path
Stroll another 10 minutes from the foot of the Big Buddha steps and you’ll find yourself at Wisdom Path, which traces a series of 38 wooden steles (upright monuments) containing verses from the centuries-old Heart Sutra — one of the world’s best-known prayers revered by Confucians, Buddhists and Taoists alike. These steles display the Chinese version of the prayer, based on the calligraphy of famous contemporary scholar Professor Jao Tsung-I, and are arranged in a ∞ pattern, which represents infinity. Professor Jao's calligraphy and painting masterpieces are incorporated into the design of the commemorative plaque and the site map displaying his biography and academic achievements.

 

Tung Chung Fort
This well-preserved fort dates back to 1832, and it has quite a history. When the British took control of Hong Kong in 1898, the fort was abandoned. During World War II, Japanese forces occupied it, after which it served as a police station and then a college. The fort today stands as a relic of a bygone era, complete with six old muzzle-loading cannons and Chinese archways. If you’re really into history, don’t miss the nearby Tung Chung Battery, too.

Discovery Bay
Long a preferred landing spot for expats and families, Discovery Bay or DB for short, is the beating heart of laid-back Lantau. From watching the regattas in the Discovery Bay Yacht Club sailing across the water, to shopping at the indie craft and traders’ market held every second Sunday of the month in DB Plaza, there are tons of activities here. Or simply wine and dine: D Deck, with its 180-degree views of the water, is the largest al-fresco dining space in Hong Kong, and the vegetarian-friendly Hemingway’s by the Bay is an uber-popular hangout among the DB crowd.

 

Lantau Trail
Seventy-kilometre Lantau Trail cuts a path across the island, incorporating some of its most memorable viewpoints and wildest nature. The trail is divided into 12 sections of varying difficulty. Some of them can be pretty gruelling, so it’s no surprise that this trail makes up much of the course for the annual TransLantau ultra-marathon and remains a popular weekend destination for hikers and trail runners. Don’t miss the hike to Sunset Peak; at 869 metres, it’s the third-highest point in Hong Kong. As its name suggests, it offers the best sunset views on the island, if not the whole SAR. Visit in autumn or winter, when the surrounding silvergrass shimmers brightest.

Tai O Fishing Village
With roots tracing all the way back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Tai O Fishing Village oozes history and heritage. Home to the Tanka people, a community of fishermen who traditionally built their homes on stilts above tidal flats, the village is a must-visit for anyone travelling to Lantau. Boats navigate the channel between houses, stirring up the smell of the sea and offering great photo ops. But Tai O has so much more to offer than snaps for your Instagram feed. Some entrepreneurial locals have turned their stilted homes into restaurants and cafes including Solo, which serves a range of teas, specialty coffee and homemade cakes.

 

How to get to Lantau Island
• Take MTR Tung Chung Line and get off at Tung Chung Station.
• Take a ferry from Central to Mui Wo to reach the island.
• Rent a car/bus from GGC to enjoy a hassle free private transfer from hotels in Hong Kong to Lantau Island.

Additional travel advice on Lantau Island
• Other attractions in Lantau Island: Hong Kong Disneyland, Citygate Outlets.
• Please wear comfortable hiking shoes and sunblock for outdoor activities.