Activities on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island

Activities on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island

LEARN MORE ABOUT Activities on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island AND DISCOVER THIS BEST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND IN HONG KONG AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO

Activities on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island

Why go to Lantau Island? As soon as you enter the bustling streets of Hong Kong, commotion, noise, and a mob greet you. The eye is greeted with a cityscape dominated by skyscrapers. You can hear double-decker trams rattling through the streets and ships honking as they swarm the harbourside canals. You are shoved aside as people rush into and out of opulent stores carrying shopping bags as the fragrance of street cuisine hits your senses. What about boredom? In my opinion, no. These activities may be found on Lantau Island.

 

WHY GO TO LANTAU ISLAND?

Hong Kong is a popular Asian metropolis. Every year around 55 million visitors arrive to lap up the hustle, bustle and dazzle. But to those in the know, there is another side to this chaotic frenzy of fashion and contemporary life on Lantau Island.

Lantau Island is a side of Hong Kong most visitors don’t get to see. It’s where mountains sweep down to the rugged coastline. The glistening waters and pace of life is much slower.

Hong Kong’s 260 outlying islands is a best-kept secret. Cruise on a little further and you’ll soon reach Macau (the Hong Kong to Macau ferry takes about an hour).

One, in particular, Lantau Island, which is the largest of the lot, offers many attractions from spectacular natural landscapes to distinct cultural experiences.

All of this is within an hour of the city’s heaving downtown.

From my earlier visits, I had explored almost all of Hong Kong’s well-known sights but never had an opportunity to venture to Lantau Island.

THINGS TO DO ON LANTAU ISLAND 

So during my recent visit to Hong Kong, I sign up for a tour to experience a few of Lantau Island’s charms.

These days, Lantau Island is becoming pretty popular with tourists too.

Lantau Island is mostly natural parkland with theme parks, tourist sites, hiking trails, seashores and beaches.

With a population of only 60,000, Lantau Island is a hideaway from the urban crowds of Hong Kong.

If you want to get away from seven million people crammed into a small space, Lantau Island is the place to go!

1- NGONG PING CABLE CAR

A major attraction for travel to Lantau Island is the 5.7 km 20-minute journey from Hong Kong Island on the Ngong Ping Cable Car. The cable car ride offers breathtaking bird’s eye vistas of the surrounding landscape.

2- LANTAU BUDDHA

On Lantau Island, a giant bronze figure of Lord Buddha dominates the skyline. This gracious statue is located in Ngong Ping Village and is the key drawcard for visitors to Lantau Island.

The Lantau Buddha is possibly the tallest outdoor statue of Buddha in a sitting position.

Locally known as Tian Tan Buddha, it faces north towards China and sits 26.4 metres atop a lotus throne. The total height from the base is an impressive 34 metres.

There are 268 steps from the ground to the three-tier podium where it rests.

3- PO LIN MONASTERY

Close by is the Po Lin Monastery, a historic Buddhist sanctum, regularly frequented by pilgrims from all over the world. It’s a serene spot with halls, shrines, courtyards and lovely gardens.

After browsing the Buddhist world, I move to the nearby Tai O Fishing Village.

4- TAI O FISHING VILLAGE

The village has been the home of the Tanaka people, whose livelihood for generations has been fishing in the surrounding waterways.

Their houses built on stilts are interconnected, symbolising a tightly knit community.

Boating through the waterways provides a closer view of these dwelling dens and the quaint lifestyle of their occupants.

5- SPOT PINK DOLPHINS

While voyaging past the housing structures, if you’re lucky, you might spot pink dolphins dancing in the water.

6- DINE AT TAI O HERITAGE HOTEL

The best way to end the tour is by dining at the Tai O Heritage Hotel, which was once a police station.

It’s now a nine-room boutique hotel. With history and heritage as my dining companion, I enjoy a delicious meal and leave the shores of Lantau Island with a promise to return.

Check the prices of Tai O Heritage Hotel here

7- LANTAU TRAIL

Take a hike along the Lantau Trail, which circles the island for 70 km, past villages and beaches. It’s a substantial walking trail with 12 different sections. The top scenic spot on the trail is Sunset Peak.

8- HONG KONG DISNEYLAND

This smaller version of the original Disneyland is manageable in a day. If you’re travelling with kids, it’s the perfect place to enchant the little ones.