Enjoy a half-day trip to Lantau Island, Hong Kong's largest island, for a fascinating mix of cultural history and modern-day life! Take a cable car from Tung Chung up to the Ngong Ping Plateau to see Tian Tan Buddha – or Big Buddha – and enjoy panoramic views of Lantau Island and its surroundings as you glide over Tung Chung Bay. You’ll have the opportunity to see Po Lin Monastery and the attractions at Ngong Ping Village before a stop at Citigate Outlets, Hong Kong’s largest shopping mall.
Located at the mouth of the Pearl River and connected to the mainland by the Kowloon peninsula, Lantau Island offers fascinating sights to see. After pickup from your Hong Kong hotel, your informative local guide will transfer you by comfortable, air-conditioned coach to Tung Chung, a newly developed town on the mountainous island.
From here, board the sky rail cable car – Ngong Ping 360 – for an approximate 25-minute ride, crossing Tung Chung Bay as you take in the spectacular panoramic view of misty slopes that comprise North Lantau Country Park. Your guide will point out the South China Sea and other breathtaking natural surroundings of Lantau Island en route to the Ngong Ping Plateau – a 3-mile (5.7 km) distance away. (Please note: Cable car subject to operational and weather conditions.)
Cable car will be unavailable due to maintenance on the following 2014 dates: Jan 14-16, Mar 17-20, Jun 24-25, Sep 16-23 and Dec 2-3. Transportation by coach will be arranged for these dates.
Upon arrival, head to Ngong Ping Village, a theme park designed to reflect the culture of the region, with a range of unique street performances, demonstrations and shows. Your entrance ticket includes two multimedia attractions: ‘Walking with Buddha’ and the ‘Monkey's Tale Theater.’
While seated in an enchanting courtyard decorated with columns, murals and stone carvings, enjoy the ‘Monkeys Tale’ – a computer-animated film accompanied by special effects and surround sound – which tells the tale of three monkey friends on a spiritual journey. At ‘Walking with Buddha,’ follow the life of a man named Siddhartha on his path to enlightenment as you walk through a variety of themed scenes and activities.
Next, your guide will take you to view the Tian Tan Buddha – more popularly known as the Big Buddha or Giant Buddha – with the option to climb the 268 steps right up to the statue! Reaching 112 feet (34 meters) in height, Tian Tan Buddha is the largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha statue in the world! Afterward, you’ll have time to explore the Buddhist temple at Po Lin Monastery, located below. Founded by several monks in 1906, the main building houses three bronze statues that represent the Buddha of the past, present and future.
Take a departure from traditional culture and enjoy some retail therapy at your final stop, the Citigate Outlets, the largest outlet shopping mall in Hong Kong. With more than 80 international brand names in dozens of shops, you’ll have plenty to browse
