• Understand
• See
• Do
• Eat
• Sleep

Misty mountains on Lantau Island

Lantau (爛頭 Làntóu, also 大嶼山 Dàyǔ shān) is the largest island in Hong Kong.

[edit] Understand

With the opening of the Lantau Link, a road and rail connection between the airport and central Hong Kong in 1997, Lantau Island is now firmly connected to the mainland of Hong Kong. The new airport at Chek Lap Kok has led to the establishment and rapid expansion of a new town, Tung Chung, and the improved transport links have brought further development in the shape of Disneyland, a cable car to Ngong Ping monastery, and an entire new road to southern Lantau. Sizeable sections of Lantau Island are declared country parks, though the island seems poised for more development.

[edit] Get in

The most notable aspect of Lantau is that it is adjacent to Hong Kong International Airport(HKIA). The best way to Lantau from HKIA is by taxi, by bus, or by foot. There is no train service from the airport to Lantau, although there is indirect service with Airport Express train and MTR via Tsing Yi.

Taxi from HKIA to anywhere in Lantau is relatively fast and pleasant, but only light-blue taxis are allowed within the island. Ask the reception clerk at the airport taxi stand to call for a light-blue car for you, as they are very few and you might only spot red & green ones (prohibited to go to Lantau).

Alternatively, there is bus service from HKIA to several Lantau destinations. For example, A35/N35 go to Mui Wo. [http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/aguide/bus.html Check the schedules online.

Ferries to the island, as well as buses, impose a peculiar 50% surcharge for travel on Sundays and public holidays (with the exception of services to/from/within Discovery Bay, Disneyland and the airport). It's cheaper, and less crowded, to visit during the week or on Saturdays.

[edit] By train

The Tung Chung MTR line is the fastest way to get to Lantau if you are going to the north of the island or to Disneyland. The trip to Tung Chung takes around 25 minutes all the way from Hong Kong station and costs $20. Children enjoy a 50% discount.

[edit] By boat

The obvious way of getting to the island is to take a ferry. Ferries depart from the Outlying Islands pier in Central, to the west of the Star Ferry terminal. The largest operator is the New World First FerryNew World First Ferry.

• Discovery Bay: Pier 3, $27 (fast only), every 10-30 minutes.
• Mui Wo: Pier 6, $11.30 (slow) / $22.20 (fast), every 40 minutes.

[edit] By bus

Since the opening of the Lantau Link, a number of buses also cross over to Lantau, although they are considerably slower than the MTR and less scenic than the ferries. The local bus timetable in Lantau island is available online. http://www.newlantaobus.com/nlb-map.htm

There is extensive bus service from the rest of Hong Kong to the airport and Disneyland.

[edit] By car

Much of Lantau is zoned as a national park and is off limits to vehicles without a permit.

[edit] Get around

Sunrise over Lantau Island

[edit] By bus or taxi

On Lantau you can travel by bus and taxi; note that seemingly short distances on a map (eg. Tung Chung to Ngong Ping, less than 6 km by cable car) can take a while (in this case over 40 min!), due to the twisty mountain roads and their circuitous routes.

[edit] By bicycle

There is at least one bicycle shop in Mui Wo (just opposite the main bus station), where you might be able to rent or at least buy for cheap.

[edit] By foot

If you are not going too far, there are generally convenient footpaths all over the island. For example, there are paved paths all around Mui Wo to some of the villages, many of which are within a 30 minute walk or less. Even if you are traveling a bit far, walking can be a healthy and enjoyable option. To walk from Mui Wo to the airport is only about 3-4 hours.

[edit] By cable car

Ngong Ping 360Ngong Ping is a spectacular 5.7km cable car journey between Tung Chung town center and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, which can be accessed from the Tung Chung MTR station. Be aware that there have been some technical difficulties, with the cable car closed and people having to wait for several hours. More information in the Ngong Ping 360 section below. A single trip costs $55 ($88 round trip). The cabins glide over the South China Sea and the verdant mountainous terrain of the North Lantau Country Park for 20-25 minutes and provide some of the best panoramic views in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong International Airport and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue.

The Ngong Ping Cable Car was shut down from June 2007 to December 2007 due to an accident involving an empty cable car falling off the cable and crashing. An investigation found that the incident was caused by worker negligence, and after testing, the ride was reopened on December 31, 2007.

[edit] See

Statues at Ngong Ping

• Hong Kong Disneyland, Tel.+852 1 830-830 [1]. China's first Disneyland was opened in September 2005 and features all the Disney favorites. The park is accessible via the Sunny Bay station on the Tung Chung MTR line. It has four zones: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. On weekdays tickets are HK$295 for Adults and HK$210 for children. On weekends and holidays the tickets are HK$350 for adults and $250 for children. Children under 3 are free. Visit on weekdays to avoid the crowds.
• Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre (迪欣湖), also called Inspiration Lake. It consists of the largest artificial lake in Hong Kong, also 1500m jogging trail. It is situated in Penny's Bay, a 15-minutes walk from Disneyland Resort MTR station.
• Ngong Ping 360. [2] Hong Kong's newest tourist attraction combines a spectacular 5.7 km cable car journey that takes in an impressive cultural themed village and the Tian Tan Buddha.
• Tian Tan Buddha (天壇大佛), Ngong Ping. At over 250 tonnes and 34 meters in height, this is the largest, seated, outdoor bronze Buddha statue in the world. Open 10AM to 6PM, access to the Buddha itself is free, although entering the museum inside requires a meal ticket for the vegetarian restaurant; a snack costs $23 while full meals are $60 (normal) or $100 (deluxe). Less direct alternatives to the cable car are bus #2 from Mui Wo ferry pier or bus #23 from Tung Chung (both $16/25 on weekdays/Sundays).

Wisdom Path, near the Po Lin Monastery

• Po Lin Monastery (寶蓮禪寺), Ngong Ping (below the Tian Tan Buddha). The monastery was founded in 1906 by three monks from Jiangsu province. The main temple building houses 3 bronze statues representing the Buddha of the past, present and future.
• Tai O (大澳). A traditional fishing village with houses built on stilts over the sea. Tai O also called "Eastern Venice". There is a direct bus from Mui Wo ferry pier or Tung Chung MTR station.

[edit] Do

• Hikers may wish to try the 70-km Lantau Trail, which does loops around the island. The full route would take several days but is divided into a dozen stages, some of which take less than an hour.
• Citygate Outlet[3] - Located right next to Tung Chung MTR Station, the Citygate is a rare outlet mall with tonnes of mid-priced brands, some of them being Adidas, Esprit, Giordano, Levi's, Nike, Quiksilver and Timberland.
• Swim at Silvermine Beach in Mui Wo or at any of the other beaches around the island.

[edit] Eat

• The Po Lin Monastery's vegetarian restaurant is well worth a visit for a taste Chinese vegetarian food, an artform devoted to turning soybean products into very passable imitations of meat and fish. Meals served from 11:00-16:30. A regular meal is $60 HKD, a deluxe meal is $100 HKD, enquire at the Big Buddha's ticket booth.

• The Stoep, 32 Lower Cheung Sha Village, tel 2980 2699. Beachside restaurant serving South African dishes.

[edit] Sleep

There are some guesthouses (a few of which call themselves hotels) and two hostels on Lantau. Lantau also has 10 campsites. When you get off the ferry pier in Mui Wo, there are some booths were you can rent apartments for the weekend. There are two hotels along the beach, the Silvermine Beach Hotelsilvermine beach hotel and another one further up on the beach.

There are several small cabins for hikers at Sunset Peak which go for $300 HKD/cabin/night (sleeps about 6, but very old) (enter phone number here).

The SG Davis Hostel at the Po Lin Monastery is quite nice and only $80 HKD/person/night. Reservations made at 2985 5610 are not always acknowledged upon arrival, but sometimes when you're told they're booked solid you can still get a bunk.

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