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You are here: Home / Destinations / Asia / Beyond the Big Buddha – Other Things to Do on Lantau Island

Beyond the Big Buddha – Other Things to Do on Lantau Island

12/06/14 | Asia, Destinations, Hong Kong


Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Beyond visiting the Big Buddha, there is plenty to do on Lantau Island (大嶼山). It is well worth spending a day on the island when visiting Hong Kong. Surprisingly green and significantly quieter than the hustle and bustle of the rest of Hong Kong, this is where you go when it all becomes overwhelming.

Lantau Island is the largest of Hong Kong’s many islands, almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island, but at much lower population density. Originally a collection of small fishing villages, economic development has grown the island. Today it is home to the Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Disneyland, and the previously mentioned Tian Tan Buddha.

Po Lin Monastery (寶蓮禪寺)

At the base of the Big Buddha, lies the Po Lin Monastery, a Buddhist temple that was founded in 1906 by three visiting monks from Jiangsu Province in China.

Po Lin Monastery - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

I was immediately drawn to the bright colours of the monastery. It was so colourful and the designer in me loved how they all worked together. At the same time, I wonder how they managed to keep it that bright and colourful. Does it get painted every year? Get touch ups every so often? For sure it can’t stay that clean and colourful without some help. Hong Kong goes through monsoon season every year, not to mention all the sunlight that is sure to make the colours fade. Welcome to the inner workings of my mind. Enjoy the ride.

Po Lin Monastery - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

Colours are so pretty!

The main temple of the monastery is home to three bronze statues of Buddha that represent his past, his present and his future. Every inch of this room is covered with colour, including the ceiling which are painted with figures. I loved all the attention to details like the lights shaped into what looks like lotus petals.

Po Lin Monastery - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

Po Lin Monastery - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

Such attention to details!

At the back is the Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas which houses ten thousand statues of Buddha as well as a Scripture Library and a Dharma Hall. In typical Adelina travel fashion, I did not do proper research and had no idea about this hall. For once, it worked out because I had no expectations and didn’t know what I was going to see. I literally said “wow” when I peeked in to the room. It was stunning. Floor to ceiling of gold, Buddha statues everywhere you looked.

Po Lin Monastery - Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

Hello glittery gold! So pretty!

Typically visitors are not allowed inside this hall, but while we were there a tour group was inside. It would have been amazing to look at all the Buddhas up close.

Good to Know

Outside the monastery there are stalls where you can purchase incense to worship if you so desire.

There is a vegetarian restaurant at the monastery if you’re feeling peckish. Purchase a meal ticket which supports the monastery.

Ngong Ping Cable Car and Village

To get up to where the Po Lin Monastery and Big Buddha are, most people elect to take the Ngong Ping Cable Car. This 25 minute ride takes you over mountains and offers great views of the surrounding areas.

Ngong Ping Cable Cars - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

At the top you’re greeted by the Ngong Ping Village which is anything but authentic. It’s not much more than a glorified outdoor shopping mall manufactured especially for all the tourists that flock to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery. Food options here include Subway and Starbucks which gives you a massive clue as to how touristy this place is. The village was built as a receiving point for the cable cars.

Ngong Ping - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

I don’t think I’m fooling anyone. Definitely not a kung fu master.

There really isn’t anything of note here except for cardboard cutouts perfect for cheesy photo ops. You have to walk through the village to get to anything from the cable cars though. The washrooms here are top notch – western and super clean. Would highly recommend.

Good to Know

When purchasing your ticket, you’re given a map with notable viewpoints from the cable car so you can have your camera ready.

You can select what kind of cabin you would like when riding the cable car. The only difference between the regular and crystal cabins are whether or not the bottom is made of glass. Definitely not for those who are afraid of heights!

Tai O (大澳)

Tai O is one of Hong Kong’s few surviving fishing village, located on the west coast of Lantau island. Once home to the Tanka people, it was an important trading and fishing port.

Tai O - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

Today, the town is one step away from being a ghost town with much of the younger generation leaving for bigger opportunities in the city. Even though we arrived in Tai O on a bus full of tourist, once we started wandering around, it was like we were alone. We barely saw any people.

Tai O is famous for its stilt houses (pang uk 棚屋) on the waterfront. Most were destroyed in a fire in 2000, but a few original buildings remain. These houses were once found in many other fishing villages, but the ones in Tai O are the only large collection of them that have been preserved. Its harbour area has earned Tai O the nickname “the Venice of Hong Kong.”

Tai O Harbour - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

Tai O Stilt Houses - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

The village is built partly on Lantau and partly on a smaller island which can be crossed via a narrow footbridge. Here locals shout offers of boat tours while others offer tempting hot food for your consumption. Nearby is the Kwan Ti Temple which dates back to the 1500s. When I think of temples, this is what I imagine. Not the too pretty ones that I’ve come across in the rest of Hong Kong. This one honours the god of war and righteousness.

Tai O - Kwan Ti Temple - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

We wandered far, walking along the water. In many ways, the scenery was very pretty, but then you get a glimpse of the pollution and you’re brought back to reality.

Tai O - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

At the end of the road we found this. Looks quite pretty and then you see the garbage.

As you wander around, you see the tiny houses that people live in. Some no more than just shacks on stilts held together with rope. Some of these buildings, especially as we got further and further away from the main part of town, had their doors open and me being the super snoop that I am (I like to think of it as having a healthy dose of curiosity by the way), I stole quick peeks inside as I walked past. I was surprised to see that a lot of the houses had flat screen TVs on them. So it seems like technology and some wealth has come to the village, but the village hasn’t necessarily caught up yet.

The air is heavy with the smell of fermenting fish. The salty, almost rancid smell is everywhere. Tai O’s proximity to the water means its main commodity and commerce is in fish, making salt fish and shrimp paste. We saw blue barrels of shrimp paste everywhere, sitting out to ferment. I quickly peeked into a barrel as I passed by just to see what it looked like. No different than I typically see in a jar really. The village is a popular place to purchase seafood both the fresh and dried variety.

Tai O - Shrimp Paste - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

The smell coming out of this was not enjoyable at all.

Tai O - Dried Seafood - Things to do on Lantau Island | packmeto.com

Mmm freshly dried seafood for sale. As you can see, they’re actually quite expensive.

Tai O is very different from Hong Kong and surrounding areas. It’s like time has stopped here and you get a glimpse of a past way of life. Even though it does seem like it has been taken over by tourism, the further you get away from the centre of the village the more it becomes its true self. I almost felt like I had be transported back in time. It felt so weird to me that I could use my Octopus card here. I felt so far away from Hong Kong and yet, technically, I hadn’t left. It felt weirder yet that the whole time I was there I had 3G connection and could Instagram and tweet to my hearts content.

Good to Know

You can get to Tai O by taking a bus. From Ngong Ping it is approximately a 15 – 20 minute bus ride on bus 21. You can use your Octopus card. You can also take the bus no 11 from Tung Chung.

Other Things to Do

Not for the faint of heart, but if you love hiking, the Lantau Trail can take you from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping (and further if you like – the whole trail is 70 km long). The cable cars follow much of the route and from above it sure looked intimidating. Lots of steps, but from what I could see the trail is marked quite clearly. We saw one hiker on the way up to the Buddha. If you decide to go, be sure to pick up a map.

Another notable city to visit is Mui Wo on the south coast of Lantau which is famous for its beaches.

The waters of Lantau Island are home to an unusual species of dolphin. Despite its name, Chinese white dolphins, are not actually white. They’re pink. However, due to pollution, their numbers are slowly decreasing. There are ecological tours that allow you get a glimpse of these animals.

A recommended route would be to do a loop of the island. Take the cable car from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping. See the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. Take bus no. 21 to Tai O for a bit of a wander. Then hop on bus 1 to go to Mui Wo before either taking the ferry back to central or going back to Tung Chung (bus 3M) for the MTR.

Top Things To Do on Lantau Island

When people think of Hong Kong, they typically think of crowds of people, skyscrapers, modernity and lots of noise and pollution. No one thinks of greenery, scenic trails and quietness. Hong Kong has so much more to offer than that and a day on Lantau Island shows you a completely different side of the city.

Have you been to Lantau Island? Did it surprise you?

P.S. Have you entered my holiday giveaway?

If you’re new to Pack Me To, welcome! Stay on top of my adventures on Facebook and follow me on Twitter & Instagram.

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Comments

  1. Mary {The World Is A Book} says

    December 6, 2014 at 10:04 PM

    It’s great to know that one can escape the crowd and chaos Hong Kong is famous for. Lantau Island looks like my ideal place to spend the day. I like the variety of activities from the religious to cultural. Love all the colors at that monastery.

    • Adelina says

      December 8, 2014 at 6:43 PM

      Definitely! Lantau Island was great for an escape if you don’t mind all the tourists. It is significantly less people though regardless.

  2. Bianca (@ItsAllBee) says

    December 6, 2014 at 11:48 PM

    So jealous you got to go on the cable cars. They were closed for maintenance 24 hours before my trip there 🙁

    • Adelina says

      December 8, 2014 at 6:39 PM

      Aww booo! That sucks! It was really cool to ride up on them. I do wish the weather was a little more cooperative though! We couldn’t see too much too far away.

  3. Katrina Elisabet says

    December 7, 2014 at 5:28 AM

    Wow, this is really neat! I have little to no knowledge of Hong Kong and the surrounding areas, so this has been quite an educational read. Love the pictures!

    • Adelina says

      December 8, 2014 at 6:38 PM

      Thanks Katrina! Yea, I think most people just think of all the tall skyscrapers and miss the fact that Hong Kong is actually really really green once you leave the main part of the city. Pretty cool.

  4. Laia | colibrist says

    December 7, 2014 at 9:57 AM

    It does seem one can spend a whole day in the island! I specially liked (from your post I mean, I haven’t been there) the fishing village Tai O. It feels good to go out from big crowded cities…

    • Adelina says

      December 8, 2014 at 6:37 PM

      Tai O was definitely a cool place to explore. When I was there I really had no idea what I was looking at, but upon reflection, it was so very different from the rest of Hong Kong.

  5. Upasna says

    December 7, 2014 at 2:35 PM

    Hey, the link-up closed earlier than usual this time around?

    • Adelina says

      December 8, 2014 at 6:35 PM

      Hey Upasna! I’m not sure what happened with the link up. SJ of Chasing the Donkey does the admin on that and she’s traveling right now and might have gotten time zones mixed up. I’m really sorry! We are opening the link up earlier these days to accommodate Australia and it should stay open later too for people on the other end. Full times that it should be open are 18:00 GMT Saturday to 10:00 GMT Monday.

  6. Amy @ Amy and the Great World says

    December 7, 2014 at 6:55 PM

    I loved this post! I love reading about your Hong Kong adventures–it’s such an unknown part of the world to me. It looks beautiful, although I’m sad to hear that it’s polluted and full of garbage. Can’t say I’m too surprised, though, considering how I found China when I visited.

    Also, I tried to link-up but it’s already closed! It’s been a few weeks since I’ve linked up, did I miss some changes? Thanks 🙂

    • Adelina says

      December 8, 2014 at 6:34 PM

      Thanks Amy! Most of Hong Kong was quite clean which is why it was especially noteworthy here. I was actually surprised it wasn’t more filled with garbage.

      I’m not sure what happened with the link up. SJ of Chasing the Donkey does the admin on that and she’s traveling right now and might have gotten time zones mixed up. Sorry about that! We are opening the link up earlier these days to accommodate Australia and it should stay open later too for people on the other end. Full times that it is open are 18:00 GMT Saturday to 10:00 GMT Monday.

  7. Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says

    December 8, 2014 at 8:11 AM

    Tai O really seems worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. It’s definitely not a side of city that I expected. I really wanted to visit the Big Buddha when we were in Hong Kong and hoped that the cable cars would be selling point to get everyone else to agree to go. I was outvoted. So, most of our time on Lantau was spent at Disneyworld. On the other hand, most of the family is kids, so I guess I understand why they voted the way they did. That Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas is simply stunning. What a nice surprise for you.

    • Adelina says

      December 8, 2014 at 6:24 PM

      Yea, the village is really different. You don’t expect to see that in Hong Kong. Haha, I can totally understand why your kids would prefer Disneyland! I think I probably would have picked that too when I was kid.

  8. Rachel@safari254 says

    December 8, 2014 at 8:18 PM

    scenic, colorful, un spoilt … how I’d love to see the views from the cable car.

    looks like a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong.

    • Adelina says

      December 8, 2014 at 10:03 PM

      Thanks Rachel. It really was a fantastic escape.

  9. Beth says

    December 8, 2014 at 10:49 PM

    I love hanging out on Lantau, and honestly anywhere out in the New Territories. Most people when they come here only ever visit HK Island, and maybe some of the markets in Kowloon, but the real beauty of Hong Kong is in its small villages.

    I’m glad you got slightly further out! 🙂

    • Adelina says

      December 9, 2014 at 6:34 PM

      I took a drive through the New Territories and it was so different from the rest of Hong Kong. I totally agree with you – everyone needs to venture further afield.

Trackbacks

  1. It's the Holiday Season (and Travel Help Needed!) - Amy and the Great World says:
    December 7, 2014 at 6:45 PM

    […] up with Emma & friends for The Festive Season and Adelina & friends for the […]

  2. Big Buddha Hong Kong says:
    January 9, 2016 at 6:41 PM

    […] a lot of information material on the construction and history of the statue itself. Nearby is the Po Lin monastery and a temple of gold buddhas which is […]

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Adelina is a part time traveler, exploring the world despite having a full-time job. Pack Me To is a collection of stories from her travels and adventures around the world as she packs you to destinations around the world with her.

Adelina has been traveling for as long as she can remember and has lived abroad in the Netherlands and Hungary. She loves telling stories, and eating and exploring her way around the world. Come along for the ride. Read More…

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