BIG DAY OUT
Lantau island guide A comprehensive guide to Hong Kong’s best island (as voted by you in our Hong Kong Living Awards). By Charmaine Ng
Located west of Hong Kong Island and southwest of the Kowloon Peninsula, Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong. It is often referred to as the lungs of Hong Kong for its abundant green space and scarcity of high-rise residential developments. In fact, the largest country park in Hong Kong, Lantau South Country Park, and the third-largest freshwater reservoir in Hong Kong, Shek Pik Reservoir, are both located on the island. In recent years, Lantau Island has been given a facelift with major infrastructures and tourist
attractions such as Lantau Link, Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Disneyland and Ngong Ping 360.
What to do Visit the Big Buddha Lantau is synonymous with the 34-metre Tian Tan Buddha, known simply as the Big Buddha. Located near Po Lin Monastery, it symbolises the harmonious relationship between man and nature. Pair your visit to the Big Buddha with a ride on the Ngong Ping 360, a cable car that brings you from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping Village whilst presenting stunning views of Lantau’s landscape along the way.
Take a historical journey 10 minutes from the foot of the Big Buddha is the Wisdom Path, which showcases 38 wooden steles containing verses from the Heart Sutra.
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When you’re done studying the well-known prayers revered by Confucians, Buddhists and Taoists, head over to the Tung Chung Fort. This attraction, which dates back to 1832, is now a relic from the past with six old muzzle-loading cannons and Chinese archways.
Explore the trails The famous Lantau Trail is 70 kilometres long and divided into 12 sections of varying difficulty levels.
