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. 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

Photo: hangraffiti flickr

A popular destination for hikers and trail runners, it encompasses Sunset Peak, the third-highest peak in Hong Kong at 869 metres with stunning views of the island. In fact, the trail is so popular that it makes up much of the course for the annual TransLantau ultra-marathon. of fishermen who built their homes on stilts above the water. You can explore the area by boat, navigating the channels between houses, or by foot atop the stilts. Don’t leave without sampling shrimp paste and dried seafood.

Discovery Bay

Speaking of Lantau, we can’t forget Discovery Bay, or DB for short. A landing spot for expats with its low plot ratio, the DB lifestyle is all about sailing, golfing and the outdoors. Hit the beach, go shopping at the weekend handicraft markets or enjoy a meal out at the alfresco D-Deck with gorgeous sea views.

How to get there

The easiest way to get to Lantau Island from Central is via ferry. Hop on the ferry from Central Pier 6 to Mui Wo, located at eastern Lantau. The ordinary ferry takes 60 minutes whilst the fast ferry takes 40 minutes.

nwff.com.hk

Hit the beach

Two top contenders for the best sandy shores on Lantau Island are Cheung Sha Beach and Pui O Beach. Cheung Sha stretches across three kilometres, one of the longest beaches in Hong Kong, whilst Pui O is secluded and less trodden. If you’re up for it, you can also make a go at some water sports like kayaking, windsurfing and kiteboarding here.

Photo: Tiger King flickr

Experience a fishing village

For a day of history and heritage, make a day trip to Tai O Fishing Village, which has roots tracing back to the Ming dynasty. The village was originally home to the Tanka people, a community