Lantau Island
Lantau Island is the first part of Hong Kong that you will see as you touch down on the runway at Chek Lap Kok - but you are whisked straight into the city over the spectacular Tsing Ma Bridge. Take time to see the Lantau Island's many attractions.
Much larger than Hong Kong Island but with a fraction of the population, Lantau has historically been a place of retreat. Its valleys hide dozens of monasteries and nunneries. The geography is dramatic, with hills rising steeply from shallow bays to high plateaux and sharp peaks. Lantau's Chinese name of Tai Yue Shan - Big Island Mountain - is a good description. The island has two sides: North Lantau is being developed, with the airport, a new town, theme park and more in the pipeline; while South Lantau is partly protected by Country Parks and retains more its original character.
Lantau Island Attractions
Hong Kong Disneyland is a theme park at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Nestled on a bay against a backdrop of green hills on Lantau Island in the South China Sea, the 310-acre park is 10 minutes by light rail from the international airport and 24 minutes from Hong Kong.
Take the Ngong Ping 360 with a 25 minute cable car ride from Tung Chung to a culturally themed village high atop a mountain plateau on Lantau Island. Upon arriving at the Ngong Ping Village you and your family can enjoy three great attractions and a choice of shops and eateries, all on this picturesque 1.5-hectare site.
The Hong Kong Big Buddha is Lantau Island's major cultural attraction sitting atop a hill beside the Po Lin Monastery which was built in the 1920s as a quiet mountain retreat for Buddhist monks. Since the bronze Big Buddha statue was unveiled in 1993, it's become one of Hong Kong's major tourist draws.
Visit and see the Wisdom Path, an outdoor replica of the centuries-old Heart Sutra, one of the world's best known prayers that is reserved by Confucians, Buddhists and Taoist alike. The Sutra is displayed in wooden pillars placed in the form of infinite figure which symbolize the immeasurable splendor and infinity.
Lantau Island Beaches. Lantau has several of Hong Kong beaches that are clean, uncrowded and relatively convenient to get there. For all of them, the first step is to simply take the ferry from Central to Mui Wo. Then, if necessary, people can just hop on a bus.
Silvermine Beach is a Grade 1 beach is the easiest one to get to since it is located about a 5 minute walk away from the Mui Wo ferry pier. Since there is a sandbar area, this beach is ideal for flinging frisbees or flying kites. Further along the beach is a swimming area with several lifeguards on duty.
Many Lantau natives rent a bike for the afternoon, and stop off at the many refreshment kiosks and little restaurants along the road fronting the beach.
Pui O Beach is located on the southern shore of Lantau Island.
Cheung Sha Beaches on the southern shore of Lantau Ismand, is divided into two parts: Upper Cheung Sha Beach and Lower Cheung Sha Beach. It is 3km long and is the longest beach in Hong Kong. Both beaches have lifeguards and showers. Upper is Hong Kong's longest 3km of powdery sand. The lower in the other hand has more facilities and two pleasant beachside restaurant and small villages.
There are waterfalls further uphill. Following the South Lantau Road, the next stop is Pui O, which has a wide sandy beach. A herd of wild water buffalo live in the estuary here.
The road carries on past Cheung Sha, across the dam of the giant Shek Pik Reservior, and then forks carries on past: uphill to Pon Lin and the Big Buddha and downhill Tai O.
Tsing Ma Bridge before you turn up your nose, this is not just any bridge. It's the world's longest road and rail suspension bridge as well as being the first fixed crossing between Lantau Island and Kowloon. Drop by the Visitors Centre for a panoramic view of the Ma Wan Channel. Most popular beaches in Lantau are along the coast; depart regularly from Tung Chung and the ferry pier at Mui Po. Campsites, refreshments and accommodation are available at Pui O, Tong Fuk and Chung Sha.
Lantau Island Fishing Villages
Tai O Village a quaint fishing village perched on stilts, which retains much of its unique culture and heritage. Be sure to wander through the narrow alleys, visit the prayer stones and the cluster of centuries-old Chinese temples.
Fan Lau village has two deserted beaches on opposite sides of tombolo. You can follow many walking routes, a stone leads downhill Po Lin that has the famous seated bronze Buddha is the world largest, which attracts a constant stream of pilgrims all-year round.
To Tung Chung Fort built in 1817 to control the shipping lanes to Guangzhou this historical fort is today a local primary school and government office.
Tei Tsong Tsai has a cluster of bamboo-hidden monasteries.
Trekking - A popular hiking route through the country park are between Discovery Bay and Mui Wo passes by the Trappist Monastery.
Lantau Island Residential Accommodations
If you do not feel like hurrying back into the city, you can also choose to stay overnight at the Silvermine Beach Hotel, located right on the waterfront. Also, there are several other hotels and guesthouses around to stay overnight.
South Lantau remains rural, with mostly village homes. These are popular with expats who enjoy more space and a greener environment than that offered by city life.
Discovery Bay is a self-contained modern development. Opposite the airport, Tung Chung is a typical new town.
Lantau Island Shopping and Retail
Lantau Island is a not a shopping destination. There are souvenir stalls at the tourist attractions and a normal range of shops at Tung Chung. Mui Wo and Discovery Bay.
Getting to Lantau Island and Back
Ferries from Central dock at Mui Wo (also called Silvermine Bay for the abandoned mines which can still be found at the head of the valley).
Take the Ferry to Mui Wo, Lantau Island (Mon-Sat: Ordinary Class(HK$11.3) and Deluxe(HK$17.8), Sun and Public Holiday: Ordinary Class(HK$16.7) and Deluxe(HK$26).
MTR Tung Chung Line / Disneyland Resort Line going to Tung Chung (HK$17)
There is a Bus No.2 to the Giant Buddha at Ngong Ping Village(Mon-Sat(HK$16) and Sun/Public Holiday(HK$25).
Top of Lantau Island
Hong Kong Travel
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