10 Top Destinations in Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong. It used to be a remote island away from Hong Kong until the construction of infrastructures within and near the island were completed. One particular structure is Hong Kong International Airport, built north of Lantau Island.

No foreign tourist who had visited Hong Kong knew Lantau Island. Sad but true, the usual itinerary of a tourist is to disembark at the airport then instantly head off to Kowloon area or Hong Kong Island. In a few days time he/she comes back to HKIA depart back from where they came from. This makes Lantau Island seem like a passageway to and fro the airport. Unknown to many, there are top tourist destinations in the Lantau Island itself. Elaborated below are such spots:

Tai O Village is a fishing town on a small island with the same name at westernmost side of Lantau island. Stilt houses or locally called pang uks are considered the main attraction of this remote village.

Tian Tan Buddha was once the largest outdoor sitting Buddha in the world. The Buddha was completed together with the 268-steps stairway that one needs to climb in order to reach the statue, six smaller Buddha statues depicting “the offering of Six Devas” and three floors beneath the giant Buddha.

Ngong Ping 360 was a tourism project in Lantau Island. It consists of a cable car and skyrail. This gondola lift connects north coast of Lantau to either central Hong Kong or Ngong Ping hills where Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha is found.

Tung Chung Fort is located in Tung Chung village, north of Lantau Island. Six muzzle-loading cannons on granite were built between years of 1174 and 1189 to fight off the navy fleet sent by the government to attack the smugglers of Lantau Island. Throughout Hong Kong history, this fort underwent multiple purposes until declared a monument in 1979 and refurbished in 1988.

Trappist Haven Monastery is located at the easternmost area of Lantau Island. It is home to Roman Catholic monks of the Cistercian Order of Strict Observance or shortly named as Trappists and currently known as Our Lady of Joy Abbey. The monastery can be reached either through a hiking trail or ferry.

Hong Kong Disneyland is the fifth Magic Kingdom-style theme park and located at reclaimed land in Penny’s Bay, northeast of Lantau Island. Composed of four themed lands similar to other Disneyland Parks, the current total capacity is 34,000 per day.

Cheung Sha Beach, found at southern shore of Lantau Island, is one of forty beaches in Hong Kong conducive for swimming. Divided into Upper Cheung Sha Beach and Lower Cheung Sha Beach, it is the longest longest beach in Hong Kong

Wisdom Path is a figure eight track near Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha with very large wooden inscriptions of the Hearth Sutra. A ritual practiced by Buddhists and very much appreciated by non Buddhists tourist who visit the religious place. -II

Lantau Trail is a seventy kilometer circular trail that starts and ends at Mui Wo, eastern part of Lantau Island. There are twelve stages in trekking this path, adorned with information boards and maps in between stages to aid a traveler. Average time needed to finish the trail is 23 hours.

Last but not least is Sunset Peak, the third highest peak in Hong Kong. The height is 869 meters above sea level and located at center portion of Lantau Island. Coincidentally, the second highest peak is Lantau Peak, which is at the western part of the island.