Lantau Island Island

Website: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/see-do/cultural-heritage/outlying-islands/lantau-island.html

Admission: Free (public island)

Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong, covering wide mountainous interior, coastal villages and several major transport and tourist facilities. It combines rural landscapes with modern infrastructure and is a major outdoor recreation area.

Key visitor draws include high-elevation hikes such as the ascent to Lantau Peak at about 934 metres, the traditional Tai O fishing village with stilt houses, and the Ngong Ping plateau with Po Lin Monastery and the Big Buddha. Beaches such as Cheung Sha and Pui O and reservoirs and country parks provide walking, cycling and water-based activities.

The island’s character changed significantly with late 20th-century infrastructure projects - most notably the construction of Hong Kong International Airport on nearby Chek Lap Kok (opened 1998) and the development of Tung Chung new town - which improved access and supported tourism and development.

Geographically Lantau sits at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta to the west of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It is about 20-30 kilometres by road from Hong Kong Island’s central districts, with ferry, road and rail connections linking the island to the rest of the territory.

• Scale and terrain: Lantau is Hong Kong’s largest island and includes the territory’s second-highest and highest accessible peaks, with Lantau Peak at about 934 metres.
• Transport links: Access options include ferries to Mui Wo and Tai O, the MTR to Tung Chung plus buses, and the Ngong Ping 360 cable car linking Tung Chung to Ngong Ping plateau.

What to See#

• Lantau Peak (Fung Wong Shan): The island’s highest peak reaches 934 metres and is a focal point for many multi-stage hikes and sunrise treks.
• Tai O fishing village: A traditional fishing village known for stilt houses, seafood and a working harbour that preserves local island culture and architecture.
• Ngong Ping plateau: The Ngong Ping plateau contains the Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha, a major religious and tourist complex on the island.
• Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok): The Hong Kong International Airport sits on adjacent reclaimed land at Chek Lap Kok and is linked to Lantau by road and rail infrastructure.

Take the MTR Tung Chung Line to Tung Chung station on Lantau Island; the Ngong Ping 360 cable car departs from a terminal a short walk from Tung Chung station to Ngong Ping (where major Lantau attractions are). Lantau is also served by local buses (New Lantao Bus and other island services) connecting Tung Chung, Mui Wo and Discovery Bay. By car, use North Lantau Highway (Route 8) to reach Tung Chung and other parts of Lantau.

• Visit Lantau early in the morning on weekdays to see Ngong Ping Village and the Tian Tan Buddha before tour buses arrive; alternatively take the late-afternoon ferry to Mui Wo for quieter beaches and sunset light.
• For access, use Tung Chung MTR or the Central ferry to Mui Wo depending on your plan-take the Ngong Ping 360 cable car from Tung Chung for the quickest tourist route, or ride the bus from Tung Chung to reach Tai O and avoid cable-car queues.
• Most visitors stay around Ngong Ping and the Buddha; don't miss Tai O fishing village and the shorter hikes off the Lantau Trail (Wisdom Path and Lantau Peak approaches) for local culture and quieter scenery.