Hong Kong: Big Buddha & Lantau Island Tour with Cable Car
New Territories, Hong Kong
Explore Lantau's beyond Tian Tan Buddha and fishing village. Visit unknown temple, go into stilt house, meet fisherman, and experience traditional villages vs. modern developments.
Overview
This guided tour on Lantau Island includes a standard cable car ride and visits to Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, Kwun Yum Temple, and Tai O fishing village. It suits travelers interested in culture, history, and traditional village life.
Highlights
- Ride the standard cable car included in the tour package
- Visit Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery to understand commercialization's impact on the temple
- Explore Kwun Yum Temple, a rarely visited religious site, and participate in rituals
- Visit a fishermen's stilt house to experience traditional village life
Description
Meet your guide at Tung Chung MTR station to learn about Lantau Island's development, including its connection to the old Kai Tak airport and the impact of the new airport on local communities.
Enjoy a 20-minute cable car ride with panoramic views of Hong Kong International Airport and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. On clear days, you can see China and Macao on the horizon.
The tour starts at the front entrance of Po Lin Monastery, bypassing Ngong Ping Village. Discover the Chinese Buddhist architecture and its reflection of core religious beliefs.
After photographing the Big Buddha base, climb 268 steps to the top where your guide explains its symbolic hand gesture, construction challenges, and introduces a sacred relic with its significance.
Back at the monastery entrance, hear the story of how Po Lin Monastery grew its financial assets from 14 HKD to 1.3 billion HKD despite early hardships.
After lunch at Po Lin Monastery, take a private taxi to Kwun Yum Temple. Learn why monks chose Lantau as a place of refuge and how this temple differs from the busy Po Lin Monastery. Time permitting, participate in a ritual and meditation.
A second taxi transfer takes you to Tai O fishing village. Explore the origins of this fishermen’s village and the purpose of its stilt houses. Walk inside a local stilt house to experience traditional village life firsthand.
Includes
- Single standard cable car ride
- Visit to fishermen’s stilt house
- Private transportation to Kwun Yum Temple and Tai O
Cancellation Policy
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Booking Tips
Wear comfortable shoes for walking and climbing stairs. Bring a camera for scenic views. Morning visits often provide the clearest visibility for panoramic sights.
