Lantau Island is Hong Kong's largest island. The island is accessible by ferry from Hong Kong; popular day trips that include all attractions on the island are also available from about $110.00 Australian dollars.
Hong Kong Island
This Island is popular for friendly locals, pristine beaches, traditional fishing villages, green valleys, beautiful mountainsides and spiritual enlightenment.
Upon leaving the ferry you need to board a coach which takes the winding mountain road through fishing villages and small market towns eventually arriving at the Po Lin Monastery. Once a remote Buddhist monastery, the village became world known when the Tian Tan Buddha statue,
The Big Buddah can be seen from many Island viewing points
(informally known as the Big Buddha) was finalised in 1993. Anticipation of the Buddha brought many spiritual visitors during its construction as it took 12 years to complete.
268 steps take you to the base of the Buddha, where you can enjoy the sweeping mountain and sea views that can be seen from this vantage point. Here the Buddha's maids in waiting welcome you. Watching people trying to count the steps in both directions is quite amusing, as they often loose count and make a second attempt much to the amusement of tour guides and Buddhist monks.
Counting the steps to the Big Buddah is a popular activity
The 34 metre high Buddha statue has transformed this quiet village into a bustling tourist attraction and pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over the world.
In 2006, a cable car was added to the mountain attraction, tickets can be purchased one way enabling visitors to take advantage of the coach journey in one direction and a cable car ride in the other.
Street venders offer traditional vegetarian snacks
The Po Lin monastery offers a spectacular vegetarian menu and street vendors offer corn cobs, popcorn and fruit but the village itself has developed quite commercially and also has several cafe style eating experiences available.
All in all, this is a wonderful experience from the mainland of Hong Kong and a must do activity if you can arrange a full day excursion.
