Travel Guide to Lantau Island, Hong Kong

If you flew by plane, you have landed in Hong Kong International Airport, on Lantau Island. Otherwise, this scenic island is accessible through the local subway, MTR, or the many buses that travel throughout the Hong Kong providence. There are also taxis that run from Kowloon and Lantau Island. Around the island, there are piers with ferries going in all directions from the island and also to other piers on the island.

On the Lantau island, there is not much to speak up about in terms of cuisine or shopping but is made up for in the vast richness that it holds in its sights and scenery. The highlight of many tourists' visit to Lantau island is the 242.5 ton of bronze sculpted into a Budda statue sitting in the Lotus position near the Po Lin Monastery. Nearby the monastery, is the Wisdom path, a hillside walk with tall wooden tablets jutting out of the ground inscribed with parts of a Buddhist prayer. Accessing this summit can take a variety of forms, but the method that is by far the most popular is the recently constructed Ngong Ping Skyway or a 5.7km panoramic view cable car ride that travels over the mountains and paths to the Po Lin Monetary.

On the northern coast of the island, just out of the Hong Kong International Airport is Tung Chung New Town, the last stop to the MTR on this island. This former small village which has been converted into a modern city. To the west of the island is a small fishing village, Tai O. The village is spilt between structures resting on stilts on top of the sea while the rest consists of government-funded high rises. The traditional rope operated bridge was also replaced with a metal bride to allow for safer and faster transport to the village.

The largest tourist attraction on the southern coast of the island is Cheung Sha Beach. The two mile long beach is said to have golden sand and strong winds that are favored by windsurfers. Across the beachfront, there are many rental businesses that rent out recreational gear as well as sell tickets to dolphin sighting cruises.

I highly recommend visiting this island since it has been largely undisturbed in some areas and is just beautiful, especially many of the beaches lining the coast and are said to have crystal clear water as well as the perfect hued sand. Also this island is largely traditional in terms of the natives' lifestyle except for where the government has funded programs to modernize the island.