Lantau and Outlying Islands, Hong Kong
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Neighbourhood guide

Lantau and Outlying Islands

Big Buddha, Tai O and ferry islands

Lantau holds Po Lin Monastery, Tai O and Hong Kong Disneyland. Cheung Chau, Lamma and Peng Chau are reached by ferry.

Ngong Ping 360 runs 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and 9:00 to 18:30 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal is adjacent to Tung Chung MTR Station. Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha are at Ngong Ping, and the Wisdom Path is on the Lantau Trail.

Tai O is a fishing village on the western side of Lantau. Its Kwan Tai Old Temple, Hung Shing Temple and Yeung Hau Temple are within the village. Hong Kong Disneyland covers 126 ha in North Lantau, and Disneyland Resort Station is reached from Sunny Bay.

Sun Ferry's page lists routes among Central, Cheung Chau, Mui Wo and Peng Chau. Cheung Chau has Pak She Tin Hau Temple, Pak Tai Temple and Tung Wan Beach. Lamma Island has Sok Kwu Wan's fish rafts and the Yung Shue Wan Main Street.

Getting there

Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal is next to Tung Chung MTR Station. Sun Ferry's timetable search lists Central, Cheung Chau, Chi Ma Wan, Hung Hom, Kowloon City, Mui Wo, North Point and Peng Chau.

27 places
Tung Chung Station (MTR), next to the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal · Disneyland Resort Station (MTR Disneyland Resort Line, from Sunny Bay) stations
See Lantau and Outlying Islands on the interactive map

What to see

Give Ngong Ping a half day and Tai O another. The islands each suit a day by ferry.

Where to eat and drink

Yung Shue Wan Main Street on Lamma is lined with seafood restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun Man Mo Temple, dried seafood streets and Western Market 12 places · 16.8 km away Central, Hong Kong Central Tai Kwun, PMQ, Lan Kwai Fong and the Peak 22 places · 18.1 km away Tsim Sha Tsui and West Kowloon, Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui and West Kowloon Museums, the harbour promenade and M+ 27 places · 20.0 km away Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong Sham Shui Po Fabric, electronics and cheap eats 15 places · 20.2 km away

The best of Lantau and Outlying Islands

Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha
Best sight Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha At Ngong Ping on Lantau.
Ngong Ping 360
Best cable car Ngong Ping 360 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays.
Tai O
Best village Tai O A fishing village on Lantau's west side.
Cheung Chau
Best island Cheung Chau Reached by ferry, with temples and Tung Wan Beach.

Things to do in Lantau and Outlying Islands

Tian Tan Buddha seated bronze statue with raised hand on Lantau Island at golden hour
Temple Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha Po Lin Monastery at Ngong Ping was known as the “Big Thatched Hut” in the early days. It was established by Venerables Da Yue, Dun Xiu and Yue Ming from Jiangsu Province in 1906.
Ngong Ping 360 cable car cabin suspended on its cable over misty Lantau hills
Special Ngong Ping 360 Ngong Ping 360 cable car connects downtown Tung Chung and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. The 5.7-km cable car adopts a safe and reliable bi-cable ropeway.
Tall wooden inscribed pillars of the Wisdom Path standing on a Lantau hillside
Landmark Wisdom Path Professor Jao Tsung I's calligraphy of the Heart Sutra, carved on 38 timber columns of 8 m to 10 m near the Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and the Ngong Ping 360 terminal on Lantau.
Stilt houses and a small boat on the tidal channel at Tai O
Day trip Tai O A fishing village on the western side of Lantau Island, known for its stilt houses and local culture, and one of the island's main visitor stops.
Glass-walled Lookout restaurant pavilion at the Tai O Heritage Hotel among palms
Landmark Tai O Heritage Hotel Tai O Heritage Hotel was formerly the Old Tai O Police Station which was built on a small knoll next to the old Tai O Ferry Pier at Shek Tsai Po in 1902.
Temple Tai O Kwan Tai Old Temple Tai O Kwan Tai Old Temple on Kat Hing Back Street of Tai O was originally built in the Hongzhi reign (1488 - 1505) of the Ming Dynasty. It was rebuilt in situ in the 6th year of the Qianlong (1741) reign of the Qing Dynasty.
Temple Hung Shing Temple, Tai O Hung Shing Temple at Shek Tsai Po Street of Tai O was built in the 11th year of the Qianlong reign (1746) of the Qing Dynasty for the worship of Hung Shing.
Yeung Hau Temple with pink roofs on a wooded point beside the Tai O shore
Temple Yeung Hau Temple, Tai O Yeung Hau Temple at Po Chue Tam in Tai O was probably built in 1699 or earlier with reference to an iron bell cast in the 38th year of Kangxi reign (1699) of the Qing Dynasty.
Old cannon on the Tung Chung Fort wall with high-rise towers beyond the trees
Landmark Tung Chung Fort The carved granite slab above the entrance of Tung Chung Fort casting with the 12th year of Daoguang reign (1832) of the Qing Dynasty suggests that the Fort might have built in that year.
Discovery Bay housing along the waterfront below green Lantau hills and the bay
Neighbourhood Discovery Bay Sitting on the northeastern coast of Lantau Island, Discovery Bay is a diversified community blending Chinese and Western cultures. Apart from the shopping mall, there are a number of restaurants along the tranquil seashore serving international cuisine.
Sleeping Beauty Castle towers rising behind trees at Hong Kong Disneyland
Special Hong Kong Disneyland A theme park resort on North Lantau covering 126 ha.
Wide sandy Silvermine Bay Beach on Lantau with a stream meeting the sea below green hills
Beach Silvermine Bay Beach A beach at Mui Wo on Lantau Island, with hotels and restaurants around it.
Park Silvermine Cave and Silvermine Waterfalls Silvermine Cave is located on the hill at Silvermine Bay in Mui Wo. Silver mining activities were carried out there in mid to late 19th century but stopped later because of the low silver content.
Temple Mui Wo Man Mo Temple Mui Wo Man Mo Temple at Pak Ngan Heung is said to have first built in the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty and is the oldest temple in Mui Wo.
Beach Southern Lantau beaches There are several beaches on southern Lantau Island which have clear water, fine powdery sand and away from the hustle. From east to west are Pui O Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Upper Cheung Sha Beach and Tong Fuk Beach.
Cable car cabins crossing Tung Chung bay on Lantau with green headlands below
Day trip Lantau Island Occupying an area of about 148 sq km, Lantau Island in the southwest of Hong Kong is the largest island in the territory. Archaeological remains suggest that Fu Tei Wan on Chek Lap Kok was inhabited by early settlers around the Middle Neolithic period (c. 4000 to 2500 BC).
Small boats crowded together in Cheung Chau harbour
Day trip Cheung Chau Cheung Chau is a small dumbbell-shape island of 2.44 sq km southwest of Hong Kong Island. A bone arrowhead excavated from Po Yue Wan in the southeastern side of the small island shows that human activities on the island dated back to Late Neolithic period (c. 2500 to 1500 BC).
Temple Pak She Tin Hau Temple, Cheung Chau Pak She Tin Hau Temple is located to the north of Yuk Hui Temple. A bronze bell of the Temple inscribed with the 32nd year of the Qianlong reign (1767) of the Qing Dynasty is an evidence of the long history of the Temple.
Stone guardian lion on a balustrade beside the plaza of Pak Tai Temple on Cheung Chau
Temple Yuk Hui (Pak Tai) Temple, Cheung Chau Yuk Hui Temple on Pak She Street in Cheung Chau is also known as Pak Tai Temple since it is dedicated to Pak Tai. Pak Tai, alternatively known as “Zhenwu Celestial Lord” and “Yuen Tin Sheung Tai” (Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven), is worshipped for longevity, relief of water-related risks and safe voyage.
Golden sand at Tung Wan Beach on Cheung Chau with a wooded headland in the distance
Beach Tung Wan Beach, Cheung Chau Tung Wan and Kwun Yam Wan on the eastern side of Cheung Chau are the two beaches on the island, and are very popular among holiday visitors. Kwun Yam Wan is also the home base of Hong Kong's first Olympic medallist (and a gold medallist), windsurfer Ms Lee Lai Shan.
Dark cave opening between large granite boulders at Cheung Po Tsai Cave
Landmark Cheung Po Tsai Cave Cheung Po Tsai Cave is located at the southwestern corner of Cheung Chau. Legend has it that during the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911), the cave is one of the spots where the infamous pirate Cheung Po Tsai had hidden himself and his treasure.
Green Lamma Island hill above a sheltered bay with fish farm rafts
Day trip Lamma Island Located in the southwest of Hong Kong, Lamma Island with an area of 13.85 sq km is the third largest island in the territory after Lantau Island and Hong Kong Island.
Calm bay with fish farm rafts below green hills at Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma
Landmark Sok Kwu Wan Fish Rafts Sok Kwu Wan is one of the fish culture zones in Hong Kong. Lamma Fisherfolk's Village there displays photos of fishermen's daily lives and fishing tools.
Neighbourhood Yung Shue Wan Main Street One of the busiest streets on Lamma Island, lined with shops selling crafts and local food, seafood restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes.
Hung Shing Ye Beach on Lamma with sand, rocks and the power station chimney beyond
Beach Hung Shing Ye Beach A beach on Lamma Island, southeast of Yung Shue Wan, that people visit for the sunset.
Quiet lane of low houses and balconies climbing a slope in Peng Chau village
Day trip Peng Chau Peng Chau is a small island of less than 1 sq km and with flat terrain west of Hong Kong Island. The small market town on the island has retained its old appearance.
Landmark Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge The 55-km Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, comprising the 12-km Hong Kong Link Road, 29.6-km Main Bridge and 13.4-km Zhuhai Link Road, is the longest bridge-cum-tunnel sea crossing in the world.

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Stay in Lantau and Outlying Islands

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