Ngong Ping is a theme park built on the top of a mountain on Lantau island (the island that hosts the Hong Kong airport). It offers some family friendly amusements in a themed “village” complete with structures made to look like traditional Chinese buildings. The amusements include such things as a virtual reality experience, a dumbed-down introduction to the life of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), and a Kung Fu exhibit. Of course, there are also plenty of options for food and drink (including Starbucks).
This is a theme park. Hong Kong is an amazing place with plenty of options for real culture. This isn’t one of them.
Separate from the quasi-village is a “real” monastery and a giant Buddha statue. Although the monastery is somewhat old (founded in 1906), one can’t help but wonder about its level of spirituality when connected to a theme park. Lending to it’s legitimacy, however, I did see several people offering incense and praying. The “big Buddha” (actual name Tian Tan Buddha) was added to the mix in 1990.
There are some redeeming components to this site. The cable car that provides one way to visit offers some beautiful vistas (and a fun ride), and there are several hiking paths around which give ample opportunities to get up close to nature.
If you’ve seen most of the top sights in Hong Kong, or you have young kids with you, or all the Buddhas you have seen seem too small for your liking, or you want to do some hiking while in HK, head over to Lantau. If this is your first trip to HK, and you’re looking for things to do… skip this. You can do much better.
If you want to try and get on the cable car alone, at least on the way down, here’s an idea! I was watching the martial arts demonstration at the outdoor theater next to the cable car terminal. I found it to be fairly repetitive, so I left. As I approached the cable car, I noticed that there was nobody in line. All the people who were presumably heading to the cable car stopped to watch the demonstration. Ta da! I had a cable car to myself!
Why go?
- You have a long layover at Hong Kong airport, and you are looking for something to do for a few hours. This is nearby and easy to get to. (Remember that you need to give yourself enough time to get back through security). I don’t think I would try this unless you have at least 6 hours to kill.
- You have small children with you and you are trying to give them a more cultural experience than Hong Kong Disneyland.
- You want to get some hiking in, and see some nature.
What you need to know:
- Please do not confuse this with actual culture. This is a theme park. Hong Kong is an amazing place with plenty of options for real culture. This isn’t one of them.
- The main way to get to Ngong Ping is with the cable car. It runs from 10am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am to 6:30pm on weekends and holidays. If you are up earlier, you could take the bus to Tai O and then take another bus to Ngong Ping once it opens.
- There are several ticket options, from just purchasing the cable car pass to entertainment packages to Guided tours.
- The climb to the Big Buddha is 256 steps (give or take), to the platform. You can pay to go into a museum in it’s base which also allows you to reach a higher platform.
Get to the Ngong Ping cable car from the airport:
- Look for the signs to the Regal Airport Hotel. Once in the hotel, take two escalators down and then head out the glass doors. Walk across the street to the bus stop.
- Take bus S1 [Schedule] to the end of the line at Tung Chung terminal.
- The cable car terminal is a 1 minute walk.
Get to Ngong Ping from Tai O:
- Take bus 21 [Schedule] to Ngong Ping. The last three stops on the line are for Ngong Ping: the store, the Po Lin Monastery, and finally Ngong Ping Terminus.
View of the airport from the cable car
Location: Cable Car, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Cable car from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping. Travel 5.7km in 25 minutes.
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Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
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Picture taken: 08/2018
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#NgongPing #NgongPingCableCar #HongKongCableCar #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau
Cable car restrictions
Location: Cable Car, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Cable car from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping. Travel 5.7km in 25 minutes.
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Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
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Picture taken: 08/2018
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#NgongPing #NgongPingCableCar #HongKongCableCar #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau
View from the Cable car showing the tunnel-bridge to Macau
Location: Cable Car, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Cable car from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping. Travel 5.7km in 25 minutes.
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Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
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Picture taken: 08/2018
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#NgongPing #NgongPingCableCar #HongKongCableCar #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau
Glass-bottom cable cars (a little more expensive)
Location: Cable Car, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Cable car from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping. Travel 5.7km in 25 minutes.
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Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
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Picture taken: 08/2018
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#NgongPing #NgongPingCableCar #HongKongCableCar #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau
Of course there`s a Starbucks
Location: Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
According to the design specifications, Ngong Ping is a theme village with a `tourist corridor` spanning from the cable car terminal to the (somewhat) historic Po Lin Monastery. Think: small, Chinese themed Disneyland. .
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
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Picture taken: 08/2018
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#NgongPing #NgongPingCableCar #HongKongCableCar #PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #starbucks
Giant Maneki-neko
Location: Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
According to the design specifications, Ngong Ping is a theme village with a `tourist corridor` spanning from the cable car terminal to the (somewhat) historic Po Lin Monastery. Think: small, Chinese themed Disneyland. .
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#NgongPing #NgongPingCableCar #HongKongCableCar #PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #manekineko
Little girl finding her Bliss
Location: Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
According to the design specifications, Ngong Ping is a theme village with a `tourist corridor` spanning from the cable car terminal to the (somewhat) historic Po Lin Monastery. Think: small, Chinese themed Disneyland. .
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#NgongPing #NgongPingCableCar #HongKongCableCar #PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau
Map of Ngong Ping
Location: Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
According to the design specifications, Ngong Ping is a theme village with a `tourist corridor` spanning from the cable car terminal to the (somewhat) historic Po Lin Monastery. Think: small, Chinese themed Disneyland. .
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#NgongPing #NgongPingCableCar #HongKongCableCar #PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau
Vegetarian Deli Cafe
Location: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Founded in 1906, the Po Lin Monastery is the oldest component of the Ngong Ping complex. It`s main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha- representing his past, present and future lives; and the Grand Hall has 10,000 Buddhas of various sizes.
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Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
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Picture taken: 08/2018
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#PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #NgongPing
Vegetarian Deli food
Location: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Founded in 1906, the Po Lin Monastery is the oldest component of the Ngong Ping complex. It`s main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha- representing his past, present and future lives; and the Grand Hall has 10,000 Buddhas of various sizes.
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
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#PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #NgongPing
The hall of 10,000 Buddhas
Location: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Founded in 1906, the Po Lin Monastery is the oldest component of the Ngong Ping complex. It`s main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha- representing his past, present and future lives; and the Grand Hall has 10,000 Buddhas of various sizes.
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #NgongPing
Carved Buddha
Location: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Founded in 1906, the Po Lin Monastery is the oldest component of the Ngong Ping complex. It`s main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha- representing his past, present and future lives; and the Grand Hall has 10,000 Buddhas of various sizes.
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #NgongPing
Carved dragon detail
Location: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Founded in 1906, the Po Lin Monastery is the oldest component of the Ngong Ping complex. It`s main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha- representing his past, present and future lives; and the Grand Hall has 10,000 Buddhas of various sizes.
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
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#PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #NgongPing
Main Hall
Location: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Founded in 1906, the Po Lin Monastery is the oldest component of the Ngong Ping complex. It`s main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha- representing his past, present and future lives; and the Grand Hall has 10,000 Buddhas of various sizes.
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #NgongPing
Statue inside the Monastery
Location: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Founded in 1906, the Po Lin Monastery is the oldest component of the Ngong Ping complex. It`s main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha- representing his past, present and future lives; and the Grand Hall has 10,000 Buddhas of various sizes.
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #NgongPing
Statue in the Monastery
Location: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Founded in 1906, the Po Lin Monastery is the oldest component of the Ngong Ping complex. It`s main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha- representing his past, present and future lives; and the Grand Hall has 10,000 Buddhas of various sizes.
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #NgongPing
Entrance to the Monastery
Location: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
Founded in 1906, the Po Lin Monastery is the oldest component of the Ngong Ping complex. It`s main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha- representing his past, present and future lives; and the Grand Hall has 10,000 Buddhas of various sizes.
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#PoLin #PoLinMonastery #TenThousandBuddhas #TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau #NgongPing
Location: Tian Tan (Big) Buddha, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
This large bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni is located at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. At 34 meters high (112 feet), it is one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world. Although it may look old, it was completed in 1993.
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Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
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Picture taken: 08/2018
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#TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau
What goes up, must come down... 256 stairs back down
Location: Tian Tan (Big) Buddha, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
This large bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni is located at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. At 34 meters high (112 feet), it is one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world. Although it may look old, it was completed in 1993.
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau
View from the platform
Location: Tian Tan (Big) Buddha, Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
This large bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni is located at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. At 34 meters high (112 feet), it is one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world. Although it may look old, it was completed in 1993.
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
.
Picture taken: 08/2018
.
#TianTan #TianTanBuddha #BigBuddha #BigBuddhaHongKong #TravelPhotography #HongKong #HKG #HongKongAirport #LantauIsland #Lantau
