Hong Kong has a special place in my travellers heart. When I was 12 years old I travelled alone to Hong Kong to visit my family. My mom (a flight attendant with KLM) dropped me at the airport on a plane and came to Hong Kong two weeks later to pick me up. It was my first solo trip a long way from home and it was fantastic! Since then I can’t stop travelling. In July 2005 I visited Hong Kong again.
Lantau is the biggest island of Hong Kong and has a lot to offer. The international airport Chek Lap Kok is located on Lantau, so there’s a big chance you’re going to visit this island when you’re travelling to Hong Kong. Anyway, the island is easily accessible by MRT, ferries and buses. There’s also a cable car. Your transport choice depends on where you’re coming from and your destination at Lantau.
1. Tai O
One of the highlights at Lantau Island is the historic village of Tai O. This fishing village dates back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and is the home of the Tanka people.
The houses in this lively fishing village are build on poles in the water. Everywhere you look you can see fish and shark fins drying on the streets (especially the shark(fins) and little dried seahorses were shocking to see). I visited Tai O in 2005 and I don’t know if there are still so many shark fins and other exotic animals sold nowadays. For me it was quite shocking.
It’s fun to take a boat tour to see the houses on poles closely. I really liked the calligraphy-artists working on their Chinese characters. You can buy beautiful handmade and personalized calligraphy art here.
2. Little houses
When you walk through the village of Tai O all the way to the end of the walking trail at the peninsula you’ll pass some really small houses, completely made out of corrugated iron. They’re probably not home to the wealthiest people, but if you look through the windows, you’ll see a huge fridge and even bigger TV inside!! It’s worth it to walk a little further if you’re visiting Tai O.
3. Big Buddha
In the mountainous inland of the island is the biggest bronze Buddha statue of the world, the “Tian Tan Buddha”. The statue of Buddha Shakyamuni is 34 meters high and symbolizes the harmonious relation between men, nature and faith.
When you arrive by bus, you can see the enormous Buddha watching you from the hilltop. You can reach the statue if you climb the never-ending stairs (268 steps). The view from the base of the Buddha statue over the green landscape is spectacular!
The huge Po Lin Monastery is part of the Tian Tan Buddha complex and is very interesting to explore.
Location:
Address: Ngong Ping Rd, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Lantau has a lot more to offer, like nice sandy beaches and mouth watering restaurants. For more fun you can also visit Disneyland on Lantau. You could easily spend a couple of days exploring the island before returning to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong.
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