Hong Kong/Lantau

With the opening of the Lantau Link, a road and rail connection between the airport and central Hong Kong in 1997, Lantau Island is now firmly connected to the mainland of the Kowloon peninsula. The new airport at Chek Lap Kok has led to the establishment and rapid expansion of a new town, Tung Chung, and the improved transport links have brought further development in the shape of Disneyland, a cable car to Ngong Ping monastery, and an entire new road to southern Lantau. Sizeable sections of Lantau Island are country parks, though the island seems poised for more development.

There are four sizeable communities on Lantau:

• Discovery Bay – a resort-style residential district approximately 30 minutes by boat from Central District, 20 minutes by bus from Tung Chung and 10 minutes by bus from the nearest MTR metro station (Sunny Bay). It is home to about 15,000 people, including a large portion of expatriates.
• Tung Chung – brand new apartments close to the airport
• Mui Wo – large, quiet village popular with expatriates who are not taken with the sterility of Discovery Bay
• Tai O – traditional fishing village, with most houses on stilts in the river. Very scenic and crowded with tourists on weekends.

• 🌍 Hong Kong Disneyland, ☏ +852 1 830-830. Asia's second Disneyland was opened in September 2005 and features some of the Disney favourites. The park is accessible via the MTR. Change at the Sunny Bay station on the Tung Chung MTR line for the Disneyland Resort Line. It has four themed areas: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Tickets are $639 for adults, $475 for children, and $100 for Seniors over 65. There are fewer rides than the other Disney theme parks. A few rides have a slightly different take on them, but there is little unique here. Some rides are simply identical to other parks. If you get there at opening time on a weekday, it would be possible to do all the rides and shows by mid-afternoon. English speakers are well catered for, with all attractions narrating in both English and Cantonese. The Jungle River Cruise, however, which depends so much on the English language delivery of the guide doesn't fare well. There is a choice of Cantonese and American cuisine around the park. The Fantasyland Banquet Hall offering the broadest range of food types and kids meals to keep everyone happy. Meals around $55. There are a plenty of drinking fountains in the park. Bring a water bottle to fill, or pay a bottle in the park. On weekends and holidays the tickets are $350 for adults and $250 for children. Children under 3 are free. Visit on weekdays to avoid the crowds. 
• 🌍 Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre (迪欣湖). Inspiration Lake is the largest artificial lake in Hong Kong, and has a 1500-m jogging trail. It is in Penny's Bay, a 15-minute walk from Disneyland Resort MTR station, or take the R8 bus. (updated Jun 2017)
• 🌍 Ngong Ping 360. A spectacular 5.7-km cable car journey that takes in an impressive cultural themed village and the Tian Tan Buddha. At the themed village there are a couple of attractions. The Walking with Buddha attraction gives an interesting introduction to Buddha, and has different stages, with headphones giving the narration in a variety of languages. The Monkey's Tail is simply a silent animated movie, with a simple moral. A little trivial overall. Combined tickets can be bought to cover all three attractions. There are about 10 restaurants in the village, serving a variety of food, all a little on the expensive side for what they are. There are some other restaurants in the true village, beyond the themed section. The cable car station is adjacent to the Tung Chung MTR. Note that there are often lengthy queues to go up the mountain, especially on weekends - if the queue extends downstairs, expect a two hour wait. To avoid you can take a bus up the mountain and the cable car back (queues are much shorter, especially if buying the Crystal Cabin). Alternatively, buy a guided tour or the Journey to Enlightenment package, both of which bypass most of the queue for the cheaper tickets. 

• 🌍 Tian Tan Buddha (天壇大佛). Open 10AM to 6PM. At over 250 tonnes and 34 m (112 ft) in height, this was the largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha statue in the world, until the statue of Dordenna Buddha near Thimphu in Bhutan was finished in 2015. The site also offers unobstructed views over the island. Access to the Buddha is free, although entering the museum inside during busy times requires a meal ticket for the vegetarian restaurant; a snack costs $23 while full meals are $60 (normal) or $100 (deluxe). Less direct alternatives to the cable car are bus #2 from Mui Wo ferry pier or bus #23 from Tung Chung (both $17.20/27 on weekdays/Sundays). (updated Jun 2017)

• 🌍 Po Lin Monastery (寶蓮禪寺), Ngong Ping (below the Tian Tan Buddha (25 minutes by cable car from Tung Chung)). The monastery was founded in 1906 by three monks from Jiangsu province. The main temple building houses three bronze statues representing the Buddha of the past, present and future. (updated Jul 2015)
• 🌍 Tai O (大澳) (direct bus from Mui Wo ferry pier or Tung Chung MTR station). A traditional fishing village with houses built on stilts over the sea. Tai O also called "Eastern Venice". (updated Jul 2015)
• 🌍 Discovery Bay (direct ferry from Central, or bus from Tung Chung). As a residential district, Discovery Bay is not really a tourist destination. However, it boasts a 400-m beach, a golf and marina club for members and guests, meaning that the area attracts day trippers. It also holds festivals, including most notably, dragon boat races at the beach in May/June and a multicultural festival in November. (updated Jul 2015)

• 🌍 Mui Wo (traditional Chinese: 梅窩, Pinyin: Méiwō, lit. "plum nest"). a rural town on the eastern coast of Lantau Island. The main beach in Mui Wo is known as Silver Mine Bay (銀礦灣). There are fast and slow ferry services from Central to Mui Wo. Central - Mui Wo Ferry The fast ferry costs $25 and takes 30 minutes. The slow ferry costs $15, takes 50 minutes and you can go outside. The 3M bus takes you from Tung Chung to Mui Wo. There are a number of temples and old buildings. There is also a waterfall, an old mining cave (sealed off) and numerous hiking trails. Close to the Ferry Pier there are three bicycle rent shops where you rent bikes from $30 to $150. At the beginning of Silver Mine Beach there is also a place to rent bicycles. (updated Jul 2015)
• Chinese White Dolphins. In the waters just off Tung Chung on Lantau Island, live the Chinese White Dolphins. These dolphins are naturally pink and live in the wild, but their status is threatened. Their population is estimated to be 100–200. Take a boat trip with Hong Kong Dolphinwatch to see these pink dolphins, and if you're lucky you can watch them jumping and playing.

• Cheung Sha beach which is about a 20-minute bus ride away has windsurfing and canoe rentals.
• Hikers may wish to try the 70-km Lantau Trail, which does loops around the island. The full route would take several days but is divided into a dozen stages, some of which take less than an hour. There are many other hikes on Lantau, some of which are listed below.
• Mui wo-Discovery bay trail, 1-1½ hr. Crosses several hills and valleys, the tops of which can give views of the Hong Kong skyline on clear days.
• Sunset Peak, 869 metres, 1½-2 hrs, about 7 km. This hike starts at the Nam San base station (approx. 300 m altitude), an outdoor area with picnic tables, a vending machine and flushing toilets. Follow the sign for the Nam San tree walk, a relatively flat trail through a forest with signs describing the trees seen along the route. About 5 minutes into this walk, you will come to a junction. Here you can either take the tree walk back to Nam San, or follow the trail marked "Sunset Peak". The trail first follows some switchbacks through the forest, then ascends above the treeline and runs along a ridge. On clear days, the summit offers spectacular views of the whole of Lantau Island and the southwestern new territories. There are cabins at the summit, which can be rented by following the URLs painted on the side.
• 🌍 Lantau Peak (most hikers hike to the summit from Ngong Ping (approx. 500 m) though more experienced hikers can hike the full elevation, starting at Tung Chung road). At 934 m, the second highest point in Hong Kong and the highest point on Lantau Island. You can also stay overnight at the Ngong Ping hostel, and wake up very early to reach the summit in time for the spectacular sunrise. Although not particularly high by international standards, this is a fairly hard climb and you should make full preparations, especially during summer. (updated Jul 2015)
• Swim at Silvermine Beach in Mui Wo or at any of the other beaches around the island.
• Have a BBQ on the beach
• Discovery Bay : This expat community has some special events and festivals worth seeing, including Dragonboat races (around May/June), Halloween Festival (October) and the Multi-Cultural Festival (usually in November).

Tung Chung: There is a large mall called CityGate Outlets, next to the MTR Station, that has many 'factory shops' of many famous clothes and fashion brands, such as Adidas, Esprit, Giordano, Levi's, Nike, Quiksilver and Timberland. This mall is very popular with mainland Chinese tourists. The prices are cheaper, although the items for sale may not be the latest. The cheapest prices are during the end-of-season sales. In most shops in City Gate there is no refund policy. Next to CityGate is a more downmarket mall called 'Fu Tung Plaza', which has a limited number of local shops, many local restaurants and a Hong Kong style wet market.

Tai O: There are lots of tourist shops selling local food and delicacies.

Mui Wo: There are some novelty and food shops, although generally not a great deal here.

Discovery Bay: At the heart of the community lies the commercial centre, DB Plaza, where residents and visitors gather for socializing or functions. As a residential district, most shops serve residents' needs - including supermarkets, banks and chemists; but there also exist a sizable number of independent and novelty shops. For the tourist there is very little here.

• The Stoep, 32 Lower Cheung Sha Village, ☏ +852 2980 2699. Beachside restaurant with a good western menu and also specializes in serving South African dishes. Although the food is not the main attraction, the location of this restaurant makes it one of the best places to eat and drink in Hong Kong. Booking a table is advisable at weekends and Public Holidays. 
• The Po Lin Monastery's vegetarian restaurant is well worth a visit for a taste of Chinese vegetarian food, an art form devoted to turning soybean products into very passable imitations of meat and fish, even if you are not a vegetarian. Meals served from 11AM-4:30PM. A regular meal is $60, a deluxe meal is $100, enquire at the Big Buddha ticket booth.
• High Tide Restaurant, 35 Lower Cheung Sha Village, ☏ +852 2980 3002. W-M from 11:30AM til late. Authentic Thai restaurant. Located right on the beach front, you might think you're in Thailand. An ideal place to get refreshments after a lazy day on one of Hong Kong's best beaches. 

• China Bear, G/F, Mui Wo Ctr, Mui Wo. $41-$100. 
• Mcsorley's Ale House, Shop G11A, G/F, D Deck, Discovery Bay. 
• Starz, CityGate, Tung Chung. There are few bar options in Tung Chung, and this is probably the best you are going to find. 

There are some guesthouses (a few of which call themselves hotels) and two hostels on Lantau. Lantau also has 10 campsites. When you get off the ferry pier in Mui Wo, there are some booths were you can rent apartments for the weekend. There are several small cabins for hikers at Sunset Peak which go for $300 per cabin/night (sleeps about six people, but very old). There is also accommodation at Disneyland, at the Disneyland Hotel, the Disney Hollywood Hotel, and the Disney Explorer's Lodge.

• 🌍 Novotel Citygate Hong Kong (諾富特東薈城酒店), 51 Man Tung Rd, Tung Chung, ☏ +852-3602-8888, toll-free: +800 93 8768, fax: +852-3602-8899, H6239@accor.com. Check-in: noon, check-out: 11AM. Novotel Citygate Hong Kong is 5 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport with free shuttle service. With direct access to mass transit railway (MTR), it takes 28 minutes to the city centre and Hong Kong Disneyland is 2 stops away. $900-2500. 
• 🌍 Silver Mine Bay Hotel (from the ferry turn right and continue along the water). Swimming pool, sauna, beach side. Breakfast included. 128 room hotel and resort. From $1180. 
• 🌍 Ngong Ping SG Davis Hostel at the Po Lin Monastery, ☏ +852 2985 5610. Reservations made are not always acknowledged upon arrival, but sometimes when you're told they're booked solid you can still get a bunk. You needed to be a member of a Youth Hostel Association in order to get the best rates. Membership is available online. Dorm: $110-150, double: $400. 

Take the ferry, bus or train back to Central. There are also inter-island ferries to Peng Chau and Cheung Chau.