Lantau Island in Hong Kong
Lantau Island Facts
Buddhist architecture; a long sandy beach; a mall of shopping outlets — Lantau Island has it all. Whatever your persuasion, Hong Kong’s largest outlying island brings solace to the soul, senses and shopping bags.
Chinese Name: 大屿山
Type: Nature & Islands
Address: Hong Kong, located at the mouth of the Pearl River
Best Seasons: All year round
Recommended Visiting Hours: about 2-3 hours
Opening Hours: All day
Ticket: Free for entering the island, but attractions inside may charge entrance fee.
Why is Lantau Island so Special?
Lantau Island Tours 402 Reviews The largest of Hong Kong’s outlying islands, Lantau is twice the size of Hong Kong Island, yet it has only a fraction of the population. Where Hong Kong is an urban jungle of sorts, Lantau is a mostly quiet escape famous for its long beaches, traditional fishing villages, Buddhist monuments, outlet shopping, and mountainous interior popular with hikers. The northern tip of the island is home to both Hong Kong International Airport and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Where is Lantau Island?
Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong, located at the mouth of the Pearl River. Administratively, most of Lantau Island is part of the Islands District of Hong Kong. A small northeastern portion of the island is located in the Tsuen Wan District.
Originally the site of fishing villages, the island has been developed in recent years with the construction of Tung Chung New Town on its north-western coast and the completion of several major infrastructure projects, including Lantau Link (1997), Hong Kong International Airport (1998), Hong Kong Disneyland (2005) and Ngong Ping 360 (2006).
Main Attractions in Lantau Island
Tai O Fishing Village
There are 47 villages on the island. Three of them, Mui Wo, Tai O, and Tung Chung are being developed as new towns. In addition, more than 78.4 square kilometers (30.3 square miles) of its territory has been designated as Wild Countryside Park. Tai O, also known as “The Venice of the Orient”, is the largest settlement on Lantau Island. Crisscrossing canals run the length and breadth of the small fishing harbor. In addition, homes built on stilts over the water are a common sight here. Tai O was once a garrison town but has now become a peaceful fishing harbor. Salted fish is a local specialty. Tai O was once the largest city on the island. In the 1970s, Tai O started to attract holiday visitors, and today the town is prosperous and busy.
Po Lin Monastery
In Ngong Ping on Lantau Island stands the Po Lin Monastery, which owns the famous Tian Tan Big Buddha. About 23m (112ft) high, it’s the biggest bronze Buddha in the world.
Beaches
The most beautiful beaches in Hong Kong are scattered along the southern coast, the area around Cheung Chau Island, and the vicinity of Tai O, which is about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles), 20 minutes by bus from Mui Wo.
Hong Kong Disneyland
After your eyes being delighted in the natural beauty of Lantau Island, you may pay a visit to Hong Kong Disneyland. The tranquil, natural environment and Hong Kong Disneyland make the island a popular spot for not only nature lovers and hikers but who like large entertainment parks as well.
Recommended Hong Kong Tour
1 Day Macau Tour Package From Hong Kong
2 Day Hong Kong Highlights Tour
4 Day Hong Kong Discovery Tour
How to Get to Lantau Island
Travel with ChinaDragonTours (top recommended)
If you want to get out of the traffic and hassle of navigation, you can book a private tour package that includes visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local guide and driver will escort you to Lantau Island in Hong Kong in the fastest and most convenient way and take care of all the details. You just have to focus on the visiting.
Useful Travel Tips
1. Accommodation
Visitors can take ferry from Central to Mui Wo to reach the island.
| Mon. -Sat. | Sun. & Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Service Hours | 00:30 – 23:30 | 00:30 – 23:40 |
| Returning Time | 3:40 – 23:30 | |
Note: There are slow ferry and fast ferry: the slow one takes 50-55mins; the fast one takes 35-40mins.
Take Tung Chung Line to Tung Chung.
2. Besides enjoying the attractions above, what to do in Lantau Island? Taking Ngong Ping 360 to overlook Ngong Village is also a great experience! In addition, you can participate in many outdoor activities in the Wild Countryside Park such as hiking, camping, swimming, and fishing. Or you can have a barbecue in the mountains far from the hustle and bustle of the towns.
