Big Buddha
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Good Place to Eat,
Holy Place,
Religious Experience,
Shrine,
Statue / Monument
When you make the climb the 268 steps to the Big Buddha’s base, you’ll have panoramic views over the surrounding mountains and South China Sea. Just opposite the statue sits the Po Lin Monastery, one of the most important in Hong Kong. Come hungry and eat at the highly rated vegetarian restaurant run by the monastery.
Saturdays and Sundays are always busy at the Big Buddha, as this is when locals and many mainland tourists come. While you can ride a bus to the top of the mountain, the best and most scenic way to go is on the Ngong Ping Cable Car from the Tung Chung MTR station. If you plan to visit other Lantau sites, like Tai-O village, consider buying the Lantau air-land-sea pass to save money.
Latest Reviews
Review by Anonymous, May 2013
Doing what: Lantau Island and Giant Buddha Day Trip from Hong Kong
Review by Christine G, May 2013
Doing what: Lantau Island and Giant Buddha Day Trip from Hong Kong
This tour which is run by a local tour company, Lantau Tours, was really excellent. Ryan, our guide, is a Lantau native and has a real passion for his island. The narrative was both informative and, at times hilarious, Ryan really is entertaining and knowledgable. The tour starts with a relaxing ferry trip to one end of Lantau then a bus drive to a beachside pit stop then on to one of the few remaining traditional fishing villages. This stop included a short boat ride through the village, this was particularly poingnant as we passed some of the stilt houses that had burnt down only a couple of nights before. Back on the bus and a very scenic drive over the island to the Giant Buddha. Instead of walking up to the Buddha the bus dropped the group off at the top allowing for a more leisurely walk down to the Ning Ping Monastery for lunch (Ryan even organised for the bus to wait at the top car park to drive one passenger with a baby and another two with mobility problems back down after touring the Buddha, since he considered the walk down too difficult). The vegetarian lunch was delicious and very filling. The final highlight of the tour was the cable car ride down from the Giant Buddha site to North Lantau. This was fantastic, the ride is about 5 kms long up and down over peaks and valleys with a fantastic view of the new Hong Kong airport at the end. This is a great tour, Ryan is a wonderful guide and made the trip a highlight of my Hong Kong holiday.
Review by J S, United Kingdom, March 2013
Doing what: Lantau Island and Giant Buddha Day Trip from Hong Kong
Met at Hotel and taken to transfer point to meet up with local rep from Lantau, Ryan. Ryan was fabulous full of interesting facts and information about the local area aswell as Hong Kong as a whole. Highlight was the fishing village with short boat trip to view around houses on stilts (see how the 'real' people live) The Buddha is impressive and Ryan explained fully the religious significance so we could appreciate the history and impact this has on their culture. Cablecar ride rounded the day off nicely - magnificent views. The trip was well thought through and is definitely worth experiencing.
