Tian Tan Buddha & Ngong Ping 360

大屿山天坛大佛与昂坪360

One of the world's tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddhas, reached by the 25-minute Ngong Ping 360 cable car across mountains and sea. Po Lin Monastery's vegetarian meals and the fishing village of Tai O can be visited on the same trip.

The Tian Tan Buddha sits on the Ngong Ping Plateau on Lantau Island, in front of Po Lin Monastery. Completed in 1993, it stands 34 metres tall, weighs 250 tonnes and is one of the tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddhas in the world. To reach the base, you climb 268 steps, and from the top you can gaze out over the South China Sea and the peaks of Lantau. The exhibition hall beneath the statue houses Buddha relics (admission charged). Po Lin Monastery is one of Hong Kong's largest Buddhist temples, and its vegetarian restaurant is famous for its meat-free dishes and tofu pudding. The highlight of the journey is the Ngong Ping 360 cable car. It departs from the station beside Tung Chung station, covers 5.7 km in about 25 minutes, and offers views over airport runways and ridgelines. You can choose a Crystal Cabin with a glass floor (one-way from about HK$235) or a standard cabin (from about HK$160). Weekends and holidays bring long queues, so book online in advance or go early in the morning. Ngong Ping Village has souvenir shops and restaurants. The Heart Sutra Garden, with the Heart Sutra carved in wood, is a 10-minute walk from the Buddha. For the return, take a bus to the Tai O fishing village (about 20 minutes away), known for its stilt houses, shrimp paste and boat trips to spot Chinese white dolphins, then take a bus back to Tung Chung. Take the MTR Tung Chung Line to Tung Chung station. Plan for half a day to a full day. Note: cable cars stop running in high winds or thunderstorms. The stairs to the Buddha are steep, so older visitors may prefer to take a bus up to Ngong Ping. Keep quiet inside the monastery and dress respectfully.

Tian Tan Buddha & Ngong Ping 360

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby