How do you get to the Big Buddha in Hong Kong?

The scenic route is the Ngong Ping 360 cable car from Tung Chung, a 25-minute ride over Lantau to the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. Buses and guided day tours also make the trip. Round-trip cable car tickets start around HK$235; book ahead to skip the queue, which is longest at midday.

Is Tai O worth visiting?

Tai O is one of the last traditional stilt-house fishing villages in Hong Kong, and its sampan boat rides, dolphin sightings and dried-seafood markets make it a highlight of any Lantau day. It pairs naturally with the Big Buddha, and many tours combine both in a single trip.

Where can you hike near Hong Kong city?

The Dragon's Back on Hong Kong Island is the most accessible hike — a scenic ridge walk reachable by bus in under an hour. For a bigger adventure, the Sai Kung Geopark offers guided boat tours beneath sea arches and coastal kayaking. Guided options handle the transport and route-finding for you.

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Full day · Hong Kong itinerary

Hong Kong Islands & Nature: Big Buddha, Tai O and the Wild Side

There is far more to Hong Kong than the skyline — two-thirds of the territory is green, with islands, fishing villages and coastal trails a short hop from Central. This themed day links Lantau's Big Buddha and cable car with the stilt village of Tai O and a walk on the wild side. Here is how to plan it, with the best-rated tours and tickets to book.

At a glance

1Ngong Ping 360 cable car to the Big Buddha
2Big Buddha & Po Lin Monastery
3Tai O stilt fishing village
4Dragon's Back or Sai Kung Geopark

Lantau: the Big Buddha and Ngong Ping 360

Hong Kong's largest island is a short ride from the city yet feels a world away. The Ngong Ping 360 cable car glides 5.7 km over forest and sea to the plateau where the 34-metre Tian Tan Big Buddha sits above Po Lin Monastery — 268 steps lead up to its feet. A standard round-trip cable car ticket starts around HK$235, while a glass-floored Crystal Cabin costs more. Go early, before the afternoon cloud rolls in and swallows the summit views.

Tai O: the stilt village and the water

From Ngong Ping, carry on to Tai O, a fishing village of stilt houses built over a tidal creek on Lantau's western tip. Sampan operators run 20-minute boat trips from about HK$30, weaving between the houses and out to the estuary mouth, where you may glimpse a pink Chinese white dolphin. Back on land, the narrow lanes sell dried seafood, shrimp paste and freshly grilled snacks — come hungry, and carry cash, as few stalls take cards.

Green Hong Kong: Dragon's Back and Sai Kung Geopark

Hong Kong is mostly countryside, and the trails prove it. The Dragon's Back, a ridge walk above the southern coast, is the city's most popular hike — around 8.5 km of sea views and rolling hills, easy enough for a half-day with a guide. For something wilder, head to the Sai Kung peninsula and its UNESCO Global Geopark, where boat tours slip beneath hexagonal sea arches and kayaks explore hidden coves. Bring water, sun cover and proper shoes.