Read this blog: The one where we avoid a glass floor
Thursday 27th February 2025
One of the popular sites in Hong Kong is the Big Buddha at Ngong Ping Village on Lantau Island which you can reach by riding the Ngong Ping 360 cable car from the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal, adjacent to Tung Chung MTR [Mass Transit Railway] Station. We used our Octopus cards for the first part of the journey on the MTR.
The cable car ride to get there was definitely part of the attraction for us. It is popular with both tourists and locals alike so of course there was a queue. There were several options: you could pay for the basic experience which involved sharing a gondola [or car] with up to ten other passengers. Those who do not wish to mingle at close quarters with strangers can pay extra to travel with just the members of their own group. The ‘Crystal Experience’ involves travelling in a gondola with particularly transparent, clear glass windows and a glass bottom to allow passengers to truly enjoy the all round view. The ‘Crystal Experience’ is available at a premium rate as either a general group or an exclusive experience. Neither of us feels particularly comfortable walking on glass particularly when suspended over a very long drop and we do not mind sharing so we happily opted for the cheapest option which cost the equivalent of £27.50 each.
After each group alighted, the gondolas were wiped down in what we think was a post-Covid cleaning regime. In the case of the Crystal gondolas, the floor was also wiped clear of footprints. Despite the length of the queue, the Crystal gondolas [see below left] were sent off empty if no-one who had paid the premium price was waiting.
As we arrived at the front of the queue a sign told us, rather belatedly, that the day was foggy and visibility would be limited.
Once aloft however, even though there was some low cloud, the views across Hong Kong were still fabulous. . .
. . . as you pass over land, sea and mountains. The ride takes about 25 minutes to travel the 5.7km to the top.
As you approach Ngong Ping Village there are also views of the statue itself.
After exiting the cable car a path leads past various entertainments and retail outlet towards the immense bronze image known simply as the Big Buddha. A wide paved path is flanked by statues of the 12 Heavenly Generals which each represent a time of day and one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
The 34 metre high figure was created from 202 pieces of bronze weighing a total of 250 tonnes. It is intended to symbolise the stability of Hong Kong, the prosperity of China and peace on Earth. Construction of the project began in 1981 and the site was officially opened in December 1993.
The site also incorporates the Po Lin monastery [see Selfie of the day] which was founded in 1906 by three monks visiting from Jiangsu Province on the Chinese mainland.
It includes very ornate statues and decorative features.
The main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha – representing his past, present and future lives.
The decoration on the roof and eaves is vibrant and detailed.
On our way back to the Ngong Ping 360 we again passed along the avenue of Heavenly Generals. General Catura represents the hours in the day between 01:00 and 03:00 and the Year of the Ox, which Matilda and one of our daughters were both born in. Robert was born in the Year of the Dragon so is represented by General Pajara and the hours between 07:00 and 09:00. If those hours are meant to be a propitious time for us then Matilda has been sleeping through the best of her times for most of her life.
We sat on the other side of the gondola to get a different view on the way down. Robert who is generally more interested in architecture, transport and infrastructure than art, religion or culture was impressed by the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (HZMB) which is the longest sea crossing in the world.
The HZMB is a bridge and tunnel system which connects Hong Kong and Macau with Zhuhai, a city on the Pearl River Delta in China, spanning the Lingding and Jiuzhou channels. It comprises three cable-stayed bridges, four artificial islands and an undersea tunnel to allow shipping to pass on the surface. The tunnel entrance is in the picture above.
The Ngong Ping 360 also gives fine views of the new Hong Kong International Airport which has been built on reclaimed land.
When Matilda first came to Hong Kong in 1987, she remembered flying out of a very different airport: Hong Kong International Airport Kai Tak which was superseded in 1998. With a runway extending into the bay; water on three sides and high-rise buildings and mountains on the fourth side it was quite demanding of a pilot’s skills and quite an experience for passengers.
Back on firm land, Robert opted to sample the wares at Hoppy Junction before our evening meal [see Dish of the day].
Video of the day:
Selfie of the day:
Dish of the day:
Route Map:
