Hongkong : Around Hong Kong
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..................................................................................................................................................................................... Lantau Island ..................................................................................................................................................................................... |
| About 230 islands belong to the territory of Hong Kong, Lantau Island is the biggest of them, actually, it is even bigger than Hong Kong Island itself. It has attractive mountain scenery and an impressive rocky coastline with pretty white beaches. Most visitors come there in order to visit the famous Po Lin Monastery, but Lantau Island is also ideal for hiking tours. Ngong Ping 360 is a spectacular 5.7km cable car journey between Tung Chung town center and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, which can be accessed from the Tung Chung MTR station. Be aware that there have been some technical difficulties, with the cable car closed and people having to wait for several hours. Po Lin Monastery is located at 450 meters altitude on the Ngong Ping Plateau. The main attraction of Po Lin, however, is the 34 m high giant Buddha statue outside. It weighs 250 tons and is said to be the biggest Buddha statue in Asia. You have to climb a lot of stairs to reach the platform but it is worth the effort because you enjoy a wonderful view of the Lantau, of the little islands that surround it, and of the blue South China Sea. |  |
| ..................................................................................................................................................................................... Aberdeen Harbor ..................................................................................................................................................................................... |
On one of the southern tips of Hong Kong Island, Aberdeen is the largest satellite town with a population of about sixty thousand. It was a pirates' den two centuries ago and later turned into a simple fishing village. In recent years, with local high-rise building developments, Aberdeen has modernized, and now it becomes a vibrant waterfront resort for people from metropolitan Hong Kong. Despite modernization, traditional fishing life still prevails. Hundreds of junks and sampans, old-fashioned boats serve as floating homes for thousands of people. They crowd in the narrow harbor, dramatically juxtaposed against a modern high-rise building that spreads up the nearby hillsides. If you were lucky, warm-hearted fishers would invite you onto their dwellings, from where you can glimpse the life of the boat-people. If no invitation forthcoming, you can always take a sampan ride yourself. But do place caution and safety first. You should take rides only with licensed operators. Besides experiencing the traditional life of boat-dwellers, you may also enjoy tasty seafood here. |
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