Exploring Ngong Ping 360

When I was making our itinerary for our Hong Kong trip, my colleague told me that there’s a giant Buddha that is a must see in Ngong Ping. It is a part of Lantau Island, which is near the airport. I got excited when I learned that I will be able to ride the cable car going to Ngong Ping Village which will tick off another goal in my bucket list.

Being a ‘segurista’ and ‘less hassle’ freak that I am, we again booked our activity the day before our actual scheduled trip to Ngong Ping. (Booking trips is very easy with those apps!!)

Our Journey to Ngong Ping 360:

The cable car going to Ngong Ping is located in Tung Chung which is the last station of the MTR Tung Chung Line. The station is very easy to find since it is just around the corner and there are signs telling you where to go.

Since we pre-booked this activity, there is a separate line to get the vouchers and it usually has less people, especially when you start your day early!

If you’re a small group with less than 6 people, expect to be seated with strangers. Although this may be good since you might be able to make friends, but it’s kind of awkward to be stuck for like more or less 20 minutes inside the cable car with total strangers without having to see their excited or scared faces.

My cousin who was with me in the trip is a scaredy cat and told me not to get the crystal cabin. I would have gotten it for a little bit more than the price of the standard cabin, if she wasn’t scared of heights. Imagine the excitement of looking down at your feet and having a full view of the sea in between mountains.

Upon arrival at Ngong Ping Village, it is a must that you take a picture with the Ngong Ping 360 sign and wait for the cable car to pass before you click the shutter. It is a very nice spot to take a beautiful memory before you proceed to the heart of the place.

There are lots of restaurants and souvenir shops along the way which will definitely catch your attention. Don’t worry if you are on a budget, just walk a bit further and there’s 7-eleven wherein you can grab a nice cup of coffee or an instant noodles to enjoy, just like what we did. Since it was cold during our trip (January 2018), a bowl of instant ramen made our tummies full and bodies warm.

We haven't even arrived at the foot of the stairs going to the Giant Buddha and we already took lots of pictures so make sure to bring extra memory card if you're a photograph enthusiast like me.

Did you know that there are 268 steps from the foot of the Tian Tan Buddha aka Giant Buddha in Ngong Ping Village? The majestic Buddha is so captivating you won't feel very tired going up especially if you see how many tourists and locals climb just to see it up-close.

Getting to see the Buddha right before your eyes and walk around its circumference is already an achievement but the amazing scenery on top is a big plus in this activity.

If you plan to include Ngong Ping 360 in your Hong Kong itinerary, make sure to allot half of your day since the place is huge and the waiting time for the cable car is pretty much lengthy especially if you will be arriving in the afternoon.

It was almost 3 PM when we finished our Ngong Ping Activity and being a ‘budgetarian’, we wanted to eat something nice that wouldn’t break the bank. We walked around and saw this bakeshop-like food store just outside the MTR Tung Chung Station. They sell pineapple breads, milk tea, lunch sets and many more. We got a filling and delicious meal at an affordable price and their iced milk tea was REALLY GOOD!

Note:

A couple of friends who were there with us tried the bus going up and down the Ngong Ping from Tung Chung Station. According to them, the bus ride takes a lot more time (obviously) compared to the cable car. For me, the cable car is the best option since it is a one of a kind experience and the view from the top is truly exceptional.

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