Ngong Ping 360 – The Crystal Cabin Cable Car Experience

Situated at the southwest of Hong Kong, Lantau is the biggest island in Hong Kong. The island is as diverse as you want it to be. Besides the Big Buddha and the Wisdom Path in Ngong Ping Village, the local fishing village at Tai O – home to unique stilt houses and Chinese White Dolphins – would be the perfect attraction for the cultural minded. On the other hand, the adventurous ones can try out the water sports offered at the beaches of Pui O or Cheung Sha, or enjoy a bicycle trip in Mui Wo.

My boyfriend and I kick started our Lantau journey with the 5.7 kilometres cable car ride which connects downtown Tung Chung with Ngong Ping Village. Do you know that this is Asia’s longest bi-cable ropeway? We were treated to a ride in the Crystal Cabin that features a glass bottom offering an uncluttered bird’s eye view of the boundless sea and the rolling grassland slopes. In the comfort of the naturally ventilated cabins, we enjoyed panoramic views of Tung Chung Bay, the Hong Kong International Airport, the Hong-Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, Ngong Ping Plateau, the Big Buddha, as well as, the flora and fauna of Lantau North. The cable car journey takes approximately 25 minutes to complete, and we alighted at the traditional Chinese cultural themed Ngong Ping Village.

A round trip adult ticket costs $235 HKD for the standard cabin and $315 HKD for the crystal cabin, while the child (aged 3 to 11) ticket costs $110 HKD for the standard cabin and $190HKD for the crystal cabin, and the senior (above age 65) ticket costs $155 HKD for the standard cabin and $235 HKD or the crystal cabin.

The culturally themed village is designed and landscaped to reflect the local customs, and to express the cultural and spiritual integrity of the Ngong Ping area. It boasts several major tourist attractions and a plethora of retail, dining and entertainment experiences. At 34 metres tall, the bronze Big Buddha statue sits atop Mount Muk Yue, about 482 metres above sea level. The eyes, lips, incline of the head, and even the right hand (raised to deliver a blessing to all), combine to lend great depth of character and dignity to this extraordinary statue.

Built in 1906, Po Lin Monastery is a famous temple which houses a Scripture Library and a Dharma Hall. This is the largest of Hong Kong’s Buddhist temples and a major point of pilgrimage for Hong Kong’s Buddhists. If you venture further, you will arrive at the Wisdom Path, a landscaped installation of 38 enormous 10 metres wooden columns inscribed with the clerical script calligraphy of the Heart Sutra written by master Sinologist Professor Jao Tsung-I.

We managed to catch an outdoor martial arts performance before watching a live show at Stage 360 for an encounter with exciting action sequences up close. We were guided by a director to look at what’s behind the scene, as if we were in the movie set ourselves. You can also indulge in dynamic sensations of 5D theatre at Motion 360, enjoy a collection of virtual reality games, including a soaring challenge in high altitude ropeway walk at VR 360 and learn about the life of Siddhartha Gautama (the man who became Buddha) and his path to enlightenment at the immersive “walking with Buddha” multimedia attraction.

There are plenty of activities and attractions to keep you occupied at Ngong Ping Village, and I would recommend allocating at least half a day to explore the area.

Ngong Ping 360
Address: 11 Tat Tung Road, Tung Chung, Lantau, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 6pm. Sat, Sun & PHs 9am to 6.30pm.
Website: https://www.np360.com.hk/en/

Note that this is a collaboration with Ngong Ping 360.