Hong Kong - Lantau Island 香港之玈。。大嶼山

Now we are off on our way to Lantau Island 大嶼山, taking the Hong Kong & Yaumatei ferry 香港油痲地小輪船 which one-way fares to popular islands (Cheung Chau 長洲 , Lama, Lantau 大嶼山 and Peng Chau 坪洲) are inexpensive: from HK$6.50 on weekdays on the non-air-conditioned deck, to HK$30 at weekends on the air-conditioned deluxe decks. Children's fares are reduced. Journeys to the four major islands takes no more than one hour.

However, we have taken the day-tour to the island organised by the hotel. So we have no problem travelling there.

Man Kwok 民國號

An idyllic, hour-long boat trip past a sea of moored ships, tiny islands, and colourful catamarans ends at Lantau Island.

Saw that mountain behind us? It's Victoria Peak.
(Thanks Jimuel for your info.)

Lantau Island 大嶼山
Twice the size of Hong Kong Island, is the largest of all the outlying islands yet has a population of a little more than 25,000, compared to Hong Kong island's population of over one million.

Cheung Sha Upper Beach 長沙灘

The first stop is this place, one of the Lantau's most attractive beaches. Cheung Sha Upper Beach 長沙灘 , about 20 mins by bus from Silvermine Bay 銀礦灣 . This 3.2 km long bench is noted for its white sand. Changing rooms, shower and toilet facilities are avaliable to swimmers from April to October.

Now we are at Tai O 大澳 , which is a tiny fishing village on stilts. Here you can buy a lot of dried food ... which are of reasonable price.

One of the shops where they sell dried food.

One of the shops where they sell dried food.

Taken outside the shop.

The photo at the lower corner on the right are how the village on stilts looks like.

However, due to the upgrading in city, the people living here will have to move into flats too. This building, Tin Wah House 天華樓 , is specially built for them.

Look at the drawings on the wall by the kids living there. With the boats and blue sky as the background, it is indeed a masterpiece. All this pictures/drawings have actually liven up the life there.

Village on stilts and the new Tin Wah House 天華樓

Now we are on the way to the Po Lin Monastery 寶蓮襌寺.
You can see from the photos that majority of the island is actually covered by many moutains/hills.

Tian Tan Buddha 天壇大佛

This huge Tian Tan Buddha statue 大嶼山天壇大佛 is situated high on Ngong Ping, "Lofty Plateau", at an elevation of 520m of 268 steps (about 8 storeys high). It is the world's tallest sitting Buddha, weighting 202 tons (about the weight of 202 cars). It was assembled piece by piece by cranes in1990 and was built on the adjacent plateau. It was then officially opened to the public in late December, 1993.

It dominates the landscape, see the spectacular temples and tea gardens, and walk a little way along the Lantau Trail.

Our tour guide has told us that it actually faces Beijing. Wondering how truth it is?!

The Hau Wong Temple, built over 200 years ago is just nearby.

outside Silvermine Beach Hotel 銀礦灣酒店

After that, we have our vegetarian lunch at the restuarant in Silvermine Beach Hotel 銀礦灣酒店.

Silvermine Beach 銀礦灣

This the Silvermine Beach 銀礦灣 situated infront of the Silvermine Beach Hotel 銀礦灣酒店 .

Blue taxis in Lantau Island

These blue taxis are only seen here.

Here an extra knowlegde of the taxis in Hong Kong:

There are three taxi areas;
- Hong Kong Island and Kowloon (red taxis)
- New Territories (green taxis)
- Lantau Island (blue taxis)
All 18,100 taxis are licensed, air-conditioned and metred, with differing flagfalls.
Most are licensed to carry up to 5 passengers.

Fare charge;
- Red taxis
minimum fare is HK$14 plus HK$1.20 for every 200 metres,
and waiting time HK$1.20 per minutes.
- Green taxis
HK$11.80 (plus HK$1.10 for every 200 metre)
- Blue taxi
HK$10 (plus HK$1 for every 200 metres)