Summary
Hong Kong has always been a popular choice for independent travel due to its proximity to Taiwan and the lack of language barriers. If you’re planning a three-day, two-night trip to Hong Kong, consider including a day trip to Tai O on Lantau Island to experience a different side of Hong Kong. Tai O Fishing Village is located in the western part of Lantau Island and is known for its traditional stilt houses and waterways. Spending a whole day exploring Lantau Island, starting with a ride on the Ngong Ping Cable Car, visiting the Ngong Ping Village and the Tian Tan Buddha, and then heading to Tai O Fishing Village to experience the rural charm of Lantau Island, is definitely a worthwhile itinerary for your trip to Hong Kong.
Tai O Fishing Village is located in the western part of Lantau Island, not far from Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok Airport. It is known for its strong fishing village atmosphere and stilt houses on the waterways, making it a popular tourist destination in Hong Kong.
Transportation
Getting to Tai O Fishing Village is not difficult. You can take a direct bus or take the cable car and then transfer to a bus. If you want to take the Ngong Ping Cable Car, visit Ngong Ping Village and the Tian Tan Buddha, and then continue to Tai O Fishing Village, it is recommended to choose the latter option.
A. Take a Bus
Take bus 11 from the bus terminal at Exit B of Tung Chung MTR Station. The journey takes about 50 minutes.
B. Take the Cable Car and Transfer to a Bus
Go to the Tung Chung Cable Car Station from Exit B of Tung Chung MTR Station. Take the Ngong Ping Cable Car to Ngong Ping Village, then walk to the Ngong Ping Bus Terminal and take bus 21 to Tai O Bus Terminal. The journey takes about 20 minutes. If you choose option B, it is recommended to purchase a package ticket (including round-trip cable car, round-trip bus ticket to Tai O Fishing Village, and a boat experience in Tai O Fishing Village), which is relatively cost-effective. Click here for package ticket information.
Depart from Hong Kong in the morning and take the Tung Chung Line of the MTR for the fastest and most direct route to Tung Chung.
If you want to experience the sea, land, and air attractions of Lantau Island all at once, purchasing a package ticket is a relatively cost-effective option.
The waiting time for the Ngong Ping Cable Car is generally not long, unless you specifically want to ride in a crystal cabin.
The weather in the morning was not very good, with poor visibility, but the Tian Tan Buddha in the distance was still visible.
Ngong Ping Village, Ngong Ping Market, and Tian Tan Buddha
The journey on the Ngong Ping Cable Car takes about 20 minutes, and the scenery along the way is beautiful, so it doesn’t feel like a long ride. The final stop of the cable car is Ngong Ping Market, which is a must-visit place located between Po Lin Monastery and the Ngong Ping Cable Car Station. The market features many unique shops and attractions, such as the Motion 360 cinema. There are also Starbucks and convenience stores in the market, making it a convenient place for tourists to take a short break after visiting the Tian Tan Buddha or returning from Tai O Fishing Village.
Ngong Ping Market is a popular stop for tourists visiting Lantau Island.
Due to its location on a major transportation route, Ngong Ping Market attracts many visitors.
Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha are the highlights of a visit to Ngong Ping. Since we had to wait for the bus to Tai O, we took advantage of the waiting time to visit the Tian Tan Buddha (we didn’t enter Po Lin Monastery). Po Lin Monastery is one of Hong Kong’s important Buddhist sites, built in 1906 and with a history of over a hundred years. Before the cable car was completed, it took a long time for believers to reach Po Lin Monastery. The Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island is a landmark and is currently the second largest outdoor bronze seated Buddha statue in the world.
The Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island is the second largest bronze seated Buddha statue in the world, second only to the Buddha statue at Fo Guang Shan in Kaohsiung.
After arriving at Ngong Ping, remember to go to the bus station to exchange your ticket for the bus to Tai O Fishing Village (you cannot use the package ticket for the bus).
Tai O Fishing Village
From Ngong Ping, take a bus for about 20 minutes to reach Tai O Fishing Village. After getting off the bus, walk to Tai Chung Bridge and then follow the waterways to reach Tai O Fishing Village. The unique feature of Tai O Fishing Village is its “stilt houses,” which are one of the most distinctive landscapes in Hong Kong. Visiting Tai O Fishing Village will make you feel like you’re in the “Venice of the East.” Since ancient times, Tai O has been primarily a fishing village. The fishermen believed that living on solid ground lacked a sense of security, so they built stilt houses along the waterways, which has shaped the appearance of Tai O today.
The first impression of Tai O Fishing Village is the numerous boats and stilt houses along the waterways.
The first impression of Tai O Fishing Village is the numerous boats and stilt houses along the waterways.
There are many snacks in Tai O Fishing Village, in addition to dried fish and seafood, there are also giant fish balls, braised giant squid, and more.
There are many snacks in Tai O Fishing Village. In addition to the ubiquitous dried fish and seafood, there are also giant fish balls, braised giant squid, and other delicacies to try. If you don’t want to eat anything in particular, you can also explore the fish markets along the way, which offer a different taste and flavor from other parts of Hong Kong.
Tai O is the place where I saw the most cats during my trip to Hong Kong, and they are generally not afraid of tourists.
You can find fish and dried goods everywhere in the market, making it a great place to shop in Tai O.
For lunch, we randomly chose a snack shop called “Heng Shui Du Xiao Chu” on the street. Apart from the greasy roast duck, the rest of the food was acceptable.
The Ngong Ping 360 package ticket includes a boat tour experience in Tai O Fishing Village, where you can take a boat and see the unique stilt houses from different perspectives. You can also enjoy a view of the nearby waters and spot dolphins, making it a worthwhile experience.
Another way to experience Tai O Fishing Village is by taking a boat and admiring Tai O from a parallel perspective.
Due to its proximity to the coast, taking a boat tour in Tai O Fishing Village and spotting dolphins has become a popular activity.
Taking a boat tour in Tai O Fishing Village allows you to admire the water houses from a different perspective.
The water houses in Tai O Fishing Village have a unique architectural style, which is the most memorable part of my trip to Hong Kong.
Taking a boat tour in Tai O allows you to see the basic structure and architectural features of the stilt houses up close. It truly feels different from the crowded city buildings and traffic of Hong Kong. After the boat tour, don’t rush to leave Tai O. Take some time to explore the stilt houses and experience the charm of the fishing village up close.
Tai O Fishing Village has a nostalgic fishing village atmosphere.
Standing on the bridge that connects both sides of Tai O Fishing Village offers the best view of the water houses.
Tai O is one of my favorite places during my trip to Hong Kong, second only to Stanley.
Walking through the alleys of Tai O, you can see different angles of the village.
The alleys of Tai O give a feeling similar to walking through old streets in Taiwan.
Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car
I saved the introduction of the cable car for last because the visibility on the outbound journey was poor. Fortunately, the visibility was better on the return journey, and with the sunset’s glow, the scenery during the cable car ride was even more stunning. The Ngong Ping Cable Car, also known as “Ngong Ping 360,” is 5.7 kilometers long and takes about 24-30 minutes for the entire journey, with no intermediate stops. The main reason for the construction of the Ngong Ping Cable Car, in addition to tourism purposes, is the aforementioned relationship with Po Lin Monastery, providing a faster and safer way to travel from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping.
The Ngong Ping Cable Car is considered one of the top ten cable car experiences in the world due to its height difference and the scenery of the sea cable car.
During the cable car ride, you can see the under-construction Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
The 20-minute cable car ride offers a view of Hong Kong’s sea, land, and air attractions.
The height difference and the view of the sea during the cable car ride are truly breathtaking.
As you approach the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal, you can also see the nearby Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport.
Tai O Fishing Village in Hong Kong gives you a sense of relaxation and tranquility, different from the crowded city buildings and traffic. It was the highlight of my second visit to Hong Kong.
