I discovered a stunningly beautiful and super off-the-beaten-path mountain and sea trail in Hong Kong for a one-day trip
Having been to Hong Kong so many times, I’m sharing a day trip route that’s both photogenic and less crowded❗️
✅Highlights
🌸Ride the glass cabin cable car overlooking the mountains and sea (P10)
🌸Authentic Ngong Ping Village Market (P7)
🌸34-meter tall Tian Tan Buddha (P6)
🌸Breathtaking mountain and sea trail (P1)
🌸“Venice of the East” Tai O fishing village, also Hong Kong’s “cat island,” with many cats in the streets and alleys (P8)
✅Route
❶ Morning
Ngong Ping Cable Car Station (next to Tung Chung Station 🚇) → Take Ngong Ping Cable Car (25 minutes) → Ngong Ping Village Market → Tian Tan Buddha → Po Lin Monastery
❷ Afternoon
Take Bus No. 21 to Tai O fishing village → Walk around Tai O fishing village → Visit Tiger Hill Lookout → Take Bus No. 21 back to Ngong Ping and take the cable car back
🌟Refer to our itinerary schedule:
10:00: Ngong Ping Cable Car Station
10:25: Cable car arrives at Ngong Ping Village Market, visit the market, Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery
12:00: Lunch at the market
13:20: Take Bus No. 21 from Ngong Ping Village Market to Tai O fishing village (departs at 20 minutes past every hour)
13:30: Explore Tai O fishing village
15:30: Visit Tiger Hill Lookout
16:45: Take Bus No. 21 from Tai O fishing village back to Ngong Ping, then take the cable car back
✅Trip tips
✔️Time arrangement: Cable car operating hours 10:00~18:00, recommended to arrive at the cable car station between 10:00~11:30 to start the trip
✔️Time arrangement: Last bus from Tai O fishing village to Ngong Ping is at 16:45, remember to return before then
✅How to get to the starting point Ngong Ping Cable Car Station
✔️If coming from Shenzhen or Zhuhai, the Cross-Border Island Express bus goes directly there
✔️If coming from within Hong Kong city, take the MTR directly to Tung Chung Station
✔️Exit from Tung Chung Station Exit B and walk 200 meters
✅Photo spots
P1, 3, 4, 11: Tiger Hill Lookout
P2: Tai O heritage hotel 🏨, perfect for afternoon tea by the sea
P5, 10, 18: Ngong Ping Cable Car
P6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16: Ngong Ping Village Market
P13: Tai O fishing village
P9: Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok South Road
Below is a Hong Kong travel guide compiled based on the latest 2025 information, covering pre-trip preparation, transportation, accommodation, attractions, food, and practical tips to help you plan efficiently:
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### **1. Pre-trip Preparation**
1. **Documents and Visas**
- Mainland visitors need to apply for the “Home Return Permit” and valid endorsements (G endorsement for individual travel, L endorsement for group travel). Cross-location application is supported, taking about 7-15 working days, costing 80 HKD.
- At immigration, use the self-service channel, prepare fingerprint and facial recognition, and fill in the “Customs Passenger Fingerprint Service” QR code in advance.
2. **Currency and Payment**
- Most malls and chain stores support Alipay/WeChat Pay, but it’s recommended to exchange a small amount of HKD (about 500-1000 HKD per person) for street snacks, Star Ferry, etc. Exchange rates at border crossings are poor; prioritize booking exchange at mainland banks.
3. **Communication and Electronics**
- SIM card: Recommended to buy “MySIM” card after arrival (33 HKD/month for 50GB), cheaper than international roaming.
- Power adapter: Hong Kong uses British three-pin plugs; bring an adapter or USB charging cables.
4. **Luggage Suggestions**
- Light backpack, sunscreen, sun umbrella (Hong Kong summers are hot and humid), sports shoes (expect a lot of walking). Hotels do not provide toothpaste or toothbrushes, bring your own.
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### **2. Transportation**
1. **Airport to City**
- **Airport Express**: 24 minutes direct to Central, fare about 115 HKD, suitable for time-sensitive travelers.
- **Bus/Taxi**: A-line buses cover main areas at affordable prices; taxis are more expensive (red/blue/green taxis serve different areas).
2. **City Transportation**
- **MTR**: Covers the whole city, recommended to use Alipay “Travel” QR code or buy an Octopus card (150 HKD including deposit, refundable).
- **Special transport**: Star Ferry (4 HKD), tram (2.3 HKD) are great for experiencing city vibes.
- **Ticket options**:
- **One-day pass** (65 HKD): Good for frequent MTR rides within 24 hours, but not valid on Airport Express or Lo Wu station.
- **Airport Express Tourist Ticket** (250-350 HKD): Includes one-way/round-trip Airport Express and 3-day MTR pass.
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### **3. Accommodation Recommendations**
- **Luxury hotels**: Tsim Sha Tsui (The Peninsula), Central (Mandarin Oriental), near shopping and attractions.
- **Budget hotels**: Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei offer good value, recommended “Metropark Hotel Mongkok Hong Kong.”
- **Avoid**: Chongqing Mansions and unlicensed guesthouses, especially for female travelers.
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### **4. Must-visit Attractions and Suggested Itineraries**
1. **Classic route (5 days 4 nights)**
- **Day 1**: Victoria Harbour night view + Star Ferry + Peak Tram (best night view).
- **Day 2**: Disneyland (must-see fireworks) or Ocean Park (animal shows + rides).
- **Day 3**: Mong Kok street snacks + Tsim Sha Tsui shopping (Harbour City, K11).
- **Day 4**: Cheung Chau Island (seafood + beach) or Lamma Island hiking.
- **Day 5**: Central historic district (PMQ) + Lan Kwai Fong nightlife.
2. **Off-the-beaten-path experiences**
- **Sai Wan Swimming Shed**: Sunset photo spot.
- **Shek O Village**: Colorful houses and beach, filming location of “King of Comedy.”
- **Temple Street Night Market**: Affordable night market with Hong Kong movie vibes.
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### **5. Food Recommendations**
- **Must-try at cha chaan teng (tea restaurants)**: Silk stocking milk tea, pineapple bun, wonton noodles (recommended “Mak An Wonton Noodle”).
- **Street snacks**: Curry fish balls, egg waffles, shark fin soup (Mong Kok Fa Yuen Street).
- **Seafood and roasted meats**: Typhoon shelter crab (Lei Yue Mun), Yung Kee Restaurant roast goose.
- **Dessert shops**: Yee Shun Milk Company (double skin milk), Jiajia Dessert (black sesame soup).
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### **6. Shopping Guide**
1. **Cosmetics**: Sa Sa, Bonjour (check expiry dates), counters (Times Square Causeway Bay).
2. **Luxury goods**: Harbour City (most brands), Citygate Outlets (discounts).
3. **Jewelry and watches**: Nathan Road “Gold Street” (Chow Sang Sang, Chow Tai Fook), Emperor Watch & Jewellery (Rolex agent).
4. **Streetwear and sneakers**: Mong Kok Sneaker Street, Tsim Sha Tsui THE FOREST mall.
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### **7. Practical Tips**
- **Smoking ban and fines**: No smoking in public places; eating and drinking in MTR fined 2000 HKD.
- **Customs limits**: Duty-free allowance of 1 liter alcohol, 19 cigarettes, 1.8 kg milk powder.
- **Safety tips**: Keep valuables safe, avoid walking alone in remote areas at night.
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This guide combines core information on transportation, attractions, and food; you can adjust the itinerary based on your personal interests.
Po Lin Monastery is a feast for the soul and the eyes. As you enter the temple, the sunset and red clouds dye the sky into a beautiful picture scroll, and the afterglow shines on the golden roof of the ancient temple, shining brightly. It is Laba, and a bowl of warm porridge dispels the coldness of the body and also tastes the warmth of the traditional festival. Lanterns of various colors are hung high in the temple, swaying in the wind, swaying with a strong sense of the New Year and Zen. Walking in the temple, the heart gradually calms down, and a piece of pure land is found in this noisy world. Every scene can be painted, and every moment of stay is full of aftertaste.
Po Lin Monastery in Hong Kong is a serene Buddhist retreat atop Lantau Island. It's a peaceful haven steeped in spirituality, housing the remarkable Tian Tan Buddha and offering visitors a tranquil escape from the city's hustle and bustle.
Po Lin Monastery is a Buddhist monastery, located on Ngong Ping Plateau, on Lantau Island, Hong Kong🇭🇰
The temple feels very different! Suitable for burning incense and praying for blessings
It takes only 5 minutes to walk from the Ngong Ping Cable Car to the base of the temple. The day we went there, the air was filled with mist and it was full of fairy air.
The main places to go to Lantau Island to worship Buddha are Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha. Both places are free. It is cheaper to take the bus from Tung Chung MTR Station to go up and down the mountain. It is more beautiful to take the Ngong Ping Cable Car. You can choose one of each. If you want to visit the Buddha's relics, you need to buy vegetarian food. The place to eat vegetarian food is in the vegetarian hall of Po Lin Monastery.
Pauline Chan Temple is also a very famous scenic spot in Hong Kong. Because the monastery was afraid of blasphemy, so no photos were taken. The monastery covers a very large area. Part 34. When we went there were still people reciting sutras. The speed at which they recite. You can feel that Hong Kong is really a very fast-paced place. It can make people feel peaceful here. Make people quiet. There is no compulsory shopping here. There is no compulsory contribution. Uh huh. The local people in Hong Kong still believe in Buddhism very much. So they have a lot of followers. The incense here is also very strong.