I discovered a stunning mountain and sea trail in Hong Kong for a super niche day trip
I've been to Hong Kong so many times, and I'm sharing a photogenic and niche day trip route with everyone❗️
✅ Highlights
🌸 Take a glass carriage to overlook the mountains and sea (P10)
🌸 Authentic Ngong Ping Market (P7)
🌸 34-meter-high Tian Tan Buddha (P6)
🌸 Breathtaking mountain and sea trail (P1)
🌸 "Venice of the Orient" Tai O Fishing Village, also known as 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 the Ngong Ping Cable Car (25 minutes) → Ngong Ping Market → Tian Tan Buddha → Po Lin Monastery
❷ Afternoon
Take Bus 21 to Tai O Fishing Village → Stroll around Tai O Fishing Village → Visit Tiger Hill Viewing Point → Take Bus 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: Arrive at Ngong Ping Market by cable car, check in at the market, Tian Tan Buddha, and Po Lin Monastery
12:00: Have lunch at the market
13:20: Take Bus 21 from Ngong Ping Market to Tai O Fishing Village (departs every hour at 20 minutes past the hour)
13:30: Visit Tai O Fishing Village
15:30: Visit Tiger Hill Viewing Point
16:45: Take Bus 21 from Tai O Fishing Village back to Ngong Ping and take the cable car back
✅ Itinerary tips
✔️ Time arrangement: The cable car is open from 10:00–18:00. It is recommended to arrive at the cable car station between 10:00 and 11:30 to start the trip.
✔️ Time arrangement: The 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 you are coming from Shenzhen or Zhuhai, China HK Travel has a direct bus
✔️ If you are coming from Hong Kong city, take the subway directly to Tung Chung Station
✔️ Take Exit B from Tung Chung Station and walk 200m
✅ Camera positions
P1, 3, 4, 11: Tiger Hill Viewing Point
P2: Tai O Heritage Hotel, you can have afternoon tea by the sea
P5, 10, 18: Ngong Ping Cable Car
P6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16: Ngong Ping Market
P13: Tai O Fishing Village
P9: South Road, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong
The following is a Hong Kong travel guide compiled based on the latest information in 2025, covering pre-trip preparations, transportation, accommodation, attractions, food, and practical tips to help you plan your trip efficiently:
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### **I. Pre-trip preparations**
1. **Documents and endorsements**
- Mainland tourists need to apply for the "Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents" and a valid endorsement (G endorsement for individual travel, L endorsement for group travel). Currently, it supports applying in different places, which takes about 7–15 working days and costs CNY 80.
- When entering the country, you need to go through the self-service channel, prepare your fingerprint and facial recognition, and fill in the "Customs Passenger Fingertip Service" QR code in advance.
2. **Currency and payment**
- Most shopping malls and chain stores support Alipay/WeChat Pay, but it is recommended to exchange a small amount of HKD (HKD 500–1,000 per person) for street snacks, Star Ferry, and other scenarios. The exchange rate at the port is poor, so prioritize making an appointment to exchange at a mainland bank.
3. **Communication and electronic equipment**
- SIM card: It is recommended to buy a "MySIM" card after arriving in Hong Kong (HKD 33/month for 50G), which is more cost-effective than international roaming.
- Conversion plug: Hong Kong uses British three-pin sockets, so you need to bring a converter or USB charging cable.
4. **Luggage suggestions**
- Lightweight backpack, sunscreen, parasol (Hong Kong is hot and humid in summer), and sneakers (high daily walking volume). Hotels do not provide toothpaste and toothbrushes, so you need to bring your own.
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### **II. Transportation**
1. **Airport to city**
- **Airport Express**: Direct to Central in 24 minutes, fare is about HKD 115, suitable for tourists with limited time.
- **Bus/Taxi**: A-line buses cover major areas and are affordable; taxi fares are higher (red/blue/green cars correspond to different areas).
2. **City transportation**
- **Subway**: Covers the entire city. It is recommended to use Alipay "Travel" to scan the code or purchase an Octopus card (HKD 150 including deposit, refundable).
- **Featured transportation**: Star Ferry (HKD 4), Ding Ding Tram (HKD 2.3) are suitable for experiencing the city's charm.
- **Transportation ticket options**:
- **One-day pass** (HKD 65): Suitable for frequent subway rides within 24 hours, but Airport Express and Lo Wu Station are not available.
- **Airport Express Tourist Pass** (HKD 250–350): Includes one-way/round-trip Airport Express and 3-day subway pass.
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### **III. Accommodation recommendations**
- **Luxury hotels**: Tsim Sha Tsui (Peninsula Hotel), Central (Mandarin Oriental), etc., are adjacent to shopping areas and attractions.
- **Budget hotels**: Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei are cost-effective, and "Hong Kong Mong Kok Vejune Hotel" is recommended.
- **Avoidance tips**: Avoid choosing Chungking Mansions and unlicensed hostels, especially for female tourists.
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### **IV. Must-see attractions and itinerary suggestions**
1. **Classic route (5 days and 4 nights)**
- **Day 1**: Victoria Harbour night view + Star Ferry + Peak Tram (best for night view).
- **Day 2**: Disneyland (fireworks show is a must-see) or Ocean Park (animal show + amusement facilities).
- **Day 3**: Mong Kok street snacks + Tsim Sha Tsui shopping (Harbour City, K11).
- **Day 4**: Cheung Chau Island (seafood + beach) or Lamma Island hike.
- **Day 5**: Central historical district (PMQ) + Lan Kwai Fong nightlife.
2. **Niche experience**
- **Sai Wan Swimming Shed**: Holy place for sunset photography.
- **Shek O Village**: Colorful huts and beaches, the filming location of "King of Comedy."
- **Temple Street Night Market**: Affordable night market, feel the atmosphere of Hong Kong movies.
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### **V. Food recommendations**
- **Must-eat in tea restaurants**: Silk stocking milk tea, pineapple bun, wonton noodles (recommended "Mak's Noodle").
- **Street snacks**: Curry fish balls, egg waffles, bowl pudding (Mong Kok Fa Yuen Street).
- **Seafood and roasted meat**: Typhoon shelter fried crab (Lei Yue Mun), Yung Kee Restaurant roast goose.
- **Dessert shop**: Yee Shun Dairy Company (double-layered milk custard), Kai Kai Dessert (sesame paste).
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### **VI. Shopping guide**
1. **Cosmetics**: Sasa, Bonjour (pay attention to the expiration date), counters (Times Square, Causeway Bay).
2. **Luxury goods**: Harbour City (most complete brands), Citygate Outlets (outlet discounts).
3. **Jewelry watches**: Nathan Road "Golden Mile" (Chow Sang Sang, Chow Tai Fook), Emperor Watch & Jewellery (Rolex agent).
4. **Trendy brands and sneakers**: Mong Kok Sneaker Street, THE FOREST shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui.
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### **VII. Practical tips**
- **No smoking and fines**: Smoking is prohibited in public places, and eating and drinking in the subway will be fined HKD 2,000.
- **Customs restrictions**: Duty-free for alcohol within 1 liter, cigarettes within 19, and milk powder within 1.8 kg.
- **Safety tips**: Take care of your belongings and avoid walking alone in remote areas at night.
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The above guide integrates core information such as transportation, attractions, and food. The specific itinerary can be adjusted according to personal interests.
I bought the Tai O Pass package, which has very convenient transportation. I got off at Tung Chung MTR Station and walked to the cable car station in a few minutes. I followed the instructions to go to the lobby to exchange the tickets, which included a cable car ticket, a bus ticket, a yacht ticket, 2 $10 snack tickets, and a $50 food voucher from Tai O Heritage Hotel. The standard carriage was enough. The scenery was very good. After passing several hills, you can see the Hong Kong airport. It took 20 minutes. Before getting on the cable car, the staff took a group photo for each family. When we arrived at the station, the set cost 260, which was a rip-off. I definitely didn't want to use it. I used the food voucher to eat at Honeymoon Kee at Ngong Ping Market, but I can only use 3 vouchers at a time. The bills were settled separately. There were several entertainment activities such as watching the Three Kingdoms, which were charged separately. It seemed to be 80 per person for each activity. I decided not to go. I bought two lucky cats at the lucky cat shop, and then went to climb the Tian Tan Buddha. It was not very high, with steps. The visit inside was average, and there was no way back. I went back down the mountain by the same route and went to the bus terminal to take bus No. 21. When I was queuing to get on the bus, the staff checked my ticket and exchanged it for a bus pass for bus No. 21. I would use it to check my ticket when I returned. I asked her what time she would be back at the latest. The staff did not speak Mandarin, so I could not understand her at all. After 10 minutes, we arrived at Tai O Fishing Village. The station said that the last bus No. 21 was at 17:45. We arrived at around 17:20, but the staff said that there was no bus at 45 minutes. The last bus had already left, so we had to buy a new ticket and take bus No. 11 back to the cable car station. The bus ticket and the return ticket for the cable car were all wasted. It was annoying. There is nothing much to see in Tai O Fishing Village, except for the dried seafood made by the villagers themselves. You can go to the sea to watch dolphins by yacht, but the wind is strong on the sea, and it is very shaky when you stop to look at the boat, which makes you feel sick. We told the boatman to take the boat to Tai O Heritage Hotel for dinner, but we got off halfway. After 16:00, there was only afternoon tea, fried rice, hamburgers, chicken wings, etc. The 50 yuan coupon had to be paid separately, and the average cost per person was almost 100 after the discount. After eating, we had to walk back to the fishing village to take a bus, which was about 2 kilometers, so it was not cost-effective.
I wanted to visit an outlying island with few people, so I took the Ngong Ping 360 cable car and then changed to a bus to Tai O. The transportation was quite convenient, but the waiting time for the bus was a bit long and the bus was not frequent. Tai O is a small fishing village with water houses and a small road. The scenery is quite nice.
It was a wonderful family trip. The picturesque Lantau Island was breathtaking. The children were very excited to ride the Crystal Cable Car for the first time, and the adults also felt that the trip was worthwhile. It's a pity that we didn't go up to see the Big Buddha. I'll come back next time.
Look at the natural scenery of Hong Kong fishing village. There is a delicious hand-made charcoal-fired eggs shop with a long queue, but it tastes good and deserves a long queue. There are also many seafood, special fishing village scenery, natural and simple life, and convenient transportation. Metro takes to Tung Chung Station, bus No. 11 takes to the terminal, and there is also a host of East people near Tung Chung Station. Yicheng, a little like Autress, can come and find something by the way.
From Tung Chung to Da'ao, take Bus No. 11, frequent flights, tail train to midnight, there is no need to limit time. The local scenery is very unique, you can also see dolphins by boat. I went to sea at 4:00 that day, and saw many dolphins, pink, very cute, unfortunately, I was too slow to take photos. There are many famous local snacks, such as eggs, Shanshui tofu flowers, etc. Yongan Street has many special shops, many products are made by the shop itself, very special. I went to a shop to buy some aromatherapy and hand soap, the shop's hand soap is very special, the shape is Hong Kong scenery, it is said that their owners have designed according to the Hong Kong scenery. I used their hand soap is not sensitive, the skin will not dry, my children used it is also good, he used hand soap. Eczema did not recur after that.
Compared with Lamma Island, Tai'ao does have fewer tourists and is more a choice for local people to hike in Hong Kong... Convenient transportation, we live near Honghong, take the subway to Dongyicheng, and then there is a direct bus to Da'ao at the bus stop. The impression is that there is a 20-30 minute train, which is very convenient. The first impression of arriving at Da'ao is that it is really a small fishing village. I like it very much. Local Grandpa and Grandpa can't understand Mandarin, aha ha ha, our poor Cantonese is also to fill the scene! The famous eggs are delicious. Let's take a look at the scenery. We really didn't eat anything because the seafood restaurant didn't open. We went to Lianxianglou. It was delicious. Generally speaking, I like this place very much. The island is very small, and I can finish it very soon. It's a real fishing village. If you don't pursue too much, you can relax. If you like to be busy, this place may not be suitable. Warm Tip: Because Da'ao is not like many other islands as a holiday resort, so if you want to eat a variety of recommended delicious seafood restaurants, the best weekend, we arrived on weekdays, did not eat fresh seafood, little sadness... Another thing is to bring a good Hong Kong dollar. Here is no credit card, Alipay and so on. Cash is the safest!
Tung Chung MTR Station transfers to Line 11 Bus for direct access to Da'ao. The journey is a little far, about 40 minutes and many Bay roads. Carsick people should be prepared. But it's still worth visiting. There are also many shops, restaurants and snacks that buy dried seafood. Among them, the huge cuttlefish (HK$50 per serving) and the huge eggs are delicious. Others include eggs, roast squid and so on, which can be eaten along the way.