Visiting the Tian Tan Buddha in Hong Kong: Is the Big Buddha on Lantau Island worth it?

What's there to do on Hong Kong? Is maybe something you ask yourself. Well, Lantau Island and its Ngong Ping Village might be a good site to visit. It has an amazing cable car ride & a Buddha. In this article, you will read more about my experience

What to expect in this article:

About my trip to Hong Kong

I visited Hong Kong, already one year ago, in January 2025, wow! It was a dream to be in this massive city that never sleeps.
We only had a few days here and were looking at spots to visit. Ngong Ping Village at Lantau Village was one site that was mentioned a lot on sites like GetYourGuide, so we really wanted to visit this place.

We wanted to see more than just skyscrapers. We wanted nature, views, and something a bit calmer than the city. So even though we knew it would probably be touristy… we decided to go anyway. In the next part, I will tell more about Ngong Ping Village.

Btw, on my trip to Hong Kong, I also had the chance to visit Macau. If you can, make sure to go there and don’t forget to read this article about my experience!

About Ngong Ping Village at Lantau Island

Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong, but it feels nothing like the busy city. Think green mountains, beaches, hiking trails, monasteries… and yes, also the airport. Ngong Ping Village is located on Lantau Island, and is surrounded by green mountains and nature. Long before it became a tourist destination, this area was mainly known for its religious importance.

The village grew around Po Lin Monastery, which was founded in 1906 by Buddhist monks. For many years, only monks, pilgrims, and hikers came to this remote part of Lantau Island. It was quiet and difficult to reach.

Now there is a cable car that makes it super easy to reach! So this means it is also very touristic and all the stores in the village are meant for tourists. Souvenirs and places to eat are what you can see. Seeing the Big Buddha (see the next chapter) was amazing. But be aware that you won’t be here all by yourself, like the 10.000 Buddha’s Temple, also located in Hong Kong.

The famous Tian Tan Buddha experience

The Tian Tan Buddha (also called the Big Buddha) is HUGE. Like… wow-huge. You don’t really understand the size until you’re standing there, climbing the stairs, slightly out of breath and questioning your fitness level. At least, for me 😉
I already loved seeing the Budda from the mountains in the cable car, it is so big, you can see it from like 3km (or more?) distance.

Being so close to the Buddha is special. Even with loads of people around, it is special to witness it.

Right next to it is Po Lin Monastery, which is worth a visit too. I loved seeing all the details of the building and when you sit for a bit longer, you can see locals and daily life happening. Workers cleaning dustbins and dogs chilling.

Don't forget to book this activity

The cable car experience

Wow! The ride with Ngong Ping 360 was honestly my favorite part.

The views are gorgeous. Green hills, water, tiny islands and it takes 25 minutes to reach, so enough time to enjoy your surroundings!! Especially at night during sunset, wow, the views were am-a-zing!!

But… here comes the honest part…
The waiting time can be very long. We waited a lot. If you hate queues like me:

Go early in the morning
Or go on a weekday
Or mentally prepare yourself with snacks and patience

Hopefully that will help a little

Touristy village vibes

Ngong Ping Village itself felt very made-for-tourists, like I mentioned before.
There are lots of souvenir shops (with higher prices than anywhere else of course), themed restaurants, and crowds. It’s not charming or local. But it is good for souvenir shopping 😉

You don’t need a whole day here. For us, it was more like: See the Buddha, Monastery, enjoy the views, also from the cable car and walk around a bit. Yes, we did buy some souvenirs 🙂 Hong Kong has too many cute souvenirs, so I ended up buying a panda book marker for my boyfriend.

Macau madness: A day trip from Hong Kong

Prices at Ngong Ping Village

Prices are higher at Ngong Ping Village. This is expected as it is quite a tourist village.
Here’s a quick idea of what to expect regarding the prices:

Ngong Ping 360 cable car (return)
- Standard cabin: around HKD 235–270
- Crystal cabin (glass floor): more expensive, around HKD 315+
Buddha & monastery: Free
Food at Ngong Ping: on the pricey side for what you get

One tip: If the cable car line is crazy, you can also go by bus This is cheaper and less waiting, but the views from the cable car are amazing. Maybe one way cable car and return with bus could be an option (but don’t miss sunset in the cable car!!)

Where to stay on Lantau Island

If you want to stay overnight (which is a nice idea if you like nature), these areas are good:

Tung Chung – close to cable car & airport
Tai O Fishing Village – more local, stilt houses, very different vibe
Mui Wo – beachy and relaxed

Staying here makes Lantau feel much calmer once day-tourists leave. Below you can find a map with accommodations.

Practical info & contact

Best time to visit: early in the morning to avoid all the crowds
Time needed: half a day would be good. Also for the ticket line and waiting for the cable car. We started with waiting to buy tickets around 12.30 and finished and returned to the main island around 18.00.
Official site: Ngong Ping 360
Address: 11 Tat Tung Road, Tung Chung, Lantau, Hong Kong
Telephone number: (852) 3666 0606
Email: info@np360.com.hk

When to visit Lantau Island/ Hong Kong

Hong Kong can be very hot and humid in summer. The most comfortable months to visit Ngong Ping are October to March, when the weather is cooler and clearer. Clear weather is super important, because the cable car ride has beautiful views. We visited in January.

If the weather is cloudy or foggy, you might miss those views completely.

Final thoughts

In the end, I would recommend Ngong Ping Village to you. Yes, it is super touristic and so you can buy a lot of souvenirs. But seeing the grand Buddha & the cable car ride were amazing. So it is worth visiting! Just don’t expect a hidden gem.