Ngong Ping 360

Our next adventure started with a ride in one of Hong Kong’s infamous red taxis. We headed straight from the airport to Ngong Ping 360, home to one of the most scenic cable car rides in the world.

Now, mistake alert: I should have paid the extra $40 for the Crystal Cabin (the one with the glass floor). The regular cabin line was long, and the wait definitely tested my patience.

The Ngong Ping 360 cable car is one of the longest bi-cable ropeways in the world, stretching 5.7 km (3.5 miles) across Lantau Island. The journey takes about 25 minutes, making it the longest cable car ride in Asia.

Sights We Saw:

✔️ Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge – From the air, you can see the full 55-km (34-mile) bridge, which is the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world. It’s so long that engineers had to build an underwater tunnel section to allow ships to pass through!

✔️ Hong Kong International Airport – The airport sits on reclaimed land that was once just open sea. When it opened in 1998, it was one of the most expensive engineering projects in history,. Today, it’s one of the busiest airports in the world—and watching planes take off from above gives you a whole new appreciation for its scale.

✔️ The mountains of Lantau Island – Did you know that Lantau is Hong Kong’s largest island? …..it’s twice the size of Hong Kong Island itself. Despite that, much of it remains undeveloped, making it a rare spot of untouched nature in one of the world’s most densely populated places.

✔️ Hiking the Ngong Ping Trail – If you’re feeling extra adventurous (and have incredible stamina), you can hike the 5.1 km (3.2-mile) trail that runs under the cable car. Ancient stone steps, dense forests, and incredible views make it one of the more rewarding hikes in Hong Kong.

At the top, the cable car drops you into Ngong Ping Village, a cultural and touristy area on Lantau Island. While it’s a modern-built attraction, it sets the stage for the real stars of the show—the Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha) and Po Lin Monastery.Read more