Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car

Last weekend we rode the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car and saw the Tian Tan Buddha (nicknamed the Big Buddha).  The Big Buddha is located on the top of a hill on Lantau Island.  You can get to it by either taking a bus or riding the cable car.  Tommy was especially excited to ride the cable car.  It had been rainy and foggy all week, so we weren't sure if we were going to be able to go until we woke up in the morning.  It was pretty clear in the morning, but the clouds moved in throughout the day.  We all really enjoyed the ride. 

The cable car ride is around 20 minutes (after about 1.5 hour wait in line).  The cable car route goes right by the airport.  Tommy loved watching the planes on the way.

Tom and Tommy checking out the airport

The cable car lets out in Ngong Ping Village.  It is a tourist area with a promenade filled with souvenir shops and restaurants.  They have Asian restaurants as well as western restaurants like  Starbucks and Subway.  We told the kids we were going to see the Big Buddha, but didn't explain what that meant.  There are cows that live on the hills in the areas on Lantau Island.  One of the cows had wandered into the village and there was a small crowd of people around it taking pictures.  Charlotte got excited and exclaimed, "Look, it's the big buddha."  Tom and I got a good laugh out of that.

Charlotte's big buddha

There is a 10-15 walk through this area to get to the Po Lin Monastery, which is located at the base of the buddha.  There is a good vegetarian restaurant where we ate lunch.  Then we toured the monasteries.

 

The vegetarian restaurant

People leave fruit as an offering to the buddhas

You can buy sticks of incense and place them outside the monasteries as offerings.  

 There are 268 steps up to the Big Buddha.  The Big Buddha is 112 ft tall.  It faces north to look over the Chinese people.  Tommy went straight up the steps and only stopped a few times to try to see how far behind Tom and Charlotte were.  I did my best to keep up with him.  Charlotte struggled a little more and needed some encouragement from Tom.  In the end, she ended up making it all by herself.

Tommy with the Big Buddha in the background

Tommy paused for a quick picture on his way up.  

View from the top of the stairs

We didn't have dessert after lunch and I had promised them each a treat if they made it up on their own.  (I was worried about Charlotte making it up on her own and figured an incentive might help.) Tommy chose an ice cream cone even though it was chilly and he had been complaining about being cold several times that day.  Instead of a sweet treat, Charlotte chose a windmill flower she had wanted since she saw one in the first souvenir shop.  

 

Charlotte and Tommy with their treats

After another long wait in line, we rode the cable car back down.  We had a great day!