Lantau Island and Monastary

On Wednesday, we set out to explore Lantau Island, which is part of Hong Kong and neighbors Hong Kong Island to the west. It was a very scenic drive and we took a brief stop at the Tsing Ma Lookout to view the Tsing Ma Bridge, the world’s longest suspension bridge, which connects Hong Kong Island to Lantau Island. It was quite a feat of engineering to see, and the observation area is well maintained with flowers and exhibits explaining various details of the construction. The amount of cable on the bridge is enough is circle the world three times! (The bridge was so long it could not fit within one photo).

We next visited Tai O, also known as the “Venice of the Orient”, and the only surviving fishing village in Hong Kong. It is renowned for the stilt houses built in the narrow Pearl River channel. These huts, the most distinctive characteristic of Tai O, are inhabited mostly by the Tanka people, descendants of the ancient Yueh tribe, Hong Kong’s first major settlers. The village’s fish farming industry has made it a major supplier of sea fish to Hong Kong. Again, we witnessed a way of life few of us could imagine…

Our drive continued on through the beautiful mountain scenery on Lantau Island to the Po Lin Monastery, the principal center of Buddhism in Hong Kong. The monastery houses the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha statue, the Tian Tan Buddha. This imposing statue weighs over 250 tons and is more than 100 feet high.







After a spectacular nine-course vegetarian lunch served at the Monastery, we took a four mile cable car trip back to Tung Chung, taking in the views of the mountainous terrain and the China Sea in the distance. Another fabulous day.