I will be visiting Hong Kong in January with a tour group for Chinese New Year. I am very interested in visiting the Big Buddha on Lantau Island (I can't remember the temple name) which is not included in the tour itinerary. I will be staying at the Harbor Plaza Metropolis Hotel in Kowloon. What is the best mode of transporation to get to the temple? It appears from my research their is a MRT station near the temple, if I take that route is it possible to walk from the station to the temple? If so, how long of a walk is there, or is there bus service that will take me closer to the temple? Or it also appears that I can get to Lantau Island by ferry, if I take the ferry what are the options to get from the ferry port to the temple? I had planned on purchasing an Octopus card to get me from place to place is this the best option for such an excursion?

Any helpful information is much appreciated!
Thanks in advance.

I went several years ago, before the new airport was completed. We took the ferry from HK to Lantau, then a bus up to the monastery and the Buddha. I would imagine you can still do this.

Are you sure the MTR station is near the monastery, or is it at the airport?

Sorry I can't be more helpful. It's an interesting excursion to make.

You certainly can?t walk from the station to the temple. The station you want is Tung Chung on the line of the same name, which is much cheaper than taking the Airport Express. From Tung Chung take a bus to the Po Lin Monastery.

I suggest that you then take another bus to Mui Wo (Silvermine Bay) have lunch there before catching a ferry back to Central. That way you get to see more of Lantau as well as having a ferry ride. We did this with friends in March and it was an enjoyable day.

Hello - we went to Tung Chung MTR and then took a taxi from there up to the monastery - it only took about 25 mins, the bus takes an hour. Agree with going to Silvermine Bay after. Have a great time!

Hi:

My Lantau Island Ferry/Bus schedule is almost 2 years old, but here goes -
- Hong Kong (Central/Pier 7) to Mui Wo (Silvermine Bay), about every couple of hours in the morning & about every hour in the afternoon (both mostly around the half hour), ~50 min & $10.50hkd each way
- Mui Wo to Ngong Ping (Po Lin Monastery w/Big Buddah) - Bus Route #2, about every half hour, ~45 min & $16hkd

Alternatively, there was a bus listed (Route 1R 'Hung Hom Ferry to Ngong Ping') that from the New World Centre (Salisbury Road) in the mornings only, every half hour, ~95 min & $40hkd. With a return on Route 23 to the Tung Chung Town Centre (where you'll have to catch the MTR), about every half hour, ~50 min & $16hkd.

BTW - we did the ferry/bus to the monistary in the morning, took #21 bus to Tai O (fishing village on stilts) in the afternoon, the #11 bus from Tai O to Tung Chung Town Centre & MTR back to our hotel (we were the only 'tourists' on the Tai O to Tung Chung Town Centre bus, which made it more interesting/fun).

Hope this helps,

Z