We took the train to Tung Chung near the airport on the North side of Lantau Island, and then the 'Ngong Ping 360' cable-car over the middle of the island to Ngong Ping Village.
The views over the airport and the pearl river delta were spectacular. We could see Shenzhen to the north - my first glimpse of mainland China - and then Macau to the south.
Video: Ngong Ping 360 cable car.
We alighted in Ngong Ping which is a reproduction Chinese mountain village with plenty of cafes and shops. I thought it was rather attractive.
And we were very happy to have second breakfast and a coffee in the 'Euro' cafe (which also sold New Zealand honey).
Ngong Ping village is criticized for being tacky. It is indeed tacky, but its high quality tack.
We didn't see the Buddha show....
... but I genuinely enjoyed the plastic reproduction Bodhi tree....
... and a kung fu performance by real Shaolin monks.
Video: Shaolin monks Kung Fu
More Shaolin monks...
The ancient Tai Tan Buddha is almost 20 years old, having been erected in 1993. According to Wiki "The Buddha is 34 metres (112 ft) tall, weighs 250 metric tons..., and was the world's tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha prior to 2007". (For more about giant buddhas and global 'buddha inflation' click here).
After the Ngong Ping village I was half-expecting the Buddha to have a revolving restaurant in its head. But in fact the image has a wonderful presence and serenity that you sometimes feel in the best buddhist art.
"The Tian Tan Buddha appears serene and dignified. His right hand is raised, representing the removal of affliction. The Buddha's left hand rests on his lap in a gesture of giving dhana. The Buddha faces north [to China], which is unique among the great Buddha statues, as all others face south." (Wiki)
"In addition, there are 3 floors beneath the Buddha statue: The Hall of Universe, The Hall of Benevolent Merit, and The Hall of Remembrance. One of the most renowned features inside is a relic of Gautama Buddha, consisting of some of his alleged cremated remains. "
Video: Granny and Granddad exiting the Buddha museum through a lotus petal, and the view across Pearl River Delta towards Macau (note Granny is bathed in mystical white light).
After the Buddha we had a very nice vegetarian lunch at the Po Lin Monestery.
After lunch we took a taxi down the south coast of Lantau Island to Mui Wo (Silvermine Bay) where Hannah played in the playground and had a swim in the sea with Daddy while the rest of the party got caught in a downpour.
Finally we took the ferry back from Mui Wo back to Central, and had Peking Duck in a chinese restaurant in Sheung Wan that we used to frequent in our first month in Hong Kong.
Hannah took this photo of Granny and Granddad at the restaurant.
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