Instead of taking the cable car to the big bronze Buddha statue in Ngong Ping, my fellow hikers and I took the healthier but much longer option of hiking all the way there from Tung Chung (where the MTR station is). From Ngong Ping, we hiked for another 1.5 hours to the fishing village of Tai O. Here are pictures from the hike that took place on 9 Jan.


A photo taken at the start of the hike. Our first rest stop was the cable car tower at the top of the picture.


Walking on the broadwalk that follows the same route of the cable cars above.


At this point of elevation, we were able to see Hong Kong’s Chep Lap Kok international airport and the cable cars at the right of this photo.


At our third rest stop, there were several wild dogs who were eyeing the food brought by hikers passing through.


Our lunch stop accorded us a lovely view of the sea and airplanes flying towards the airport – spot the plane on the left upper third of the photo! We were probably about 450m above sea level at that point.


One for the album! It doesn’t look like it, but it’s really the sea down below. The clouds have cast their shadows on the sea hence it looks a little dark!


A view of the Buddha from afar. We still had about 40min of walking to do before reaching there.


A side view of the Buddha facing Lantau Peak.


Finally we reach Ngong Ping station and the Buddha!


From Ngong Ping, we hiked along the cliffs that line the coast to make our way to Tai O.


I love the sea! I love cities that are surrounded by water. There’s something about the ocean that I find so compelling.


Along our way to Tai O, we came across a family of free roaming cows. The calf is so cute! Never expected it in Hong Kong, did you?


An old lady hangs fish out to dry at her home in Tai O. The residents of Tai O lead such a vastly different lifestyle from fellow Hong Kongers. You almost can’t believe it’s Hong Kong when you’re in Tai O.


To reward ourselves after a 5-hour hike, two fellow hikers and I treated ourselves to a bowl of soya beancurd each in Tai O’s village centre. It tasted especially good as we were exhausted by then!