Hong Kong, Ngongping 360 (2009, Apr 23-24)

Ngong Ping 昂坪 ang2ping2 is a highland in the western part of Lantau Island 大嶼山 da4yu3shan1, Hongkong. It hosts Po Lin Monastery 寶蓮禪寺 and Tian Tan Buddha Statue 天壇大佛 amidst the hill. It is now the terminus of the cable car ride Ngong Ping Cable Car 昂坪纜車 which travels to Tung Chung 東涌 and vice versa.

Ngong Ping Cable Car is a visually spectacular 5.7 km bi-cable ropeway, travelling between Tung Chung Town Center and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. The Ngong Ping Cable Car has two terminals, Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal 東涌纜車站 in Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal 昂坪纜車站 on Lantau Island. The cable car journey begins from Tung Chung, crossing Tung Chung Bay to reach the angle station on Airport Island and turning about 60 degrees in the air towards North Lantau. Gazing at the 360 degree panorama from high above in your cable car, the 25 minutes ride will captivate your senses with a breathtaking view of the Thung Chung Bay 東涌灣 from Tower 2B, a spectacular view of HK International Airport 香港國際機場 (colloquially known as Chep Lak Kok Airport 赤鱲角機場 chi4la4jiao3ji1chang3) from Tower 3, a stunning view of Ngong Ping Plateau 昂坪平原 and Lantau North and South Country Parks 北大嶼郊野公園及南大嶼郊野公園 from Tower 4, a magnificent view of Tian Tan Buddha Statue 天壇大佛 from Nei Lak Shan Angle Station 彌勒山轉向站 mi2le4shan1, and a beautiful cable car view of Ngong Ping Village 昂坪市集 upon arriving at Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal.

Adjacent to the Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal, Ngong Ping Village is an impressive cultural themed village, which offers a variety of dining and shopping experiences and 3 major attractions, Walking with Buddha 與佛同行 and The Monkey Tale's Theatre 靈猴影院, Ngong Ping Nature Center 昂坪自然中心, including easy access to the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Tian Tan Buddha Statue. Tian Tan Buddha Statue is the major centre for Buddhism in Hong Kong and is located next to the Po Lin Monastery.

Getting There: Get off at MTR Tung Chung Station Exit B 港鐵東涌站 B 出口 to Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal 東涌纜車站 dong1yong3lan3che1zhan4

昂坪 360 Ngong Ping 360
熱線 Hotline: 852 2109 9898
網頁 Website: www.np360.com.hk

Half a day trip to Ngong Ping 360 was too short indeed, but my Amazing Race was far from over :) Next target would be finding my way to China Ferry Terminal 中國客運碼頭 to catch the last ferry to Macau.

Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal

 Moving Stairway to Ticketing Office and Cable Car Platform Entry 售票處及纜車月台入口

Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal is adjacent to MTR's Tung Chung Station. It is a two-minute walk from Exit B of the station.

Ngong Ping 360 Limited (the Company) is a subsidiary of the MTR Corporation. Its principal business is to operate the Ngong Ping Cable Car and Ngong Ping Village. By the time I was there, MTR Tourist Day Pass holder is entitled to 10% discount off published prices for purchase of Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ticket or Journey of Enlightment Package at Ngong Ping 360 Ticketing Offices.

Welcome

Check-in at ticketing counter and proceed to onboard cable car.

Opening Hours:
Weekdays: 10.00 to 18.00
Weekends & Public Holidays: 09.00 to 18.30

For more details, visit www.np360.com.hk or call hotline 852-2109 9898

Ngong Ping 360 Cableway

While travelling the 5.7 km cableway, visitors to the attraction will be able to sit in cars of 10 (with room for another seven standing) as they pass each of the eight towers which hold the cable sky-high.

View from Tower 1

 Sliding smoothly from Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal to Tower 1 in a foggy spring day. 

View from Tower 1

View of Tung Chung Bay from Tower 2B.

View of Tung Chung Bay

They didn't name Ngong Ping 360 for no reason. It's because Ngong Ping Cable Car is surrounded by windows on 4 sides. thus it offers stunning "360 degree" views. 

You can either opt for regular cable car or crystal cabin. 

Ngong Ping Hike

Notice the trails below. Wonder if anyone ever try the hiking trails once in a while. Good to measure your self-determination, patience and endurance. 

The NP360 Rescue Trail

The Ngong Ping 360 Emergency Rescue Trail is intended to provide access for maintenance and emergency rescue for the Ngong Ping 360 cable car system linking Tung Chung with Ngong Ping. It comprises a series of specially constructed concrete and stone footpaths, steps and timber boardwalks for a length of approximately 5.6 km. The trail passes across mountains, valleys, alongside the cable car towers, angle stations, helicopter landing pads and for much of the way runs directly under the path of the cable cars. The trail was also used by mules for transportation of materials during construction of the cable car system. 

The trail is open to the public with the proviso that it is undertaken at your own risk. 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294217-c62437/Hong-Kong:China:Ngong.Ping.Hike.html  

View of Lantau Country Parks

Ngong Ping 360 Digital Photo

As you approach the Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal and the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal during your journey, gather around the front and center of the cable car for a group photo! Look out for a monkey holding a sign that says "Ready! Smile!". A 'smart monkey' will take a digital photo of you with your family and friends that will be able to purchase at the Ngong Ping 360 Digital Photo Gallery.

Tips for great photos:
Keep an eye out for an orange monkey that reminds you a picture will be taken soon! When you see an orange monkey, "Say Cheese" right away!

A Shot in The Air

No foods (except drinking water) are allowed inside the cable car cabin.

Smoking, littering and spitting are prohibited on the cable cars. This is enforced by HKSAR government bylaws and any person who contravenes them is liable to a fine. 

View of Tian Tan Buddha

View of Tian Tan Buddha Statue from Nei Lak Shan Angle Station.

Giant Buddha from Afar

View of Tian Tan Buddha Station from adjacent bridge to Ngong Ping Village.

Say Cheese, Girls

Ngong Ping Village

Ngong Ping Village

Occupying 1.5 hectares, this themed Chinese-style village is located near the Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal. We can find a wide range of restaurants and souvenir shops plus several themed attractions. 

Upon arriving, you can engage in "Walking with Buddha". Immerse on the 7 scenes of the multi-media audio-visual showcase on the life of Siddharta Gautama. Follow the story of Siddharta's path to enlightment through this enriching experience. 

Next stop is Monkey Tale's Theater. Enjoy an animated Jataka fable that will bring joy, laughter and a powerful lesson on the value of sharing. 

Ngong Ping Nature Center is surely not a place you'll miss out. Check out the educational displays, 3D models and videos of Lantau's surroundings. You can enjoy the guided eco-tours of the Ngong Ping area to enhance your knowledge of environmental and ecological conservations. 

If exploring Ngong Ping village is not enough, take your trip one step further by visiting nearby Po Lin Monastery and climbing 268 steps, circling the lotus platform where The Giant Buddha sits. Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue are open to the public between 10.00 and 17.45. And while you are at it, following the trails to Wisdom Path 心經簡林 is not a bad idea at all. Enjoy tranquility and refresh your soul in a peaceful rural area by walking along the hiking trails of Ngong Ping Trail 昂坪棧道 (ang2ping2zhan4dao4) and Lantau Trail 鳳凰經

NP Souvenir Shops

Bought a NP360 Icon fridge magnet for HKD18, a cabin car blue tee for HKD75 and an Olympic black tee for HKD75.

Goodbye NP

The see-you-again gestures from the three monkey friends of The Monkey Tale: 
Clever 阿叻 The Orange Haired Monkey.
Doofus 阿笨 The Black Haired Monkey. 
Tag-a-long 阿細 The Blue Haired Monkey.

View from MTR

View from MTR

Otw to China Ferry Terminal 

Hongkong China Ferry Terminal 中國客運碼頭 or 中港碼頭 is a ferry terminal, located at China Hongkong City, 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hongkong. It is one of three cross-border ferry terminals in Hongkong besides the Hongkong Macau Ferry Terminal 港澳碼頭 (located in the Shun Tak Centre 信德中心 at Sheung Wan 上環, Hongkong Island 香港島) and the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier 屯門碼頭 (located in the southern area of Tuen Mun 屯門).


Entering China Hongkong City 中港城, I got the feeling of strolling along a shopping complex rather than a ferry terminal. China Hongkong City is a commercial complex including five office towers which have a shopping centre, office buildings, a hotel and a ferry terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hongkong. 


The pier has operated since 1988. It operates 06.00-22.00 Mon-Fri, and 06.00-02.00 Sat, Sun and public holidays. It provides ferry services to Macau and Mainland China. 



Several ferry companies operate routes that depart from the China Ferry Terminal. We had no idea of which one is the best so we just blindly picked New World First Ferry Services (Macau) Limited 新世界第一渡輪服務澳門有限公司. It was not disappointing because in the end it turned out to be a great choice. 


http://www.nwff.com.hk/eng/services/CFT_M/
First Ferry (Macau) Ticketing Office:
- Shop 8B & 3, 1/F, China Ferry Terminal, 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hongkong. 
- Avenida da Amizade, Floor 2, Shop 2007, Macau Ferry Terminal, Macau. (Shop 2007, 2/F, New Jetfoil Terminal, Macau)

Customer Services Hotline: 852 2131 8181 (Hongkong), 853 727676 (Macau)


新渡輪 (澳門) 售票處:
九龍尖沙咀廣東道中港客運碼頭 1 樓 03 室
澳門新口岸外港客運碼頭 2  樓 2007 室

顧客服務電話專線:
852 2131 8181 (香港)
853 727676 (澳門)

Canton Road Sidewalk

The beautifully decorated sidewalk at Canton Road 廣東道.

Canton Road

A lovely stroll along Canton Road. Apparently it was quite cold. To my tropically Jakartan blood stream, it felt very cold. It was quite a novelty to see everyone wearing jackets here as well.