Ngong Ping 360

The steep forested slopes of Lantau Island, the biggest island in Hong Kong, hide some of its most amazing sights – a Buddhist Monastery, smoky mountain peaks, a giant seated Buddha and ancient fishing villages. But much of this was remote, until the opening of the Ngong Ping 360 cable car line in 2006. Now the main town of the island, Tung Chung, is linked, through its gravity-defying high-wires, to the village of Ngong Ping – bringing the many attractions of the hills within reach.

The starting point of the cable car at Tung Chung is also well-connected to the rest of Hong Kong – especially since the completion of the adjacent Hong Kong International Airport, with its first class transport links. Once at the Ngong Ping 360 base station, you'll have a choice of carriage. You can opt for a standard gondola, or go luxury with the 'Crystal Cabin'. This is a cable car that's completely fronted by glass – even the floor – giving you the ultimate viewing experience.

And the view is awe-inspiring – the peaks of Lantau rear up, unspoiled and clad in green tropical forest, all across this island. Below the bright blue South China Sea shimmers. The highest mountain, Lantau Peak is some 930 metres above, and stands proud just next to your destination – Ngong Ping village. This is a purpose-built tourist and entertainment complex, created in architectural sympathy with the nearby Buddhist monastery. Here you can shop for traditional Chinese crafts and souvenirs, or watch vibrant cultural events like Kung Fu demonstrations, or traditional drumming.

Ngong Ping is also a good base to explore the beautiful Po Lin monastery, and the stunning 30-metre high bronze statue of a seated Buddha, unsurprisingly called the Big Buddha. The woods and hills have also been opened up to tracks for cycling and hiking. With its wide open vistas, pretty temples and endless forests, Ngong Ping feels like a different world from Hong Kong – and you may be tempted to eke out your stay until the last cable car of the Ngong Ping 360 slowly descends back down the mountains.