It is a bit unusual to come off of spending 3 weeks in one country to hit back in my European trend of spending 3 days in another.
Of course, when thinking of the size relativity of Hong Kong to its neighboring China, one could say I did incredibly wrong by China in comparison.
Still, 72 hours in Hong Kong allowed for a lot of quick site seeing, and a lot still to be missed.
It’s not uncommon for people traveling to Asia to have a layover in Hong Kong. The good news is, you don’t have to sit around and be bored! You can visit the Tian Tan Buddha, or Big Buddha- one of the many things to do in Hong Kong, located approximately 40 minutes to an hour away from the Hong Kong International Airport.
First of all, get an Octopus Card. Not only will you be able transit, you can also buy food without needing to have any cash on hand. This is a great way to get Hong Kong dollar without having to exchange or withdraw money from an ATM. Simply load up your Octopus Card at one of the many 7-11’s in Hong Kong and you are ready to visit the Big Buddha.
To get there, take the MTR to Tung Chung station. Once you get off the MTR, you will then enter a mall called CityGate. The interesting thing about this mall is it has facilities for you to store your luggage!
Next, you either have the option of taking the Ngong Ping Cable Car, or the bus. Your option will depend on your budget, as the price for a round-trip gondola ride is fairly expensive. You decision will also be based on your willingness to line-up for the cable car. (Hint: It’s a VERY long line up!).
Once you reach the top, that’s when the fun begins!