Five hidden gems on the Lantau Island

Five Lantau Island hidden gems for travelers

Apart from saying hello to the Big Buddha and Mickey Mouse, you can still find 5 out of common tourist track sightseeing points on the largest Lantau Island in Hong Kong......

Inspiration Lake

The free Inspiration Lake, which has a water fountain capable of shooting up to 18 meters in height, is Hong Kong's biggest artificial lake.  

Disney uses the water to irrigate its plants.  

Travelers may pay a reasonable price to ride bicycle around and have paddle-boating on the lake.  

It is a good place for the lovers and families to make some happy memories.

Pak Mong Village

You can see indigenous people's history and life at Pak Mong near the North Lantau Link Highway.  

In the past, most Lantau islanders relied on Pak Mong to travel to other places for works and businesses by boats, just like today's Mui Wo or Tung Chung.  

You can see two heritages at the remote Pak Mong: a small incinerator to burn the wastes and a guard tower to protect the people.

Tung Chung Fort

Lantau was infamous for its pirates lairs and opium smuggling in the past.  

The Qing Dynasty thus built the Tung Chung Fort in about 1830 to strengthen the defense.  

The (190 x 740)m fortress is a rare well-preserved military heritage in Hong Kong.  

You can still see the old cannons there.

Lou Han (Arhat) Temple   

Lou Han (Arhat) Temple is a good place to understand more about the Buddhism.  

In its Arhat Cave, you can see Buddha's students, 18 Arhats.

They have achieved enlightenment, but Buddha ordered them to stay in the world to help the people.  

They have different capabilities and wisdom.  

They propagate Buddhism through helping people, just like the Saints in the Western religions.

Chek Lap Kok New Village Tin Hau Temple

When government developed the new airport on the Chek Lap Kok Island, the indigenous people with their small temple, which was completely built by the granite, were moved to Lantau.  

The rebuilt temple can show you the popular local Goddess of the Seas (Tin Hau) belief, Hong Kong's old industry, masonry, and the masons' great works. 

If you want to get more details and have the private tour planning for the Lantau Island, please contact Frank the tour guide.

You may also consider the three well-designed and highly rated Lantau private car tour program...

Full day Hong Kong Lantau Island tour with Ngong Ping Cable Car ride

Half day Lantau Island Big Buddha tour with Ngong Ping Cable Car ride

Big Buddha Tai O sunset Lantau Island tour with Ngong Ping Cable Car ride

Five WWII relics in the city of Hong Kong

See five WWII relics in the city center of Hong Kong

15 August 2015, is the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender.  Hong Kong was invaded by Japan in 1941.  You can still see Hong Kong's WWII history through five relics in the city of Hong Kong.

(1) Peninsula Hotel

The Christmas decoration of Peninusla Hotel is nice.  But on the Christmas day of 1941, when Japan fully occupied Hong Kong, the grand hotel had no lighting at all because the power station was damaged.  

Hong Kong Governor, Mark Young, was forced to sign the armistice in the room 336 of the hotel under dim candle light.

You can still have afternoon tea set at the lobby floor of the hotel. 

You may even try to book and stay at the room 336 to recollect the history!

(2) Defense position at Stanley Market

There is still a concrete defense position at the Stanley Market next to a big banyan tree.  

Long before WWII, British leaders once guessed that Hong Kong's enemy would come from the sea.  

So lots of defense facilities were built on the southern part of the Hong Kong Island.  

In 1941, however, Japanese Army came from the north. 

Although there were heavy fighting and casualties, the defenders at Stanley could withstand the enemies effectively.

They were the last to surrender to the Japanese. 

(3) Osborn statue at the Hong Kong Park

During the fierce 18-day battle of Hong Kong, defenders fought bravely.  

On 19 December, Canadian defender, Company Sergeant Major Osborn and his company were besieged by the Japanese at Mount Butler.  

For covering his comrades, Osborn just picked up the enemy's grenades and threw them back to the enemy.  

At last, Osborn even threw himself on a grenade to save his comrades.  

The hero was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross and a statue was made to remember him.

(4) Private Maxwell's grave near the St John's Cathedral

Private Maxwell was killed in Wan Chai on 23 December 1941, just two days before the fall of Hong Kong. 

As that was impossible to ship the Catholic Maxwell's body to the cemetery, his comrades decided to bury him near the Protestant St John's Cathedral.  

Later, people led Maxwell rests in peace permanently in Central after the war.

(5) Queen Victoria Statue at Victoria Park

Queen Victoria Statue was once the icon of the Statue Square in Central. 

For securing more metals to make more weapons before its defeat, Japanese Army decided to 'invite' the queen to go to Japan, i.e. STOLE the bronze statue and tried to MELT it.

After Japanese surrender, the Allied Army found this VIP in a warehouse and sent her back to Hong Kong. 

In 1957, Hong Kong Government placed the statue at the entrance of a new Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. 

For private tour planning about the WWII relics, please contact Frank the tour guide.

YOU may also consider the Round Hong Kong Island private tour.

YOU can visit the out of the common tourist track Chung Hom Kok Battery in the southern part of Hong Kong during the tour.