Hong Kong's largest island famous for its Big Buddha

Lantau is Hong Kong’s largest island, twice the size of Hong Kong Island but with only 105,000 inhabitants compared to Hong Kong Island’s 1.3 million. Much of its population growth and growing popularity have occurred only in the past few decades, following such developments as the construction of Hong Kong International Airport in 1998, creation of a new satellite town at Tung Chung, and the 2006 opening of Hong Kong Disneyland.

Po Lin Monastery, long famous for its vegetarian meals, became Lantau’s biggest attraction with the construction in 1993 of the world’s largest seated outdoor bronze Big Buddha. But there are plenty of other destinations that are less traveled, including Tai O, a fishing village known for its houses built on stilts, country parks and the 43 miles/70km Lantau Trail.