Things to Do at Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha)

Tian Tan Buddha looms over Lantau Island like some sky-bound sentinel, bronze skin flashing in the morning light and sending photographers scrabbling for their cameras. The incense hits you first—dry, woody smoke drifting down from the monastery above, mixing with the salt breeze rolling in from the South China Sea. Up close, the scale shifts. What looked peaceful from the ferry becomes almost too much—34 meters of copper and steel, those elongated earlobes catching every gust. The 268 steps sort the determined from the merely curious, though you'll hear more gasping than grumbling. On clear days the islands stretch out like stepping stones to Southeast Asia; when the mist rolls in, the whole scene turns otherworldly and even selfie-stick warriors drop their voices.

Ride the MTR to Tung Chung station (end of the orange Tung Chung line), then it's 25 minutes by cable car to Ngong Ping. The queue winds through a shopping mall—stock up at Citygate Outlets first. Budget travelers can hop New Lantao Bus 23 from Tung Chung instead—cheaper but 50 minutes of switchback mountain roads. Ferries from Central to Mui Wo connect to bus 2, though this route will eat most of a day.