Ngong Ping 360
Today I visited the much-heralded (and long-delayed) Ngong Ping Skyrail cable car ride. I had hoped to feature it in Asia and Away three times last year, only to be told each time that the opening was being put back. The magazine went bust a full five months before the bloody thing finally saw the light of day. Actually, it did open in July, but broke down within a day, leaving passengers stranded in mid-air and prompting another extended wait for those itching to enjoy this long-hyped 'journey of enlightenment.'
At 5.7 kilometres in length, Ngong Ping is apparently the longest cable car ride in the world. It takes between 20 and 25 minutes to complete the journey, made at steep angles over Lantau's mountainous landscape. Towards the end of the journey, the route dips down over the inlet which runs between Lantau proper and the reclaimed land upon which Hong Kong Airport has been built. It's a thrilling moment. Looking down through the inevitable smog, it's just about possible to see the planes taking off. You can also look down at the mammoth 50-storey hives of apartment blocks at Tung Chung.
The journey is made in a huge glass bubble of a carriage. Scarily, there was a labrynithine queueing maze at the entrance, though today we had to only wait a few minutes to board the car. If the crowd is big, they will squeeze 18 people into each car. This would almost certainly detract from the experience. As it was, we were a group of just five and had the bubble to ourselves. There was actually enough space to move around, even if doing so was likely to inspire vertigo.
The cable car joins Tung Chung (located at the end of the eponymous Tung Chung MTR subway line) and the Ngong Ping Village, a veritable Disneyland of a 'traditional Chinese village' (complete with every American chain store you can care to name). The only good thing about the Village is that it is right next to Lantau's famous Big Buddha. The Buddha, and the cable car, have become two of Hong Kong's 'essential' tourist experiences (rivalled only by the obligatory cable car ride up to Victoria Peak). Now it's possible to kill two birds with one stone.
The cost of a single ride on the Skyrail is HKD 58. It's a steal. Ngong Ping Skyrail is a fabulous experience.
