Guide to Ngong Ping 360 and Gondola Ride in Hong Kong
One of the most sought after places in Hong Kong is Ngong Ping not only because of its beauty but also because of the ride that comes with it, the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car ride.
Our first time in Hong Kong wasn’t that bad even though there had been issues internally in the country. During the time of our visit were the on-going protests and the upcoming 2020 New Year celebration. We didn’t spend so much time in Hong Kong, only 3 days and 2 nights because we’re afraid that we’re gonna get bumped into one of the protests sooner or later, and for us, it’s better safe than sorry.
READ: CherryRoam Travel WiFi Review [China, Macau, Hong Kong Travel]
After our Hop-on Hop-Off Bus Tour, we went to Ngong Ping Village for a quick tour, and to experience the crystal cable car ride too commonly known as the Gondola Ride. But before you get there, we highly advise that you book your tickets online to avoid the hassle of lining up with tickets.
We booked our Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car tickets via Musement and it comes with a We Bare Bears Holiday Hangout entry tickets. An addition for the Christmas season.
Ngong Ping 360
The Ngong Ping 360 is a gondola lift on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Intended to improve tourism to the area, the aerial lift was previously known as Tung Chung Cable Car Project before acquiring the Ngong Ping 360 brand in April 2005.
Getting to Ngong Ping 360 / Ngong Ping Village
via MTR
The fastest way is to ride the MTR from any point in HK to MTR Tung Chung Station, Exit B. You can go the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal and take a 25-min ride to Ngong Ping.
via Bus
The fastest way is to ride the MTR from any point in HK to MTR Tung Chung Station, Exit B.
MTR Tung Chung Station, Exit B. From the bus terminus next to the MTR station, take bus 23 to Ngong Ping bus terminal (the journey takes about 50 minutes).
READ: 5D4N Hong Kong and Macau Itinerary | Travel Guide 2018
Getting your Tickets
We booked our tickets in advance via Musement. You can check the rates and book using this link. Downloaded our voucher and presented it to the ticket redeeming window.
The process was really easy. We opted for the Crystal Cabin (which was a clear mirror floor) and the photos here couldn’t do justice. The weather that day wasn’t really good so again, we weren’t able to see the entire beauty of Lantau Island because of the thick fog surrounding the way.
Ngong Ping 360 / Gondola Ride Experience
Our much-awaited experience was to really ride the Gondola and of course, next was getting to the Ngong Ping Village.
After redeeming our tickets, we immediately headed straight to the line for the Gondola Ride.
Tung Chung Cable Car station to Ngong Ping Cable Car station
There will be 2 or 3 lanes for the gondola. One for the regular/standard cabin (regular floor), and one for the crystal cabin (glass floors). You can solo a gondola for yourself and or try to make friends over a 25-min ride if you are quite a friendly one.
As for me and Jane, we got to solo a crystal cabin for ourselves and our happiness cannot be contained. We immediately hopped on with the assistance of a staff. Before your cabin leaves, their photographer will also take a photo of you, but not on your camera or phone.
The 25-minute gondola ride isn’t that long if you are enjoying the scenery. Of course, we didn’t miss the chance to take photos of us in the crystal cabin we have for ourselves.
Though we weren’t able to see the view of the surrounding area, we still enjoyed every bit of the ride. It was an exciting experience for both of us because basically it’s our first time, and our position was really high.
We can see what’s beneath us, the body of water, and the trees – not just that clear because of the fog due to the rain.
READ: 4D3N Macau-Hong Kong Itinerary
Ngong Ping Village
After you finish the 25 mins gondola ride, you’ll exit and be presented with your photo taken earlier at the first station. It’s quite pricey so it’s up to you if you want to buy it or not. Totally optional.
We were greeted with a rain shower and a We Bare Bears set up at the entrance to Ngong Ping Village. Inside the village were various shops, the entry to We Bear Bears Holliday Hangout (Christmas season treat), and the Walk with Buddha. The village was also the main pathway to get to the Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha.
It was just really hard to take great photos since it was drizzling, the clouds were grey, and the overall vibes of the place were so dull.
These places were the most visited part of Lantau Island. After you are done with sightseeing and picture taking, you can take rest at a cafe or a Starbucks Coffee at the village.
Going back to Tung Chung Cable Car Station
When you are finished with your tour, there’s nothing much to do so your only choice is to go back. Depending on the ticket you booked, you could opt for a one-way or return gondola ride.
Jane and I went back to the Ngong Ping Cable Car station and another picture was taken for us after we hopped in. This time, we’re hoping at least for good weather, but unfortunately, it was still foggy especially when you are in mid-air.
Nevertheless, it was an experience that we truly enjoyed!
WiFi for Hong Kong Travel
Most of our trips overseas, we carry reliable travel wifi in order for us to upload our moments and share them with our pages. We have been using Big Sky Nation Travel Wifi since 2018 because this is the most affordable and we already know that the service was truly reliable. If you happen to need one for your travel, you can rent travel wifi via their website and do not forget to use our 15% discount code (THEJERNY) as well.
We have used their WiFi service on our Japan, Taiwan, and China region travels.
Where to Stay near Ngong Ping
If you also happen to have a Disneyland Tour within the same day or the next day, we highly suggest that you book your rooms near Tung Chung Station to avoid the hassle and be early as possible. You can book via Agoda or via Booking.
