The cable car closes for scheduled maintenance, 8 to 18 September 2026.

Ngong Ping Village and its indoor attractions stay open, and New Lantao Bus 23 still runs from Tung Chung up to the plateau.

Confirm your date before booking, as the cable car sometimes closes.

Which Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car Ticket Fits Your Visit?

Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin Guided 5-Hour Tour, Tai O Boat Guided 5-Hour Tour, Tai O Boat 6-Hour Guided Tour, Fishing Village 6-Hour Guided Tour, Fishing Village VIP Priority Boarding, 7-Hour Tour VIP Priority Boarding, 7-Hour Tour Budget Tour, Private Coach Budget Tour, Private Coach

Riding up only: a one-way Standard Cabin ticket from $21.15 (checked September 2026) is the cheapest way onto the plateau, and you can come back down by bus or on foot.

Most visitors buy the round trip, from $25.30, and both legs must be used on the same day. Free cancellation applies if your plans shift.

The Crystal Cabin puts a glass floor under your feet for the climb. Ride one up and take Standard back, and the price difference is not refunded.

Infants aged 0 to 2 ride free and children 3 to 11 pay the child fare. Anyone under 12 must travel with someone aged 15 or older.

Prefer not to plan it yourself: the guided Lantau day tours below bundle the ride with the Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and Tai O, from $45.92 per person (checked September 2026).

Narrow the Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car List to Your Visit

Answer three quick questions and the shortlist below reshapes itself around the ticket that fits your plans.

1. What kind of day are you after?
2. What do you want to pay per person?
3. How much time do you have?

All five options are shown below, from the cable car ticket itself to full guided days taking in the Big Buddha and Tai O. Answer any question to start narrowing them down.

Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car, In Short

Two Ways to Reach the Big Buddha

The split is simple. A cable car ticket on its own means you set the pace: ride up, spend as long as you want at the Buddha and the monastery, and return when it suits you. A guided tour handles transport and timing for you, over five to seven hours, often adding a Tai O boat ride. Both options below carry free cancellation.

CategoryBest forTypical lengthFromLead tour
Cable car tickets Good for independent travellers who want to reach the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery on their own, with round trips from $25.30 25 minutes each way $21.15 Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin
Guided day tours Built for visitors who want the Lantau logistics handled, from $45.92 per person 5 hours $67.60 Guided 5-Hour Tour, Tai O Boat
Passengers seated inside a standard Ngong Ping 360 cabin looking out over Tung Chung Bay and the airport island through large windows Ngong Ping 360 tickets and fares Ride the gondola from Tung Chung across the bay and over Nei Lak Shan to Ngong Ping Village, 25 minutes each way. Good for independent travellers who want to reach the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery on their own, with round trips from $25.30 A small group of visitors on the steps below the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island, seen from behind on a clear morning Guided Lantau day tours Small-group day tours that combine the cable car ride with the Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and the stilt houses of Tai O, with the schedule arranged for you. Built for visitors who want the Lantau logistics handled, from $45.92 per person

Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car Tickets

The standard ticket from the official operator, with cabin type picked at booking and free cancellation.

Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin

Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin

4.7 61,490 reviews

25 minutes each way · The cable car · Ngong Ping 360 Limited

A 25-minute ride each way between Tung Chung and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, crossing Tung Chung Bay and the hills of Nei Lak Shan toward the Tian Tan Big Buddha. Choose a Standard Cabin or the glass-floor Crystal Cabin, one way or round trip, with free cancellation on the ticket.

Check Price & Availability →

Every Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car Fare

The operator's own fare grid covers every cabin and passenger class, detail the resale listings skip. Pick Standard or Crystal, one way or round trip, and the counter price is there in black and white.

All 11 published fares are listed below, with the adult, child and senior price on every line.

TicketCabinTripGate fare in Hong Kong dollars
Round Trip, Crystal+ Both Ways Crystal+ Round trip Adult HK$545 about US$70 Child 3-11 HK$400 about US$51 Senior HK$405 about US$52
Round Trip, Crystal+ Up and Standard Back Mixed cabins Round trip Adult HK$420 about US$54 Child 3-11 HK$275 about US$35 Senior HK$280 about US$36
Round Trip, Crystal Cabin Crystal Round trip Adult HK$365 about US$47 Child 3-11 HK$220 about US$28 Senior HK$235 about US$30
Round Trip, Crystal One Way and Standard One Way Mixed cabins Round trip Adult HK$330 about US$42 Child 3-11 HK$185 about US$24 Senior HK$195 about US$25
Round Trip, Standard Cabin Standard Round trip Adult HK$295 about US$38 Child 3-11 HK$150 about US$19 Senior HK$155 about US$20
Single Trip, Crystal+ Crystal+ Single trip Adult HK$330 about US$42 Child 3-11 HK$225 about US$29 Senior HK$230 about US$29
Single Trip, Crystal Cabin Crystal Single trip Adult HK$240 about US$31 Child 3-11 HK$135 about US$17 Senior HK$145 about US$18
Single Trip, Standard Cabin Standard Single trip Adult HK$205 about US$26 Child 3-11 HK$100 about US$13 Senior HK$105 about US$13
Private Crystal+ Cabin, One WayWhole cabin, up to 10 guests, booked at least 3 days ahead Crystal+ Single trip Whole cabin HK$3,050 about US$389
Private Standard Cabin, Round TripWhole cabin, up to 10 guests Standard Round trip Whole cabin HK$4,200 about US$536
Private Crystal Cabin, Round TripWhole cabin, up to 10 guests Crystal Round trip Whole cabin HK$4,800 about US$612
  • Infants aged 0 to 2 ride free, and the child fare covers ages 3 to 11.
  • Senior pricing is limited to Hong Kong residents holding a valid JoyYou Card or Hong Kong Senior Citizen Card. Adult and child fares are identical for residents and overseas visitors.
  • Both legs of a round trip are valid on the same day only.
  • Guests with a disability get 30% off at the Tung Chung or Ngong Ping ticket office on production of valid proof, from 1 April 2026.

These are the operator's own gate fares in Hong Kong dollars, taken from its ticket page. A ticket booked ahead is priced by whoever sells it, so the amount you pay can differ from the figure in this table. US dollar figures are converted at 7.8403 to the dollar, the reference rate of 2026-09-04, and are approximate rather than official.

Check availability

Guided Lantau Day Tours

Five-hour and six-hour outings that fold the cable car into a bigger Lantau day, with Tai O and the Big Buddha on the same route.

Most-reviewed listings here

Guided 5-Hour Tour, Tai O Boat

5 hours

4.7 652 reviews

Guided day tour pairing the cable car ride with Tai O, the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. Runs five hours with a private coach leg and a Tai O boat trip, rated 4.7 across 652 reviews, with free cancellation.

from $67.60per person, live price on the listing Check Price & Availability → Free cancellation

Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car Options Compared

Ticket versus tour, side by side.

TourDurationFood & drinksFree cancellationPickupFrom
Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin 25 minutes each way sightseeing only see the listing meet at the start point $21.15
Guided 5-Hour Tour, Tai O Boat 5 hours sightseeing only up to 24 h before meet at the start point $67.60
6-Hour Guided Tour, Fishing Village 6 hours sightseeing only check the listing meet at the start point $70.15
VIP Priority Boarding, 7-Hour Tour 7 hours sightseeing only check the listing meet at the start point $100.76
Budget Tour, Private Coach 5 hours sightseeing only check the listing meet at the start point $45.92

What Makes the Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car Worth the Ride

The numbers behind the ride, drawn from the operator's own published details.

5.7 kmcable car length from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping
25 mintypical journey time each way
108cabins running on the line
1.56mguests carried in 2024, about 4,843 a day

At the top terminal the plateau holds more than the cable car. Ngong Ping Village sits between the station and the Tian Tan Buddha, whose 268 steps rise to a statue that visitors can climb to free of charge. Po Lin Monastery and the Wisdom Path sit within easy walking distance of the top station, so a single ride up delivers a full half-day of Lantau without any further transport.

When to Ride

Two things decide how the day goes: whether the cable car is running at all, and whether the air is clear enough to see the airport, the bay and the hills from your cabin.

Morning Weekdays

Hong Kong's fog season. Spring haze can swallow the North Lantau hills entirely, and a cabin inside cloud shows you very little. If the forecast looks murky, aim for the first departures of the morning, which tend to beat the fog that builds through the day.

Late Afternoon

Hot, humid, and the typhoon window. High winds and severe weather signals suspend the cable car, so a summer booking can be cancelled on the day. The upside is thinner crowds on the plateau when the weather does hold.

May to September

Hong Kong's humid months bring haze and afternoon storms, so morning rides give the best odds of a clear run. Views can still open up beautifully between showers, and weekday queues stay shorter than at Chinese New Year or Christmas.

Maintenance closures

The cable car closes for scheduled maintenance several times a year, announced in advance. Ngong Ping Village and the plateau attractions stay open, and New Lantao Bus 23 still climbs to Ngong Ping from Tung Chung, so the Big Buddha itself remains reachable even when the cabins are stopped.

What You Will See from the Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car

The 25-minute crossing shifts scenery several times over water, hills and plateau.

Airport Island and Tung Chung Bay

The first stretch crosses open water beside Hong Kong International Airport, with aircraft moving on the runways below and the angle station standing out on the Airport Island section.

Lantau's green spine

The cable car then climbs over green ridges toward Nei Lak Shan, the stretch of the ride the glass-floored Crystal cabins are really sold on.

The Ngong Ping plateau

The Tian Tan Buddha appears while you are still in the air, seated at the top of 268 steps. Po Lin Monastery stands beside it, and Ngong Ping Village sits right where the cabins arrive.

Getting to the Tung Chung Terminal

Choose your starting point and the route below gives you the line, the rough journey time and the walking distance at the far end, plus the road alternative that still works when the cabins are not running.

All 4 starting points are listed below. Pick one to narrow this to a single route.

From Hong Kong Station or Central

MTR Tung Chung Line About 30 minutes, no change of line

  • Adult, Octopus HK$24.30 about US$3.10
  • Adult, single-journey ticket HK$28.00 about US$3.57
  • Child, Octopus HK$12.50 about US$1.59
  • Elderly, Octopus HK$4.90 about US$0.62

The operator quotes a taxi from Central at about HK$290 and about 30 minutes, tunnel and bridge tolls included.

From Tsim Sha Tsui or Kowloon

MTR to Tung Chung

  • Adult, Octopus HK$18.70 about US$2.39
  • Adult, single-journey ticket HK$21.00 about US$2.68
  • Child, Octopus HK$9.40 about US$1.20
  • Elderly, Octopus HK$3.70 about US$0.47

The operator publishes a journey time for the Hong Kong Station run only, and the MTR open data carries fares rather than timings, so no minute figure is printed for this one.

Kowloon and Tsim Sha Tsui are priced the same to Tung Chung in the MTR fare data.

The operator quotes a taxi from Tsim Sha Tsui at about HK$220 and about 37 minutes, tolls included.

From Hong Kong International Airport

Road, on the same island The operator puts the Tung Chung terminal 20 minutes from the airport

No airport fare is stated here. The MTR fare data behind this block prices the Tung Chung Line, and it does not price a rail trip from the airport.

Cabin luggage is capped at 48 cm by 34 cm by 23 cm, or 4 kg, under the Tung Chung Cable Car Bylaw, which matters if you arrive with a case.

Left luggage costs HK$100 a piece at the Tung Chung terminal, no booking needed, collected before the cable car closes the same day.

Shun Tung Road bus station, where the E-route airport buses stop, is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the terminal.

From Hong Kong Disneyland

MTR, with a change of line

  • Adult, Octopus HK$15.90 about US$2.03
  • Adult, single-journey ticket HK$17.00 about US$2.17
  • Child, Octopus HK$7.70 about US$0.98
  • Elderly, Octopus HK$3.20 about US$0.41

The MTR open data prices this pair but publishes no journey time for it, so no minute figure is printed.

Disneyland Resort station sits on the Disneyland Resort Line and Tung Chung is the end of the Tung Chung Line, so the trip takes one change.

Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal sits next to Tung Chung MTR station: a 5-minute walk from Exit B, roughly 300 m. The ticket office is on the first floor of the terminal.

The Road Alternative: New Lantao Bus 23

Route 23 climbs Tung Chung Road over the mountain to Ngong Ping, 38 stops in all. It is the road fallback when the cable car is closed for maintenance or stopped by weather, and the cheap option the rest of the time.

  • Tung Chung Tat Tung Road Bus Terminus, beside the cable car terminal to Ngong Ping, 38 stops
  • Adult, normal day HK$20.40 about US$2.60
  • Adult, Sunday or public holiday HK$37.00 about US$4.72

Frequencies and first and last departures are not in the Transport Department open data feed, so none are stated here.

Where the Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car Starts and Ends

The ride links Tung Chung, next to Citygate Outlets, with Ngong Ping Village, where the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery wait.

Schematic of the Ngong Ping 360 cable car route across Lantau Island Pin positions are plotted from real coordinates. The Tung Chung terminal sits at the northeast beside Tung Chung MTR station. The cable car runs northwest across Tung Chung Bay to an angle station near the airport channel, then turns southwest over the North Lantau hills past Nei Lak Shan to the Ngong Ping terminal. The Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and the Wisdom Path sit on the Ngong Ping plateau, and the stilt village of Tai O lies further west along the coast. Each pin opens the matching tour or section. SOUTH CHINA SEA LANTAU ISLAND angle station 5.7 km, about 25 min Tung Chung terminal: the lower station, a 5-minute walk from Tung Chung MTR Exit BTung Chung terminal Tung Chung MTR station: about 30 minutes from Hong Kong Station on the Tung Chung lineMTR Ngong Ping terminal: the upper station on the plateau, next to Ngong Ping VillageNgong Ping terminal Tian Tan Buddha: the Big Buddha, reached by 268 stepsBig Buddha Po Lin Monastery: beside the Big Buddha on the Ngong Ping plateauPo Lin Monastery Wisdom Path: closed for refurbishment since June 2025Wisdom Path Tai O: stilt-house fishing village on the west coast, reached by New Lantao Bus 21Tai O Nei Lak Shan: the hill the cable car climbs over before the plateauNei Lak Shan

Sketch map, not to scale. Tap a pin to open its tour or section, and use the live map for walking directions.

What Riders Say About the Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car

“We really enjoyed the cable car experience. The Crystal+ Cabin gave us amazing views, and the Standard Cabin ride was smooth and comfortable. Everything was well organized, and the ticket redemption process was easy. Definitely worth trying when visiting Hong Kong.”

SamBernard, operator-listing review of Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin

“Booked the crystal cabin for a nice view. It also saved us a plenty of time, as the lines in standard cabin were quite long when we got there. I suggest if you have a budget, booked the crystal or crystal+ cabin. So worth it!”

Bettina, operator-listing review of Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin

“Choosing a round trip cable is the best choice. It gave me plenty of time to go around the last stop (Giant Buddha) and 3 hours to hike Lantau Peak. Map says it's a 30minute hike up but it took me 2hrs to climb and 1hr to get back and catch the 6pm last trip cable car. This made my last day in Hong Kong memorable.”

Bon, operator-listing review of Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin

“Excellent way of seeing the side of Hong Kong that’s outside the hustle and bustle of the city itself. Being able to experience the wonderful nature, picturesque Buddhist mountain monastery, and a real-life fishing village where friendly locals greet you with their fresh produce, took us to a place of how Hong Kong territory used to be a few decades ago. Our guide, Lisa, was absolutely wonderful, patient and accommodating, making our overall experience that much more enjoyable.”

Bojan, South Africa, operator-listing review of VIP Priority Boarding, 7-Hour Tour

“Do not have to redeem ticket from the counter. Go straight to the queue and there is a scanner to scan the QR code. After passing thru the scan you will proceed to one of the lane based on the type ticket purchased. The standard ticket has the longest queue while the Crystal+ ticket has shortest queue. If you do not wish to waste time queuing, then buy Crystal+ ticket.”

Boon, operator-listing review of Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin

“This tour well and truly exceeded our expectations! Hody our guide was superb, she was knowledgeable, funny and cared for the group very well. We would 100% recommend this tour for anybody wishing to visit Hong Kong for the first time, or maybe if you just missed Lantau Island the first time around. Thank you once again Hody!!!”

Adey, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of 6-Hour Guided Tour, Fishing Village

“The cabin can accommodate upto 8 people so you’ll have to share the cabin. Queue was pretty longer for the standard cabin, so I’m glad I booked the crystal one. Overall, I’m so happy with this experience!”

Raquel, operator-listing review of Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin

“Alfred was a star! His knowledge was impressive and his instructions really clear. Without a group we’d never have managed to do half these things and it was a well-organised and very memorable day. The trip to Tai O felt very special (and we saw a dolphin!) and was something we never would have tried without a guide. Fantastic trip and felt like very good value.”

Hannah, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of Guided 5-Hour Tour, Tai O Boat

“Ivan was a brilliant guide. Super knowledgeable, funny and interesting! I’d recommend this to anyone, it’s great value and on our trip, we even managed to see a dolphin! Highly recommended”

Callum, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of Budget Tour, Private Coach

Quotes are copied as written from these operators’ public listing reviews; we do not collect, select or edit them for tone.

Where to Stay Near the Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car

Tung Chung is the practical base. The lower terminal is a short walk from the MTR station, so staying there puts you in the queue before it lengthens and before the plateau fills up with tour groups.

mid-range

Novotel Citygate Hong Kong

51 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung Town Centre, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, attached to Citygate Outlets beside Tung Chung MTR

★ 8.8

The handiest full-service base for an early ride: it shares a block with Citygate Outlets and Tung Chung MTR, so the cable car terminal is a short walk with no bus or train leg to build into the morning.

Check rates
upscale

Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung Hotel

9 Yi Tung Road, Tung Chung North, Lantau Island, Hong Kong

★ 9.2

A full-service option at the comfortable end of Tung Chung, with a pool and dining, suited to travellers who want a proper hotel rather than just a bed near the station.

Check rates
budget

City Oasis Guesthouse

Ngau Au Village, Tung Chung West, Lantau Island, Hong Kong

★ 9

A modest guesthouse for travellers who would rather put the savings toward a Crystal Cabin ride, accepting a short bus or taxi hop to reach the terminal.

Check rates

Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car Questions, Answered

How many minutes does the ride to the Big Buddha take?

About 25 minutes each way. Cabins run continuously rather than to a timetable, so what you wait in is the boarding queue, not for a departure. The ride crosses the Airport Island angle station and the Nei Lak Shan country side before reaching the plateau.

What are Ngong Ping 360 ticket prices?

Booked through the listing, a Standard Cabin one-way ticket starts at $21.15 per adult (checked September 2026), and a round trip starts at $25.30. The ticket is run by Ngong Ping 360 Limited and carries free cancellation, so you are not locked in if your plans shift.

Does the glass floor justify the higher fare?

What the higher tier buys is a glass floor, not a shorter or different ride. It pays off most on the climb over the hills, where the drop beneath the cabin is at its steepest. The route, the 25-minute timing and both terminals are identical whichever cabin you choose, so it comes down to whether you want the view under your feet as well as out the sides.

Do you pay to enter the Tian Tan Buddha site?

No. Climbing the 268 steps to the Tian Tan Buddha costs nothing. What you pay for is reaching the plateau in the first place, whether by cable car, bus or a guided tour, plus anything extra inside the statue's base.

What are your options when the ride shuts for servicing?

The plateau stays reachable. Ngong Ping Village keeps its doors open during scheduled closures, and public buses still run up from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping, so the Big Buddha, the monastery and the Wisdom Path can all be reached by road. Closures are announced in advance, so check the dates before committing to a dated ticket.

Which MTR line gets you to the Tung Chung terminal?

Take the MTR Tung Chung Line from Hong Kong Station direct to Tung Chung, about 30 minutes with no change of train. From Exit B the terminal is roughly a 5-minute walk, and the ticket office sits on the first floor of the building.

When should you ride up to Ngong Ping?

Early. The boarding queue, the crowds on the 268 steps and the cloud that often sits on the plateau all build through the day, so the first cabins of the morning give you the clearest ride and the quietest Buddha. Going early also leaves the afternoon free for Tai O.

Are large bags allowed in the cabin?

Children do not pay full fare, but the rules have edges. Infants aged 0 to 2 travel free, and the child fare covers ages 3 to 11. One bylaw catches families out: anyone under 12 must ride with a companion aged 15 or older, so a pair of 11-year-olds cannot ride alone. Adults and children pay the same whether you live in Hong Kong or are visiting.

Do children pay full fare?

No, and the discount is the same for visitors and locals. Only the senior fare is restricted to Hong Kong residents, since it requires a JoyYou Card or Hong Kong Senior Citizen Card. Adult and child prices are identical for overseas visitors, so there is no visitor surcharge to work around. Guests with a disability get 30% off at the Tung Chung or Ngong Ping ticket office with valid proof, a discount that applies from 1 April 2026.

More on the Cable Car and Lantau

Deeper pages on cabin types, fares, the Big Buddha and the villages around the upper terminal.

Fares, cabins and the terminals

The Big Buddha and the village

Lantau beyond the ride itself

Ride the Hong Kong Ngong Ping Cable Car

Standard Cabin one-way tickets start at $21.15 per adult (checked September 2026), with round trips from $25.30, and the listing carries free cancellation.

See ticket options →

Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin

Cable Car Ticket Only, Standard Cabin

4.7 61,490 reviews

25 minutes each way · The cable car · Ngong Ping 360 Limited

A 25-minute ride each way between Tung Chung and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, crossing Tung Chung Bay and the hills of Nei Lak Shan toward the Tian Tan Big Buddha. Choose a Standard Cabin or the glass-floor Crystal Cabin, one way or round trip, with free cancellation on the ticket.

Check Price & Availability →
from $21.15 · ★ 4.7 (61,490) · crystal cabins fill first · free cancellation Check availability →