View source for Lantau Island

{{Short description|Largest island in Hong Kong}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2008}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox islands
|name                    = Lantau Island
|image_name              = Lantau Island - Hong Kong.svg
|image_caption           = Lantau Island is highlighted in red.
|location                = Southwest Hong Kong
|coordinates             = {{wikidataCoord||type:island_dim:16km|display=title,inline}}
|area_km2                = 147.16
|highest_mount           = [[Lantau Peak]]
|elevation_m             = 934
|population              = 105,000
|population_as_of        = 2011
|country                 = Hong Kong
|country_admin_divisions_title = Districts
|country_admin_divisions = [[Islands District, Hong Kong|Islands District]] and [[Tsuen Wan District]]
}}
{{Chinese
| pic     = Lantau island full.jpg
| piccap  = Overall view of Lantau Island, seen from the southeast
| picsize = 
| t = 大嶼山
| s = 大屿山
| h = Tai<sup>4</sup> yi<sup>2</sup> san<sup>1</sup>
| y = Daaih yùh sāan
| j = Daai<sup>6</sup> jyu<sup>4</sup> saan<sup>1</sup>
| p = Dà yǔ shān
| l = "big island mountain"
}}

'''Lantau Island''' (also '''Lantao Island''', '''Lan Tao''' or '''Lan Tau''') is the largest [[island]] in [[Hong Kong]]. Located west of [[Hong Kong Island]] and the [[Kowloon Peninsula]], it is part of the [[New Territories]]. Administratively, most of Lantau Island is part of the [[Islands District]] of Hong Kong. A small northeastern portion of the island is located in the [[Tsuen Wan District]].

Originally an island with fishing villages, it has been developed since the late 20th century with the construction of [[Tung Chung]] New Town on its north-western coast and the completion of several major infrastructure projects, including [[Lantau Link]] (1997), [[Hong Kong International Airport]] (1998), [[Hong Kong Disneyland]] (2005), and the [[Ngong Ping 360]] gondola lift (2006). 
{{TOC limit|2}}

==Geography==
[[File:Tung Chung overlook.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tung Chung]] New Town and [[Tung Chung Bay]] seen from the [[Ngong Ping 360]] cableway]]
[[File:Sunset Hill view 201511.jpg|thumb|left|[[Miscanthus]] in [[Sunset Peak, Hong Kong|Sunset Peak]] attract many people from November to January.]]

With a land mass of {{convert|147.16|sqkm|2|abbr=out}}, Lantau is the largest [[List of islands and peninsulas of Hong Kong|island in Hong Kong]],<ref name="mapping">{{Citation |author=Lands Department |title=Hong Kong Geographic Data |date=February 2011 |access-date=29 April 2011 |url=http://www.landsd.gov.hk/mapping/en/publications/hk_geographic_data_sheet.pdf}}</ref> almost twice the size of [[Hong Kong Island]]. Lantau Island primarily consists of mountainous terrain. [[Lantau Peak]] ({{convert|934|m}}) is the highest point of the island.<ref name="mapping"/> It is [[List of mountains, peaks and hills in Hong Kong|the second highest peak in Hong Kong]], after [[Tai Mo Shan]], and is almost twice the height of [[Victoria Peak]]. Other mountains include [[Sunset Peak (Hong Kong)|Sunset Peak (Tai Tung Shan)]] at {{convert|869|m|ft|abbr=on}}, [[Lin Fa Shan]] at {{convert|766|m|ft|abbr=on}}, [[Nei Lak Shan]] at {{convert|751|m|ft|abbr=on}} and [[Yi Tung Shan]] at {{convert|747|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

Lantau Island is often referred to as "the lungs of Hong Kong", because of its abundance of indigenous forest and relative scarcity of high-rise residential developments which characterise [[Hong Kong Island]] and [[Kowloon]]. The largest country park of Hong Kong, [[Lantau South Country Park]] is located on the island, which hosts two other parks, namely [[Lantau North Country Park]] and [[Lantau North (Extension) Country Park|its extension]]. These parks cover slightly more than half of the area of Lantau Island.

[[Shek Pik Reservoir]] is the third largest freshwater [[Reservoirs of Hong Kong|reservoir in Hong Kong]]. Completed in 1963, it covers an area of {{convert|1.01|km2|1|abbr=on}} and has a capacity of {{convert|24,500,000|m3|-3|abbr=on}}.<ref name="mapping"/>

Fan Lau Kok at the end of [[Fan Lau]] Peninsula is the southwest end of the territory of Hong Kong. The small island of [[Peaked Hill (Hong Kong)|Peaked Hill]], off Tsin Yue Wan ({{zh|t=煎魚灣|labels=no}}), marks the westernmost point on the land of Hong Kong territories.

==Population==
Lantau Island has relatively low [[population density]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} Settlements are scattered throughout the island and each has its own distinctive characteristics. The completion of the [[Hong Kong International Airport]] at [[Chek Lap Kok]] in 1998 has led to economic development in north-western Lantau; the once quiet village of [[Tung Chung]] became a [[New towns of Hong Kong|new town]] and is now home to over 45,000 people located in 30 to 50 storey high-rise housing estates and condominiums located near the airport. The neighbouring [[Yat Tung Estate]] houses 37,273 people, primarily in public housing. Over the next few years, the population of the [[North Lantau New Town]] is expected to increase to a target population of over 200,000 across {{convert|7.6|km2|1|abbr=on}} of [[Land reclamation in Hong Kong|reclaimed land]] stretching from Tung Chung to [[Tai Ho Wan]].{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

===Discovery Bay===
[[Discovery Bay]] is a privately owned residential development located on the south-eastern coast of Lantau. The district has a population of 20,271 residents from over 30 different countries, giving it a reputation as an [[expatriate]] enclave.
[[File:DM3195-1-2-1-6-001.jpg|alt=Three horizontal surfaces, supported by barrels covered in rows of drying fish. A person bent over one of the tables, looks at the camera.|thumb|Drying fishes spread out on tables on the Lantau Island, Photographic slide by [[Joy Larkcom]] 1985]]

===Villages===
Other settlements include [[Mui Wo]], [[Tai O]], [[Tong Fuk]], [[Sha Lo Wan]] villages, [[Pui O]] villages, [[Luk Keng Village]], [[Nim Shue Wan|Nim Shue Wan Village]], [[Pak Mong]], [[San Shek Wan, Lantau South|San Shek Wan]] and [[Chi Ma Wan|The Sea Ranch]].

==Etymology==
{{Expand section|The meaning of the name Lantau|date=July 2025}}{{Infobox Chinese
| t = 爛頭
| y = Laahn tàuh
| j = laan6 tau4
| s = 烂头
| p = Làntóu
| l = Rotten Head
| showflag = yj
}}

The name ''Lantau Island'' is based on the old local name of ''[[Lantau Peak]]'', ({{zh|t=爛頭|labels=no}}).<ref>{{Cite book|last=黃家樑|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vt7MBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA221 |title=藏在古蹟裡的香港|date=1 July 2014|publisher=三聯書店(香港)有限公司|isbn=978-962-04-3532-4|language=zh}}</ref>{{Clarify|date=December 2024|reason=The name ''Lantau'' should be defined.}} Its Chinese name, {{zh|t=大嶼山|labels=no}}, is sometimes [[Romanization|romanized]] as Tai Yu Shan. The island has been historically known as Tai Hai Shan ({{zh|t=大奚山|labels=no}}), Tai Kai Shan ({{zh|t=大溪山|labels=no}}), Tai Yi Shan ({{zh|t=大姨山|labels=no}}), and Tuen Mun Island ({{zh|t=屯門島|labels=no}}).<ref name="Records">{{cite journal |last=Siu |first=Anthony Kwok-kin |year=1989 |title=Tai Yu Shan from Chinese Historical Records |journal=Journal of the [[Royal Asiatic Society]] Hong Kong Branch |volume=29 |pages=396 |access-date=24 October 2014 |url=http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/c084c39fe9137f5068aa899db19b9d7c.pdf |issn=1991-7295}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Stone Circle at Fan Lau.JPG|thumb|left|upright|The [[Stone Circles (Hong Kong)|stone circle]] located at Fan Lau]]

Early human artifacts have been discovered on the island. These include rock carvings at [[Shek Pik]], which are thought to date back to the [[Bronze Age]], and a [[Stone Circles (Hong Kong)|stone circle]] at [[Fan Lau]] which is probably from the [[Neolithic]] Age. Both sites are located on the southwestern coast of the island.

The island was often shown in navigation maps because of its proximity to a major sea route in [[Northern and southern China|South China]].<ref>明崇禎曹學佺《大明一統名勝志》卷一廣州府新安縣條，參見：蕭國健（1995）「宋代的香港」《香港古代史》，香港：中華書局，第58頁</ref><ref>宋王象之《輿地紀勝》-{卷}-八十九，參見：蕭國健（1995）「宋代的香港」《香港古代史》，香港：中華書局，第58-70頁</ref>

In 1276, the [[Southern Song dynasty]] court fled to [[Guangdong]] by boat to escape [[Mongol]] invaders, leaving [[Emperor Gong of Song]] behind. The resistance centred on two young princes, Emperor Gong's brothers. The older boy [[Emperor Duanzong of Song|Zhao Shi]], was declared emperor at the age of nine, ascending the throne as Emperor Duanzong of Song. In 1277, the imperial court sought refuge first in Silvermine Bay ([[Mui Wo]]) on Lantau Island (then known as Gangzhou ({{zh|t=碙州|labels=no}}), and later in today's [[Kowloon City]]. The older brother became ill, died, and was succeeded by the younger brother [[Zhao Bing]] (Emperor Bing of Song) at the age of seven. He died in 1279, and the Song dynasty ended. These emperors are also believed to have held court in the [[Tung Chung]] valley, which takes its name from a local hero who gave up his life for the emperor.

Lantau Island and [[Tamão]], [[Tuen Mun]] were among the first European trading settlements in the [[Pearl River (China)|Pearl River]] area, established by [[Portugal|Portuguese]] traders in the 1510s. The Portuguese abandoned these settlements around 1517, following their defeat by Chinese troops in the [[Battle of Tunmen]] and [[Battle of Sincouwaan]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=徐承恩|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nV30CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA26 |title=城邦舊事: 十二本書看香港本土史 (修訂版)|date=1 March 2016|publisher=Red Publish|isbn=978-988-8380-38-1|language=zh-TW}}</ref> Lantau was visited in 1607 by one of the early Dutch East India Company (VOC) fleet commanders Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge who describes his visit to the local "mandarin". A drawing of this official's compound was published in the 1648 edition of Matelieff's travelogue.<ref>Peter Borschberg, ed., ''Journal, Memorials and Letters of Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge. War, Diplomacy and Commerce in 17th-Century Southeast Asia,'' Singapore: NUS Press, 2015, https://www.academia.edu/4203783.</ref> Much later the island became an important trading post for the British, long before they became interested in [[Hong Kong Island]].

[[File:HK TungChungFort MainEntrance.JPG|thumb|right|Entrance of [[Tung Chung Fort]]]]

There were nine settlements on the island in the early 16th century: Kai Kung Tau ({{zh|t=鷄公頭|labels=no}}), [[Shek Pik]], [[Tai O]], [[Sha Lo Wan]], Tung Sai Chung ({{zh|t=東西涌|labels=no}}, now known as [[Tung Chung]]), Tai Ho Shan ({{zh|t=大蠔山|labels=no}}, now known as [[Lantau Peak]]), [[Mui Wo]], Lo Pui O (now known as [[Pui O]]) and [[Tong Fuk]].<ref name="Records"/> The island was evacuated for about a decade, following the orders imposed by the [[Great Clearance]], and people were allowed to return to settle on the island in 1669. Five villages were subsequently resettled: Tai O, Tung Sai Chung, Lo Pui O, Shek Pik and Mui Wo.<ref name="Records"/>

Salt was illegally produced on Lantau Island. This was discovered by the Chinese rulers during the 16th century, and the local warlord put many islanders to death as a result.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

[[File:Lantau Island 1771 French.jpg|thumb|Hong Kong as charted by French sailors' observations in 1759 and 1760]]
[[File:Lantau Island 1810 British.jpg|thumb|Lantau Island as observed in 1794 by British sailors from Canton, published 1810.]]

Lantau Island was surveyed by a French fleet by Alexandre Dalmypre around the Delta of the [[Pearl River]] in 1760.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hkmaps.hk/map.html?1771 | title=HK Maps }}</ref> Lantau Island was already clearly visible on Western maps around the Delta, on the most important waterway to [[Guangzhou|Canton]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hkmaps.hk/map.html?1810 | title=HK Maps }}</ref>

Lantau was once a base for pirates and smugglers, and was one of the haunts of [[Cheung Po Tsai]] in the 19th century. Galena, a mineral consisting of lead and silver,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Andrew |title=The Silver Mine of Silver Mine Bay |url=https://industrialhistoryhk.org/silver-silver-bay/ |publisher=The Industrial History of Hong Kong Group |access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> [[Mining in Hong Kong|was mined]] at Mui Wo until the 19th century.

Lantau Island was a major site of resistance against the Japanese during the Second World War. The resistance movement made use of the island's wooded areas and deep valleys in order to organise ambushes and move supplies. The resistance movement persevered through the war until the end of the [[Japanese occupation of Hong Kong|Japanese occupation]] in 1945.

In 2000, Lantau Island acted as an important base for the [[Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe]] project and the [[APCN (cable system)|Asia-Pacific Cable Network]] which acts as an Internet bridge to the rest of the world.

==Tourist attractions==
[[File:Lantau Peak, Hongkong.jpg|thumb|[[Tian Tan Buddha]] with [[Lantau Peak]] in the background]]
[[File:Tai O (8).JPG|thumb|Stilt houses ([[pang uk]]) in [[Tai O]]]]
[[File:Yeunghautemple2.JPG|thumb|The [[Hau Wong|Yeung Hau Temple]] in [[Tai O]] was built in 1699.]]

===Ngong Ping===
The [[Ngong Ping]] Plateau features the [[Po Lin Monastery]] and its vegetarian restaurant, as well as the {{convert|85|ft|m|adj=on}}-high [[Bronze sculpture|bronze]] [[Tian Tan Buddha]] (or "Giant Buddha") statue, once the world's largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha statue.<ref>Lantau Island, Po Lin Monastery, Big Buddha, Temple
http://www.hong-kong-travel.org/Po-Lin-Monastery/</ref> Walkers can ascend from Tung Chung to the monastery in two hours. Visitors can also take a 25-minute ride on a [[Ngong Ping 360]] cable car from Tung Chung to the Ngong Ping Plateau. Ngong Ping 360 is a tourism experience which combines a {{convert|5.7|km||abbr=on}} cable car journey with a cultural themed village and easy access to Tian Tan Buddha.

===Tai O===
[[Tai O]] is an over three centuries old fishing village located in the northwest of Lantau Island. Tourists visit Tai O for its several hundred stilt houses (''[[pang uk]]''), though some of those houses have been repaired after a fire in July 2000 and others from damage caused by super typhoons and related storm surges in subsequent years. While Tai O is in the process of being revitalised with a series of measures such as new signages and two bridges to facilitate movement of visitors, Tai O retains most of its historical setting such as waterways, stilt houses and fishing boats and is famous for its fishing village scenery in a mountainous setting. Traditional [[Chinese cuisine|Chinese food]] like [[Salt-cured meat|salted fish]] and locally produced [[shrimp paste]] can be found there.

===Tung Chung===
[[Tung Chung Fort]] was built in 1817 to thwart the [[opium]] trade and defend the coast from [[pirate]]s. There are 6 old cannons and the enclosures are made of [[granite]]. During [[World War II]], the [[Japan]]ese army occupied the fort. In 1979, it was listed as one of the [[Declared monuments of Hong Kong|historical monuments]] of Hong Kong and was refurbished in 1988. The ruins of the [[Tung Chung Battery]], also a historical monument, are located nearby.

===Trappist Haven Monastery===
The [[Trappist Haven Monastery]] at Tai Shui Hang, home to a number of [[Roman Catholic]] monks, sits on the east coast of Lantau Island, approximately halfway between the towns of Mui Wo and Discovery Bay. The Lantau [[Trappists|Trappist]] congregation was established in [[Beijing]] in the 19th century.

===Hong Kong Disneyland===
[[Hong Kong Disneyland]] lies on the northeastern part of the island, approximately {{Convert|2|km|spell=in}} from Discovery Bay. It opened on 12 September 2005 on a massive [[Land reclamation in Hong Kong|land reclamation]] project in [[Penny's Bay]]. The US$1.8 billion project includes a Disney [[theme park]], three hotels, and retail, dining and entertainment facilities stretching over 1.26&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (310 acres). The project also has its own rail network linking from [[Sunny Bay station|Sunny Bay MTR station]] in [[Yam O]].

===Nature===
Over 50% of Lantau consists of national parks, including a large number of well-marked trails. The best known of these is the 70 kilometre, 12 section [[Lantau Trail]] composed of beauty of natural stone steps and the dense woodland along a 3-kilometer stretch. Section 11 of the Lantau Trail starts just across the [[Tung Chung Road]], which is not far from Ngong Ping 360. This section of the trail will reach South Lantau Road at Pui O and hikers can appreciate the beauty of natural stone steps and the dense woodland along the 3&nbsp;km journey.<ref>[http://www.np360.com.hk/en/lantau-outdoor-fun/land/lantau-trail.html Lantau Island] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022024353/http://www.np360.com.hk/en/lantau-outdoor-fun/land/lantau-trail.html |date=22 October 2015 }} Lantau Island</ref> The national parks feature campsites and youth hostels. Lantau's longest beach is [[Beaches of Hong Kong|Cheung Sha]] and one of its most famous hikes is to [[Sunset Peak, Hong Kong|Sunset Peak]] (Tai Tung Shan {{zh|t=大東山|labels=no}}), the third highest peak in Hong Kong.<ref>Serious Hike: Sunset Peak on Lantau Island (Mui Wo/Pui O to Pak Kung Au) | hkfiles https://hkfiles.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/serious-hike-sunset-peak-on-lantau-island-mui-wopui-o-to-pak-kung-au/</ref>

==Flora and fauna==
[[File:Chinese white dolphin.jpg|thumb|Adult [[Chinese white dolphin]] swimming off the coast of Lantau Island]]

[[Chinese white dolphin]]s, often called ''pink dolphins'', can be seen off the coast of Lantau. {{As of|2014}}, a [[Marine parks in Hong Kong|marine park]], the Southwest Lantau Marine Park, is being planned to protect them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201409/01/P201409010318.htm |title=Southwest Lantau Marine Park and Soko Islands Marine Park |date=1 September 2014 |publisher=Hong Kong Government Press Release |access-date=29 October 2014}}</ref> In the southern parts of Lantau Island, local residents rely on local oyster fields, lemon and tangerine trees to make preserved fruits. There are also feral [[water buffalo]]s living in Mui Wo and Pui O. The entire southern part of Lantau Island has a well-established ecosystem.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a98mKowEQCI RTHK TV: Hong Kong Connection - 2016-4-17]</ref>

==Prisons==
There are [[Hong Kong Correctional Services|six prisons]] on Lantau Island: [[Chi Ma Wan]] Correctional Institution, Chi Sun Correctional Institution (formerly the Chi Ma Wan Drug Addiction Treatment Centre), Ma Mo Ping Prison, Tong Fuk centre west of [[Tong Fuk]], Sha Tsui Detention Centre and the maximum security Shek Pik Prison, both located near [[Shek Pik Reservoir]]. Plans were put forward by the government to build an enormous "Super Prison" on the sparsely populated nearby island of [[Hei Ling Chau]], to be connected by a bridge to [[Mui Wo]]. However, this plan was indefinitely shelved after organised resistance by local residents.

==Transport==
[[File:Lantau MR route map 2010.png|thumb|MTR route map in the Lantau Island area]]
[[File:Discovery Bay 1 Central to Discovery Bay 04-07-2018.jpg|thumb|right|[[Discovery Bay]] ferry at Central Pier 3]]
[[File:HK Lantau Island Taxi.jpg|thumb|right|Blue Lantau taxi in Tung Chung]]
[[File:Hong Kong Ngong IMG 5664.JPG|thumb|[[Ngong Ping 360]] across [[Tung Chung Bay]]]]

===Airport===
[[Hong Kong International Airport]] (HKG/HKIA) is located on [[Chek Lap Kok]] island and started service in July 1998. It is located off the north coast of Lantau, near the new town of [[Tung Chung]] and is connected to urban areas by the [[Lantau Link]], which is composed of the [[Kap Shui Mun Bridge]], the [[Ma Wan Viaduct]], and the [[Tsing Ma Bridge]].

===Rail===
The airport also has a [[rapid transit|metro]] rail connection to the rest of Hong Kong via the [[MTR]]'s [[Airport Express (MTR)|Airport Express]], along with several [[bus]] routes. This was built in the 1990s, whilst the new airport was being built. Using the Airport Express, the journey time between [[Central, Hong Kong|Central]], Hong Kong's business district, and [[Airport station (MTR)|Chek Lap Kok airport]] is 24 minutes (though the Airport Express does not make any stops in Lantau proper). In addition, one can reach [[Tung Chung station|Tung Chung]] by train on the [[Tung Chung line]] of the MTR, and the [[Disneyland Resort line]] branches off of the Tung Chung line at [[Sunny Bay station]], serving the [[Disneyland Resort station]] at [[Hong Kong Disneyland Resort]].

===Water transport===
Tourists can get to Lantau using [[ferry]] services provided by [[Sun Ferry]]. This ferry service is available between Mui Wo and Central with a transportation time of about 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the vessel. A 24-hour ferry service operated by [[HKR International|HKR International Limited]] connects Pier 3 in Central to [[Discovery Bay]] with a transportation time of 25 minutes.

There are also several smaller inter-island ferry services linking neighbouring islands and the mainland. These ferries, known locally as [[kai-to]]s (pronounced ''Guy-doe'') provide scheduled services. These include [[Nim Shue Wan]]; adjacent to Discovery Bay, and [[Peng Chau]] Island with a stopover at the [[Trappist Haven Monastery]] on Lantau, [[Nim Shue Wan]] and [[Mui Wo]] on Lantau. Other Kai-To and ferry services link [[Peng Chau]], [[Mui Wo]] Lantau, [[Chi Ma Wan]] Lantau, and [[Cheung Chau]] Island, and another links [[Tuen Mun]], [[Tung Chung]], [[Sha Lo Wan]], and [[Tai O]].

Travel between islands is also possible by [[Walla-walla|''walla walla'']], a traditional water [[taxicab|taxi]], typically from nearby [[Cheung Chau]] Island.

===Road transport===
Residents and tourists can travel within Lantau Island either by taxi or bus. The [[New Lantao Bus]] provides major bus services within the island, where one can get to Tai O and Po Lin Monastery from Mui Wo. Some of the roads and bridges were built in the 1990s, whilst the new airport was being built.

In Hong Kong, there are [[Taxicabs of Hong Kong|three types of taxis]]. Red taxis serve the urban areas, green taxis serve the [[New Territories]] while taxis on Lantau Island are blue in colour. All three taxi services can ply for passengers at the Airport and Tung Chung, but only the blue taxis can take passengers to other locations on Lantau Island. There are 75 blue taxis serving the Lantau Island area. (25 added in 2016)

The southern part of Lantau Island are one of the most dangerous roads in all of Hong Kong {{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}due to the narrow and hilly roads that are inaccessible to buses with lack of [[safety barrier]]s. From February 2016, owners of private vehicles that wish to travel to these roads must obtain a temporary permit. However, due to the dangerous roads, the permit only lasts from 8am-7pm, only has 25 allotments, and only available on weekdays, while residents of these areas must obtain a permanent permit.<ref>TVB - “Scoop” 25 March 2016</ref>

===Cable car===
The [[Ngong Ping 360]], a [[gondola lift]], is located on Lantau and is operated by the MTR. Opened on 18 September 2006, this provides a 5.7&nbsp;km 20-minute gondola cableway journey between [[Tung Chung]] and [[Ngong Ping]], where the Big Buddha is located.

==Education==
Most of Lantau Island is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 98, which contains multiple [[aided schools]] on Lantau Island, including six in Tung Chung; no government primary schools are in this net.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/2023dpnet-98b.pdf|title=POA School Net 98|publisher=[[Education Bureau]]|accessdate=12 September 2022}}</ref>

Northeast Lantau Island is in POA School Net 62, which includes schools in Tsuen Wan and areas nearby. The net includes multiple aided schools and one government school, Hoi Pa Street Government Primary School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/2023dpnet-62b.pdf|title=POA School Net 62|publisher=[[Education Bureau]]|accessdate=12 September 2022}}</ref>

[[Discovery Bay]], [[Nim Shue Wan]], and Tai Pak Wan are in POA School Net 99, which contains two aided schools: SKH Wei Lun Primary School in Discovery Bay and Holy Family School in [[Peng Chau]]; no government primary schools are in this net.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/2023dpnet-99b.pdf|title=POA School Net 99|publisher=[[Education Bureau]]|accessdate=12 September 2022}}</ref>

[[Discovery Bay International School]] and [[Discovery College]] are private co-educational schools in Discovery Bay.

In [[Yu Tung Court]], [[Po On Commercial Association Wan Ho Kan Primary School]], [[HKFEW Wong Cho Bau Secondary School]], [[PLK Ms Ma Kam Ming - Cheung Fook Sien College]] and [[Ching Chung Hau Po Woon Primary School]] are the main schools in the school area.

There are also two aided secondary schools in Tung Chung North.

[[Hong Kong Public Libraries]] has three libraries on Lantau, at Mui Wo, Tai O, and Tung Chung North.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/locations/islands/libraries.html|title=Islands District Locate Libraries|publisher=[[Hong Kong Public Libraries]]|access-date=2025-10-12}}</ref>

==Proposed development==
The Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LanDAC) was formed within the [[Development Bureau]] to advise the government on Lantau Island's development potential. The committee first met in 2014. Save Lantau Alliance, an activist group opposed to large-scale development of the island, called on the council members to disclose their conflicts of interest. Numerous members hold business interests on the island, including 10 non-official members who subsequently declared interests ranging from running the [[AsiaWorld–Expo]] events centre (Allen Ha) to holding directorships at major developers with land holdings in and around Lantau (Andrew Lam of [[Shui On Land]], Randy Yu of [[Sino Land]], Ivan Chu of [[Swire]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Declared interests from the Lantau Development Advisory Committee|work=South China Morning Post|date=27 June 2014|page=C15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fung|first1=Fanny W.Y.|last2=Cheung|first2=Chi-fai|title=Government development adviser's family owns land on Lantau|work=South China Morning Post|date=15 May 2014|page=C4}}</ref>

Following the first meeting of the LanDAC, development chief [[Paul Chan Mo-po]] told the press that the government would not rule out developing country parks. LanDAC member Wu Chi-wai stated publicly that the committee was ignoring a 2007 concept plan for Lantau, developed with public consultation, and spoke against developing the country parks. [[Lam Chiu Ying]], conservationist and former head of the [[Hong Kong Observatory]], responded that Chan's remarks were "unacceptable" and stated, "while other cities are aiming for an increase (in greenery), we are doing the opposite. It's ridiculous."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nip|first1=Amy|title=Development in Lantau country parks not ruled out, Paul Chan says|work=South China Morning Post|date=9 March 2014}}</ref>

The committee's first report, a 33-page document entitled "Space for All", was discreetly released online on 10 January 2016.<ref name=disneyscmp/> Only a Chinese version of the full report was released, with an English synopsis provided. The report recommends developing Lantau Island into a "metropolis" housing between 700,000 and 1,000,000 people, a new commercial hub, and a centre of tourism.<ref name=disneyscmp>{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=Kang-chung|title=Disneyland expansion part of massive Lantau land reclamation project to house 700,000 more by 2030|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1899809/disneyland-expansion-part-massive-lantau-land|work=South China Morning Post|date=11 January 2015}}</ref> It proposes large-scale land reclamation on the north shore of the island, and a series of highway and railway connections between [[Kennedy Town]] on Hong Kong Island, passing through [[Hei Ling Chau]] and a series of artificial islands, to land at [[Mui Wo]].<ref name=disneyscmp/> Leung Chun-ying praised the report for having "fully considered the current situations of various districts in Lantau, including the conservation needs and the development potential" while it was denounced by green groups for being environmentally destructive.<ref name=disneyscmp/><ref>{{cite news|title=Lantau panel suggestions spark worries about ecological impact|url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20160111-lantau-panels-recomendations-spark-worries-on-ecological-impact/|work=Hong Kong Economic Journal|date=11 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125233238/http://www.ejinsight.com/20160111-lantau-panels-recomendations-spark-worries-on-ecological-impact/|archive-date=25 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 13 January 2016, during his annual policy address, CY Leung announced that a dedicated Lantau Development Office would be set up as soon as possible to take forward development on the island.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lantau dev't office to be formed|url=http://www.news.gov.hk/en/categories/infrastructure/html/2016/01/20160113_111037.shtml|publisher=Hong Kong Government|date=13 January 2016}}</ref> The [[Lantau Tomorrow Vision]] was announced in 2018, with the intention of creating additional islands on the east coast of Lantau.

==See also==
{{Portal|Hong Kong|Islands}}
* [[Beaches of Hong Kong]]
* [[Public housing estates on Lantau Island]]
* [[Route 8 (Hong Kong)]]
* [[Wanshan Archipelago]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lantau Island}}
{{Wikivoyage|Lantau Island}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131014193046/http://www.hkoutdoors.com/lantau-island/lantau-surprises.html Lantau - island of secrets and surprises] Illustrated article.

{{Lantau Island}}
{{Islands District}}
{{Islands of Hong Kong}}
{{Lantautaxi}}

[[Category:Lantau Island| ]]
[[Category:Restricted areas of Hong Kong red public minibus]]
[[Category:Islands of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Populated places in Hong Kong]]