Ngong Ping 360 in Hong Kong to Open 18 September 2006

Following a few delays, Ngong Ping 360 has confirmed that Hong Kong’s dynamic new tourism experience will open to the public at 1:00 pm on Monday, 18 September.

“Ngong Ping 360 is a world-class tourist attraction that everyone in Hong Kong can take pride in. Its opening represents a milestone in the development of the tourism industry in Hong Kong. It will become one of Hong Kong’s must-do attractions,” said Bill Calderwood, managing director of Ngong Ping 360.

Ngong Ping 360 is located on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. It combines a stunning 5.7km cable car journey with an impressive cultural themed village and easy access to the Tian Tan Buddha Statue, the world’s largest, seated, outdoor, bronze Buddha statue.

Ngong Ping Skyrail is a 5.7km cableway supported by eight towers along the cableway route. The biggest cableway in Asia, the journey lasts for about 20-25 minutes and takes passengers to spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of North Lantau Country Park, the South China Sea, Tung Chung Bay and the Hong Kong International Airport.

Adjacent to the Ngong Ping Skyrail Terminal at the summit, the 1.5 hectare Ngong Ping Village is designed in the traditional Chinese style and boasts beautifully landscaped gardens, creating a relaxing and natural ambience for guests to enjoy their peaceful surroundings and the plethora of dining, retail and entertainment experiences on offer.

Ngong Ping Village incorporates several, major themed attractions: Walking with Buddha, Monkey’s Tale Theatre and the Ngong Ping Tea House.

Created especially for Ngong Ping 360, Walking with Buddha outlines the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the man who lived 2,500 years ago in Nepal and became Buddha, and his seven steps to enlightenment.

Money’s Tale Theatre is a charmingly comical show with a moral twist, inspired by the famous Buddhist Jataka stories. High definition animation, special visual effects and surround sound tell the story of a selfish monkey who, with the help of the Monkey King, learns his lesson about humility and kindness.

Ngong Ping Tea House, a unique attraction based on Hong Kong’s tea culture and history, is operated by Wing Wah, one of Hong Kong's oldest caterers. The Ngong Ping Tea House experience is truly unique, with an interactive exhibition detailing ‘The Story of Tea in Hong Kong’, demonstrations by Tea Masters and tasting of classic Hong Kong tea brews.

From sumptuous banquets to a simple snack, local fare or international cuisine, Ngong Ping Village’s dining options are endless. Guests can enjoy the Chiu Chow cuisine at the Pak Loh Garden Restaurant, International selections at My Favorite, or quick food options at Euro Go Go, da dolce, Zen Noodle Café, Zen Taiwanese Bistro, Honeymoon Dessert and Starbucks. There is also the uniquely Hong Kong Hoi Tin Tong Fresh Turtle Jelly, which is a favourite with locals.

Ngong Ping Village is also home to a diverse range of themed retail outlets, stocking an exciting selection of souvenir items, gifts, memorabilia and packaged Asian delicacies, as well as an Oriental Massage Centre for ultimate relaxation.

Daily Street Performances occurring throughout the day ensure an exciting line-up of entertainment has been designed for guests of all ages and origins. The performances include magic shows, Chinese musical instrumentals, kung fu and tai chi demonstrations, as well as Chinese face changing, an ethnic performing art originated from the Chinese province of Sichuan.

A day at Ngong Ping 360 would not be complete without a visit to the nearby Tian Tan Buddha statue and Po Lin Monastery. The Tian Tan Buddha is the world's largest, seated, outdoor, bronze Big Buddha statue. Constructed from 202 bronze pieces, the statue weighs over 250 tonnes and soars 34 metres into the air. It is a convenient, five-minute walk from Ngong Ping Village.

Ngong Ping 360 Inaugural Day Ticketing Information

A total of 1,688 Skyrail Experience tickets for the inaugural day of 18 September will be available for sale from 13 September at the Ngong Ping 360 Ticketing Counters at Tung Chung and Ngong Ping terminals, as well as at the MTR Customer Service Counter near Exit B at MTR Central Station, at a cost of HK$88.

In addition to the panoramic views on board Ngong Ping Skyrail, and the exciting variety of shopping, dining and entertainment experiences offered at Ngong Ping Village, visitors on the first day will also receive an inauguration certificate as a memento.

Ngong Ping 360 Ticketing Information Following Inaugural Day

From 15 September, Ngong Ping Skyrail Experience: Return Tickets valid for use from 19 September onwards will be available at both the Tung Chung and Ngong Ping Skyrail Terminals, vouchers for the Return Skyrail Experience are also available at Customer Service Counters at selected MTR Stations, and selected travel agent partners.

Tickets are available for a variety of packages. To enjoy the attraction to its fullest, the Journey of Enlightenment Package has been created combining access and entry to the complete range of Ngong Ping 360’s components: Ngong Ping Skyrail, and the Ngong Ping Village attractions Walking with Buddha and Monkey’s Tale Theatre. The ticket is priced at HK$145 per adult and HK$75 per child on normal days.

Ngong Ping 360 will be open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays, 10:00 am to 6:30 pm on weekends, and 9:00 am to 6:30 pm on special and peak days.

Ngong Pin 360 is located minutes from MTR Tung Chung Station, only 36 minutes by MTR from the Tung Chung line’s Hong Kong Station in Central and is easily accessible from the international airport. It was developed and financed by the MTR Corporation, and is managed by Skyrail-ITM (Hong Kong) Ltd, whose Australian parent company built and operates the world-famous Skyrail Rainforest Cableway in Cairns and operates the SkySafari cableway at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.

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