26/30.- Hong Kong, Lantau Island, the "Big Buddha"

Lantau Island is the most popular of Hong Kong's outlying islands, largely because of this: the world's largest seated bronze Buddha located at Po Lin Monastery. It takes less than an hour to get to Lantau Island by ferry (and can also be reached by subway). The island itself is hilly, forested, and sparsely populated. From the harbor of the island (or the rail terminal), you can take a bus or taxi to the Po Lin Monastery. When I was there, a cable car was under construction that would make the ride up to the monastery from the rail station even quicker and easier. From the main part of the monastery, visitors have to climb 268 steps (seen here) to get to the Big Buddha, but it's worth the climb. The heat, and the crowds, can be a problem in the afternoons, so it's usually better to go in the morning.

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