What is Ngong Ping 360?

Located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, Ngong Ping 360 is a 5.7-kilometre bi-cable gondola system that connects Tung Chung with Ngong Ping Village. Opened in 2006 and developed by MTR Corporation, it was designed to provide scenic access to Lantau’s cultural and natural landmarks, including the Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery.

Unlike a typical urban cable car, Ngong Ping 360 travels over sea, airport runways, and protected country park landscapes before climbing into the mountains. The 25-minute journey offers uninterrupted views of Tung Chung Bay, the South China Sea, and Lantau’s forested ridgelines. Beyond the ride itself, visitors reach a mountaintop village with shops, dining, walking trails, and direct access to the Big Buddha plateau — making it both a transport link and a destination experience.

Brief history of Ngong Ping 360

Ngong Ping 360 opened to the public in September 2006 as part of a major tourism development on Lantau Island. The project aimed to improve access between Tung Chung and the culturally significant Ngong Ping plateau, home to the Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery.

Developed and owned by the MTR Corporation, the 5.7-kilometre ropeway introduced a bi-cable gondola system designed for stability and high passenger capacity. The route includes two terminals, two angle stations and eight support towers, carefully positioned to reduce environmental impact within Lantau North Country Park.

In 2007, operations were temporarily suspended following a cable incident during testing. The system resumed service under strengthened safety management and maintenance procedures. Since then, Ngong Ping 360 has expanded its offerings with Crystal cabins, Crystal+ cabins and village-based attractions, evolving from a transport link into one of Hong Kong’s most recognisable tourism experiences.

Architecture of Ngong Ping 360

Ngong Ping 360 uses a continuous-circulating bi-cable gondola system (Bicable Detachable Gondola, or BDG), a design that separates the track rope from the haul rope. This configuration increases wind stability and allows higher passenger capacity — up to around 3,500 people per hour in each direction. The 5.7-kilometre alignment stretches from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping and ranks among the longest bi-cable ropeways in Asia.

The route stands on eight support towers and includes two angle stations, where cabins detach and slow down to negotiate directional changes before continuing the ascent. Engineers positioned these towers to minimise visual and ecological impact within Lantau North Country Park.

Both the Tung Chung and Ngong Ping terminals feature multi-level layouts designed to manage large visitor flows efficiently. Architects integrated natural materials, muted tones, and controlled lighting to reduce glare and noise. Cabin designs accommodate seated and standing passengers, with accessible features that support wheelchair users and families.