Outlets Shopping and Sightseeing at Citygate in Tung Chung on Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Tung Chung is a very popular destination for local and international tourists with a reputation for fantastic Outlets shopping (the only Outlets in Hong Kong are in the Tung Chung Citygate Outlet Shopping mall) as well as a number of high class tourist sites. For shoppers:

• The Citygate Outlets Shopping mall offers high end brands with huge discounts always on offer
• Tung Chung has a wide array of Western and Eastern restaurants and Citygate also boasts an extensive food court

Tung Chung offers a range of excellent tourist sites and sightseeing, including:

• The Ngong Ping 360 cable car,
• Tian Tan or the Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery
• Tai O fishing village
• Tung Chung fort

I have written a guide to the Tian Tan Buddha (also known as the Big Buddha) which is one of the best and most popular tourist destinations in Hong Kong. To learn more about this fantastic attraction, my guide can be found here:

http://robbiecwilson.hubpages.com/hub/Tourist-Guide-to-the-Big-Buddha-in-Ngong-Ping-Tung-Chung-Hong-Kong

Tung Chung is also a very popular place to live, particularly with Westerners. It is an oasis of relative calm amongst the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. It boasts excellent amenities, including a library, hospital and public pool. It is close to the airport and has excellent transport links to Hong Kong Island. Rental prices are also cheaper compared with Hong Kong Island.

http://robbiecwilson.hubpages.com/hub/Guide-to-shopping-living-and-tourism-in-Tung-Chung-Hong-Kong

The most popular shopping mall in Tung Chung is the Citygate Outlets Shopping mall.

• It was initially opened in April 2000 as Citygate but the mall was rebranded as Citygate Outlets in August 2006 and is still Hong Kong’s only Outlets Shopping mall.
• All Outlets offer 30 - 70% discounts all year round meaning that shoppers can purchase items from high end international brands offering designer fashion, beauty, sports, items for the home and children’s wear all at exceptional prices.
• The mall contains over 80 international brands including Nike, Calvin Klein, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Coach, Timberland, Burberry, Adidas and many, many more.
• Citygate Outlets is a popular shopping destination for both tourists from mainland China and elsewhere around the globe as well as shoppers from all around Hong Kong.

As well as a plethora of shops, it also boasts restaurants including:

• Hot Pot, Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese as well as an extensive food court.
• There are a number of western restaurants including Pizza Hut, Spaghetti House, Subway, Deli France and MacDonald’s as well as Häagen-Dazs, Pacific Coffee and Starbucks.

There is also a cinema in Tung Chung showing movies in both Chinese and English:

http://www.cityline.com.hk/eng/movie/byCinemaStep2.jsp?venueKey=6

The Citygate website is:

http://www.citygateoutlets.com.hk/home/Pages/home.aspx?lang=EN.

There are smaller malls at the Yat Tung estate and Fu Tung offering further shops and restaurants.

Ngong Ping 360 / Ngong Ping village

The Ngong Ping 360 cable car allows you to journey from Tung Chung to the Ngong Ping village and the Tian Tan or Big Buddha / Po Lin Monastery in style while taking in the breathtaking views of Tung Chung bay. Some fun facts about the Ngong Ping 360:

• The Ngong Ping 360 is 5.7 kilometres (3.5 miles) long
• Construction began in 2004 and it was finally opened on the 18^th of September 2006.
• The journey in the cable car takes 25 minutes. Crystal cabins are also offered (cabins with a glass floor). These are more expensive than standard cabins which generally mean that queuing times are shorter for those willing to pay the extra money.
• A round trip on a standard cabin is currently $135 with a crystal cabin costing $218 (prices as of July 2013)

• The embarkation point of the cable car is very close to the mall and the Tung Chung MTR station. Simply get off the MTR at Tung Chung and from Exit B walk across the paved area with the fountain on your left.
• The cable car is only 200 metres from the MTR station. The cable car crosses Tung Chung bay, over the Lantau North Country Park before finishing in Ngong Ping village.
• Ngong Ping village offers a number of shops including gift and tourist shops. There are a number of restaurants as well as a 7-11 store and a Starbucks.
• Ngong Ping village can also be reached by taking the number 23 bus from the transport interchange. The interchange is also adjacent to Exit B at the Tung Chung MTR station. Simply cross the paved area, the bus interchange is directly ahead and the bus stop for the number 23 is at the back of the interchange on the left hand side. The cost of the bus is around $20 and the journey takes around one hour.

The Tung Chung fort was built between 1174 and 1189 in the Shun Hei era of the Southern Song Dynasty. The fort was recovered by the Qing government in either 1817 or 1832 to defend the coast from pirates until the New Territories were leased to the British in 1898. There are six muzzle loading canons with dates inscribed on them dated 1803 – 1809 still in situ in the fort to this date. Tung Chung fort was designated as a historical monument in 1978.

Tung Chung fort is can be reached by bus either on the 3M, 11 or 34 buses leaving Tung Chung Town Centre bus interchange (Exit B from Tung Chung MTR, cross the paved area and the interchange is directly ahead).

To reach Tung Chung fort on foot:

• Exit Tung Chung MTR via Exit A.
• Walk towards Pizza Hut and turn left onto Hing Tung Street
• Turn right onto Tat Tung Road (Tung Chung Crescent will be on your right and Fu Tung Estate on your left)
• Turn left on Shun Tung Road and walk for 300 metres continuing past the Fire and Police Stations
• Turn right onto Yu Tung Road for 550 metres
• Turn left onto Tung Chung Road
• Turn right onto Tung Chung Road and continue on for 500 metres. The fort will be on your left hand side down a small path.

There are a number of excellent hikes from Tung Chung to a variety of locations on Lantau.

• A popular and relatively easy hike is the hike from Tung Chung to Tai O. The hike is 14 kilometres or 3 – 4 hours) long. For an excellent guide to this hike which includes photos click the following link

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/uk/see-do/great-outdoors/hikes/tung-chung-to-tai-o-hike.jsp

• Hiking between Tung Chung and the Big Buddha is also popular (the hike takes 3 – 4 hours). The hike up to the Buddha is difficult; the hike down is much easier. The wooden steps are treacherous in the rain but the views are superb.
• There are a large number of intermediate hikes including Tung Chung to Discover Bay and Tung Chung to Mui Wo.
• Sunset Peak and Lantau Peak are excellent, but difficult, hikes offering outstanding views for the adventurous.

Tung Chung is an excellent destination for shoppers and tourists alike.

• The Ngong Ping 360 cable car and the Big Buddha / Po Lin monastery are very popular tourist destinations.
• Citygate Outlets also offers a unique shopping experience to shoppers in Hong Kong with internationally renowned designer labels at permanently low prices.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed reading this guide as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Please feel free to leave any comments you may have below and I hope you had a fantastic time visiting and shopping in Tung Chung.