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Lantau Island Travel Tips – with Wired Destinations
 Lantau Island General Facts
Of all the outlying islands in Hong Kong, the greatest in size and in atmosphere is Lantau Island, being twice the size of Hong Kong Island. On Lantau Island, tourists can experience rural village-ways of life that have almost remained unchanged since the early days of colonization. The quiet and tranquil serenity of the island provides a peaceful getaway from urban hassles. The island also has the perfect setting for Christian and Buddhist temples and thereby creates a mixed take on the impending arrival of Mickey Mouse at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Lantau Island Location
Wandering pathways and dusty trails cobwebbed Lantau Island and its scenic mountains. The area covers approximately 146 km2 which makes the largest Hong Kong Island. Lantau Peak is also famous for being the second highest peak in Hong Kong, after Tai Mo Shan Peak. Lantau Trail and its other intersecting side trails are good for a stroll or a day trip. Lantau Island is commonly known as the lungs of Hong Kong, because of the abundance of lush forest and the small number of high-rise residential developments compared to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
Lantau Island Population
Approximately 50,000
Lantau Island Telephone – Country and City Code
+852
Lantau Island Time
Standard time zone in Hong Kong is UTC/GMT +8 hours. Hong Kong is eight hours ahead of London and thirteen hours ahead of New York. The difference is reduced by one hour from April to the end of October when daylight saving time is in effect in Europe and the US.
Lantau Island Business Hours
Business Hours in Hong Kong is from 09:00 – 17:30. Some offices are open on Saturday morning as well. Lunch hour is from 13:00 – 14:00. Banks hours are Mon-Fri from 09:00 – 16:30 and between 09:00 – 12:30 on Saturdays.
Lantau Island Climate
Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate. Travelers can visit Hong Kong all year round. However the most popular time is during autumn and early winter. Autumn starts from mid September to late February, when the overall weather is cool and with plenty of sunshine. During January and February, the weather could be freezing and the temperature can drop to a mild 10°C. Summer starts from March to early May and the temperature is a bit warmer, however, bring a light jacket with you as air-conditioning in some Lantau Island hotels and restaurants is often turned high. Average temperature in summer is around 28°C. Rainy season is around May to September, when the weather is humid with chances of occasional rain showers.
Lantau Island Dress Code
On the whole, Hong Kong's people are very fashionable and well dressed both at work and at play.
Lantau Island Communication
Travelers can communicate easily via telephone, fax and Internet. Public phones are available in shops and restaurants. International calls can be made from most telephone booths in town. Internet connections are available in major Lantau Island Hotels, and many more are being installed in other hotels to cater to the business travelers.
Hong Kong postal service is efficient, with reasonable rates for both local and international mails. Some hotels provide their own post and shipping services for travelers to drop mail.
Lantau Island Electricity
The voltage in Hong Kong is 200/ 220 volts, 50 cycles. For a place of such international standard, it is surprising that Hong Kong still does not seem to have standardized plug fittings. However, hotels will certainly have adapters to make any appliance work.
Lantau Island Language
English remains an official language in Hong Kong, together with Cantonese. All street signs are written in both English and Chinese. English is widely spoken in the city, as it is the language of business and commerce. Though the majority of locals are more comfortable with Cantonese, it is unlikely to encounter any difficulties with communicating in English.
Health Facilities
There is no emergency hospital on Lantau Island; the Kowloon West Cluster under the Hong Kong Authority provides a range of services, including accident and emergency services, specialist outpatient services, community care, extended care and mental health services for residents of Lantau Island. A brand new health care facility is currently being built around Tung Chung, which is a new town in Northern Lantau Island, and is expected to open by 2011.
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