Ngong Ping 360 is a
bicable gondola lift
A gondola lift is a means of cable transport and type of aerial lift which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel wire rope that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supp ...
on
Lantau Island
Lantau Island (also Lantao Island, Lan Tao) is the largest island in Hong Kong, located West of Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula, and is part of the New Territories. Administratively, most of Lantau Island is part of the Islands ...
in Hong Kong. Intended to improve tourism to the area, the aerial lift was previously known as Tung Chung Cable Car Project before acquiring the Ngong Ping 360 brand in April 2005. It consists of the Ngong Ping Cable Car, formerly known as the Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail, and the Ngong Ping Village, a retail and entertainment centre adjacent to the cable car's upper station. Ngong Ping 360 connects
Tung Chung
Tung Chung, meaning " eastern stream", is an area on the northwestern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. One of the most recent new towns, it was formerly a rural fishing village beside Tung Chung Bay, and along the delta and lower courses of ...
, on the north coast of Lantau and itself linked to central Hong Kong by the
Tung Chung line
The Tung Chung line is one of the ten lines of the MTR system in Hong Kong, linking the town of Tung Chung with central Hong Kong. A part of the Tung Chung line was built along with the Kap Shui Mun Bridge and the Tsing Ma Bridge. The line c ...
, with the
Ngong Ping
Ngong Ping () is a highland in the western part of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It hosts Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha amidst the hills which is about 34 m tall. There are several hills nearby which are also an attraction to tourists. It is ...
area in the hills above. This is home to the
Po Lin Monastery
Po Lin Monastery is a Buddhist monastery, located on Ngong Ping Plateau, on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
The monastery was founded in 1906 by three monks visiting from Jiangsu Province on the Chinese mainland and was initially known simply as "The ...
and the
Tian Tan Buddha
The Big Buddha is a large bronze statue of Buddha, completed in 1993, and located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. The statue is sited near Po Lin Monastery and symbolises the harmonious relationship between man and nature, peop ...
, both already significant tourist attractions in their own right. Before Ngong Ping 360's opening, the only access was via a mountain road and bus service.
Ngong Ping 360 is owned by the
MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation Limited is a majority government-owned public transport operator and property developer in Hong Kong which operates the Mass Transit Railway, the most popular public transport network in Hong Kong. It is listed on the Hon ...
, the operator of Hong Kong's rail system. It was built by
Leitner Ropeways
Leitner Ropeways is a business that manufactures and distributes products and equipment for ropeways, snow groomers, urban transportation systems, and wind energy in Italy and internationally. The company was founded in 1888 and was recognized in ...
and was originally operated by
Skyrail-ITM. Skyrail-ITM was removed from the project after an investigation following an incident in June 2007. It is now operated by a directly owned subsidiary of the MTR Corporation.
History
Conception
Following a feasibility study, the Hong Kong government issued an invitation in 2000 for detailed proposals and tender for a 30-year franchise on a
Build-Operate-Transfer basis for the global project of operation, management and maintenance of a cable car system linking Tung Chung and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. The Tourism Commission declared the objective of the project was to increase the range of attractions to visitors to enhance Hong Kong's position as a leading tourist destination in the region. Target timing was to identify a successful proponent by the end of 2001 and to commence operation of the cable car system before early 2006.
Construction and opening
Construction of the cable car project started at the beginning of 2004. The system was originally scheduled to open on 23 January 2006, but on 17 June 2006, during the trial-run with the maximum of 109 gondola cabins on the cables, a cabin arriving at Ngong Ping station had a slight collision with a late departing cabin. The entire system was automatically halted by the safety system, leaving 500 volunteers trapped for two hours. As a result, Skyrail-ITM postponed the opening day to fix the technical problems, tests and emergency staff drills.
After two months of improvement works and repair for the damages made by
Typhoon Prapiroon in August 2006, Ngong Ping 360 resumed a trial-run of 7 days from 30 August 2006. The project director at MTR Corp and senior executives of Skyrail were at the soft opening of the facility on 18 September. In keeping with
feng shui traditions, Skyrail-ITM sold just 1,688 tickets for the maiden day's run on 18 September at HK$88 each, the numbers being considered lucky. Henry Tang officiated at the grand opening of the attraction on 9 November 2006.
Operation
![Ngong Ping 360 Cabins](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Ngong_Ping_360_Cabins.JPG)
After the commencement of service, system failures still occurred occasionally. Between its opening on 18 September and 27 October, eight service suspensions were recorded, prompting a legislative panel to challenge the operator's continued operation.
A serious incident occurred on 11 June 2007, during a brake test which was part of the annual examination of the cable, when an empty cabin fell off the cable and crashed into a hilly area near Chek Lap Kok South Road. Despite the fact that there were no injuries caused, an investigation resulted in the operating company and its CEO being charged with criminal negligence related to the incident, although the CEO's case was later delayed, and the charges against him eventually dropped altogether. Skyrail-ITM was removed as operator, fined HK$5,000, and the MTR Corporation took over operational responsibility. The line remained out of service until 23 December when it underwent one week of trial run involving 40,000 visitors riding for free. It reopened officially on 31 December 2007.
[News.com.au report on reopening]
In April 2009, the company introduced its premium rate Crystal Cabin service, using glass-bottom cabins.
On 25 January 2012, Ngong Ping 360 was hit by a technical fault which was caused by a pulley which wasn't running smoothly, causing the automated system to grind to a halt. Passengers who had been stranded were later evacuated by resuming the operation with reduced speed.
Ngong Ping Cable Car/Stations
Ngong Ping Cable Car is a long bi-cable
gondola lift
A gondola lift is a means of cable transport and type of aerial lift which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel wire rope that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate sup ...
system (referred to by its operators as a "cable car") linking between
Tung Chung
Tung Chung, meaning " eastern stream", is an area on the northwestern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. One of the most recent new towns, it was formerly a rural fishing village beside Tung Chung Bay, and along the delta and lower courses of ...
(where it connects the MTR
Tung Chung station
Tung Chung () is a station on the of the MTR rapid transport system in Hong Kong. As the western end of the Tung Chung line, it is also a transfer point of those wishing to use the Ngong Ping Cable Car and by bus to the rest of Lantau Island. ...
) and
Ngong Ping
Ngong Ping () is a highland in the western part of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It hosts Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha amidst the hills which is about 34 m tall. There are several hills nearby which are also an attraction to tourists. It is ...
(where the
Po Lin Monastery
Po Lin Monastery is a Buddhist monastery, located on Ngong Ping Plateau, on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
The monastery was founded in 1906 by three monks visiting from Jiangsu Province on the Chinese mainland and was initially known simply as "The ...
and
Tian Tan Buddha
The Big Buddha is a large bronze statue of Buddha, completed in 1993, and located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. The statue is sited near Po Lin Monastery and symbolises the harmonious relationship between man and nature, peop ...
are located).
["Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car"](_blank)
/ref> Between the two terminals at Tung Chung (Tung Chung Terminal
The Tung Chung Terminal is a station of the gondola lift known as Ngong Ping 360, in Tung Chung, on the northwestern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ...
) and Ngong Ping, the lift system runs across the southern shore of the Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is Hong Kong's main airport, built on reclaimed land on the island of Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong. The airport is also referred to as Chek Lap Kok International Airport or ''Chek Lap Kok Airport'', to distinguish ...
island
An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
and Nei Lak Shan
Nei Lak Shan ( Chinese: 彌勒山) is the eighth highest mountain in Hong Kong. With a height of , it is situated on Lantau Island immediately north of Ngong Ping where the Buddhist Po Lin Monastery is located.
An angle station of the Ngong ...
, with eight towers including the stations. Five of the towers are located within the country park.
File:Tung Chung Terminal 1.jpg, Tung Chung Terminal
The Tung Chung Terminal is a station of the gondola lift known as Ngong Ping 360, in Tung Chung, on the northwestern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ...
File:Airport angle station.jpg, Airport Island Angle Station
File:NgongPing360 Tower 5 P3.jpg, Nei Lak Shan
Nei Lak Shan ( Chinese: 彌勒山) is the eighth highest mountain in Hong Kong. With a height of , it is situated on Lantau Island immediately north of Ngong Ping where the Buddhist Po Lin Monastery is located.
An angle station of the Ngong ...
Angle Station
File:NgongPing360_Ngong_Ping_Station.jpg, Ngong Ping Terminal
The Ngong Ping Terminal is a terminal station of the gondola lift known as Ngong Ping 360, located on Lantau Island's Ngong Ping, in Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the ...
Stations
The cable car journey offers a 25-minute aerial alternative to the current one-hour journey by Tung Chung Road
Tung Chung Road () is a two disjointed-section road connecting the north and south coast of Lantau Island.
Description
The first section is a short road linking a former pier and Wong Nai Uk in Tung Chung. The second is a long and hilly sectio ...
, allowing visitors to glide across Tung Chung Bay
Tung Chung Bay () is a bay west of Tung Chung, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, near North Lantau New Town and Hong Kong International Airport. It is also the location of Old Tung Chung Pier.
The bay flows out to South China Sea channel between Chek La ...
and up to Lantau Island towards Ngong Ping
Ngong Ping () is a highland in the western part of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It hosts Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha amidst the hills which is about 34 m tall. There are several hills nearby which are also an attraction to tourists. It is ...
Plateau.
The cableway starts at the Tung Chung Terminal, runs across Tung Chung Bay to Airport Island Angle Station on Chek Lap Kok
Chek Lap Kok is an island in the western waters of Hong Kong's New Territories. Unlike the smaller Lam Chau, it was only partially leveled when it was assimilated via land reclamation into the island for the current Hong Kong International ...
, where it turns through about 60 degrees before returning across Tung Chung Bay. It then runs up the Lantau North Country Park
Lantau North Country Park () is one of two rural parks on Lantau Island, Hong Kong and is located on the north side of the island. The park was designated in 1978.
History
Lantau North Country Park was designated on 18 August 1978.
An extension ...
to another angle station near Nei Lak Shan
Nei Lak Shan ( Chinese: 彌勒山) is the eighth highest mountain in Hong Kong. With a height of , it is situated on Lantau Island immediately north of Ngong Ping where the Buddhist Po Lin Monastery is located.
An angle station of the Ngong ...
(Nei Lak Shan Angle Station), before finally descending to the Ngong Ping Terminal
The Ngong Ping Terminal is a terminal station of the gondola lift known as Ngong Ping 360, located on Lantau Island's Ngong Ping, in Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the ...
.
During the 25-minute journey, travellers can see panoramic views over the North Lantau Country Park, the South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phi ...
, Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is Hong Kong's main airport, built on reclaimed land on the island of Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong. The airport is also referred to as Chek Lap Kok International Airport or ''Chek Lap Kok Airport'', to distinguish ...
, the Tung Chung valley, Ngong Ping Plateau and surrounding terrain and waterways. As visitors approach Ngong Ping, they can see The Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery
Po Lin Monastery is a Buddhist monastery, located on Ngong Ping Plateau, on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
The monastery was founded in 1906 by three monks visiting from Jiangsu Province on the Chinese mainland and was initially known simply as "The ...
.
Design
Designed by Aedas
Aedas is an architectural firm with eleven International offices founded by the Welsh architect Keith Griffiths. Aedas provides services in architecture, interior design, urban design, masterplanning and graphic design. It was established in 2002 ...
, also the architect of the project, the line uses a continuous circulating twin cable aerial ropeway system, technically described as a bicable gondola lift
A gondola lift is a means of cable transport and type of aerial lift which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel wire rope that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supp ...
. The Leitner Group was the contractor for the cable car system. Between the Tung Chung and Ngong Ping Terminals, the 5.7 km cableway changes direction twice at the two angle stations, one on the south shore of Chek Lap Kok
Chek Lap Kok is an island in the western waters of Hong Kong's New Territories. Unlike the smaller Lam Chau, it was only partially leveled when it was assimilated via land reclamation into the island for the current Hong Kong International ...
; the other west of Nei Lak Shan within the Lantau North Country Park. Whilst the gondola cabins are temporarily detached from the cables at each angle station, there are no passenger loading or unloading facilities at these points.
The cableway is supported by 8 towers. The cabin has a modern design with seating for 10 and standing room for another 7. It also incorporates features to meet the needs of disabled passengers, including elderly and wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, used when walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, problems related to old age, or disability. These can include spinal cord injuries ( paraplegia, hemiplegia, and quadriplegia), cerebr ...
users. The system has a capacity of 3,500 people per hour in each direction.
The cableway and the cabins come from the Leitner Group. A continuous circulating bi-cable aerial ropeway system, where the track cable acts as a rail in the sky and the haul cable pulls the cabins, allows long spans between towers. It is the first of its type to be installed in Hong Kong. Martin Leitner, chief sales officer of Leitner, explained that the cable car system used in Hong Kong is much heavier and bigger than that used in Austria. He said the steel columns used to support the system have to be stronger, and thus more expensive.
The cable car line offers two levels of service based on different cabin designs, branded Standard Cabins and Crystal Cabins. The Crystal Cabins are distinguished by their glass bottoms, and are charged at a premium rate. Both sets of cabins circulate on the same cable, with passengers being segregated by queuing systems at both terminals.
Ngong Ping Village
The Ngong Ping Village, built next to the Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal, occupies a 15,000 square metre site and has been designed to mirror and uphold the cultural and spiritual veracity of the Ngong Ping area. Traditional Chinese architectural designs are a feature of the Ngong Ping Village, which contains an assortment of shopping and dining experiences, on top of a number of key attractions including Walking with Buddha, the Monkey's Tale Theatre and the Ngong Ping Tea House. Chinese New Year, Christmas and the three days of Buddha's birthday are among the most crowded days.
Ngong Ping Village's international cable car gallery has cable car replicas from various countries including China, Switzerland, Italy, Brazil, Austria, France, Italy, Germany etc.
Awards
* 2007 – Enterprise Environmental Protection Achievement Award – Outstanding Awards by Hong Kong Environmental Protection Association
* 2007 – Gold Wastewi$e Logo by HKSAR Environmental Protection Department in 2007
References
External links
*
Skyrail-ITM
Sustainability Advisory Board for the Tung Chung Cable Car Project
{{Eastern Guangdong & Hong Kong transit
Gondola lifts
Ngong Ping
Tourist attractions in Hong Kong
Funicular railways in Hong Kong
Transport in Hong Kong
Tung Chung