Hong Kong’s Top 10 : Cheung Chau Island

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This tiny, charming island, a half-hour ferry ride
west of Hong Kong, makes a great escape from the heat and hassles of the
city, except maybe at weekends when everyone else has the same idea.
The sense of an older, traditional Hong Kong is pervasive among the
narrow streets, tiny shops and temples of this old pirate and fishing
haven. It’s possible to see most of the island in a day, and there are
some lovely secluded walks. The seafood is cheap and there are small but
excellent stretches of beach.

  • Daily ferries hourly or half-hourly from Outlying Islands ferry piers


Paths and Walks

A footpath weaves around
the southern edge of the island, taking in clifftop walks and a small
Tin Hau Temple at the tiny Moring Beach. Heading southwest from here
will take you along Peak Road past the cemetery to Sai Wan’s small
harbour. From here you can take a sam-pan shuttle back to the ferry pier
at Cheung Chau village.




To really nip around the island, hire a bicycle from opposite the basketball courts close to Pak Tai Temple.




Top 10 Sights

  1. Pak Tai Temple

    This
    recently renovated temple is dedicated to Pak Tai, Cheung Chau’s patron
    deity who is credited with saving islanders from plague. The temple is
    the centre for the annual bun festival celebrations ,
    when mounds of buns are piled up to be offered to resident ghosts. The
    festival dates from the time of plagues in the 19th century, which were
    considered to be the vengeance of those killed by local pirates.




    Lion, Pak Tai Temple

  2. Harbour

    Although
    Hong Kong’s fishing industry has dwindled from its heyday, plenty of
    commercial fishing boats still operate from Cheung Chau’s typhoon
    shelter. Cheap cycle hire is available along the waterfront.




    Cheung Chau harbour

  3. Venerable Banyan Tree

    On
    Tung Wan Road is a tree that is thought to be the source of Cheung
    Chau’s good fortune. It is so revered by islanders that in recent years a
    restaurant opposite was knocked down instead of the tree to make way
    for a road extension.




  4. Tung Wan Beach

    The
    island’s finest beach is on the east coast, 150 m (500 ft) from the
    west coast’s ferry pier. It is tended by lifeguards and has a shark net.

  5. “The Peak”

    A
    walk up the hill along Don Bosco and Peak roads will take you past some
    lovely old colonial houses and beautiful sea views. The cemetery on
    Peak Road has especially fine vistas.

  6. Pirates Cave

    The
    place where a 19th-century buccaneer Cheung Po-tsai supposedly stashed
    his booty, this “cave” is more of a hole or crevice. Take a torch to
    explore. The sea views nearby are lovely.




  7. Windsurfing Centre

    The family of Olympic gold-medalist Lee Lai-Shan operates the windsurfing centre and café near Tung Wan.

  8. Boatbuilding Yard

    At
    the harbour’s northern end is a busy yard where junks are built and
    nets mended. Look out for the slabs of ice sliding along the overhead
    chute, down a mini-helter-skelter and onto the boats.




  9. Seafood Restaurants

    If
    you want to dine on fish or shellfish, there’s plenty of choice along
    the seafront on She Praya Road north and south of the ferry pier. The
    restaurants are cheaper than other seafood centres such as Lamma. Choose
    from the live tanks.




  10. Ancient Rock Carving

    In
    the Hong Kong region are several rock carvings in close proximity to
    the sea. Cheung Chau has one facing the sea just below the Warwick
    Hotel. Nothing is known of the people who carved these shapes about
    3,000 years ago.