DESTINATIONS

from Life on Lantau June/July 2022

DISPATCH

CHEUNG CHAU

REPORTING BY Jason Pagliari PHOTOS BY Pexels

Feeling like a change of pace? Hop on the Inter-Island Ferry from Mui Wo and spend a day exploring lively and historic Cheung Chau. Best known for its bun festival (traditionally held in May), the island has plenty to offer – glorious beaches, wild rock formations, a pirate’s cave and, of course, incredible seafood restaurants.

If it’s seafood you’re after, you’ll find the most popular restaurants on the island’s west coast, on Praya Street – the waterfront road, right by the main ferry pier. As you sit down to your catch of the day, fishing trawlers and all sorts of smaller craft stretch as far as the eye can see, enhancing the fabulous sea views.

Most of Cheung Chau’s development is centred on a spit of land sandwiched between two hills to the north and south, and to make the most of your visit, you’ll want to venture beyond the main village, on foot. Northern Cheung Chau offers up some glorious hiking country but if you’re looking for a leisurely ramble and excellent views, head south by way of the eastcoast beaches, which offer up full facilities and several windsurfing and kayaking centres.

To make your way to the south-side, turn left off the ferry, then right at Kwok Man Road and walk inland to the main beach, Tung Wan. Head towards and past the high-rise Warwick Hotel, with its excellent dimsum lunch menu, to the next beach, Kwun Yam Wan, perhaps the island’s finest.

From here, you can make your way along Cheung Chau’s Mini Great Wall – you’ll see signposts leading uphill through the jungle and past the Kwun Yam Temple.

This reasonably short stonework trail hugs the southeast coast passing various boulder formations, all with bizarrely fitting names such as Human Head Rock, Elephant Rock, Rodent Rock and even Zombie Rock. At the lookout at the end of the Mini Great Wall, you can either head back to the main ferry pier (turn left at the temple) and take a kai-to to the south coast or continue on foot, up a steep set of stairs.

Assuming you choose the latter, follow the coastal paths and turn left onto Don Bosco Road, towards remote and rugged Nam Tam Wan, with its large temple overlooking (inhabited) Wailingding Island. There are regular informational maps to guide you. From here, it’s a bit of a walk up and over Peak Road, past the meteorological station and crematorium, to the signposted trail that drops down into truly off-the-beaten-track Pak Tso Bay. This trail follows along the coast and up through a stunning boulder cavern towards gigantic Reclining Rock.

Next stop is Cheung Po Tsai Cave, named after the famous pirate who is said to have hoarded his loot here. Armed with a powerful torch (a phone flashlight won’t do it), you can squeeze vertically down through a narrow opening and pass through the cave to another entrance. From here, it’s a short walk over the hill to the Tin Hau Temple on Sai Wan, where you can take a kai-to back to the ferry pier... and order up that well-deserved plate of seafood.