Isle Be There

Tung Lung Chau Yim Tin Tsai

Peng Chau

Islands In The Sun

Pack your bags and head for the pier! Hong Kong has over 250 islands - many of which are uninhabited and full of cool historical artefacts - and we’ve outlined three of our favourites for you to check out this month. By Bell Chan

Yim Tin Tsai

AT A GLANCE: An abandoned Hakka village just 15 minutes boat ride from Sai Kung, Yim Tin Tsai is a fascinating glimpse into the past.

THE BACK STORY: The history of Yim Tin Tsai can be traced back three centuries. In the 1740s, the island was first inhabited by the Hakkas of the Chan family. Their descendants then developed salt fields on the island, and made their living by producing and selling salt. This explains where Yim Tin Tsai - which translates to “small salt field” in Cantonese - gets its name from!

This island thrived for several decades, expanding to over 1,000 residents during its most prosperous period in the 1940s. But urbanisation had a significant impact on the population, and by the following decade, villagers had gradually started to move off the island for good, eventually leaving the island completely deserted. Today, Yim Tin Tsai is a mostly uninhabited island, with one semi-permanent resident.

After a resurgence of public interest in the island in the 2000s, today Yim Tin Tsai is popular with daytrippers looking for an island escape.

WHAT TO SEE: Yim Tin Tsai was once heavily Catholic, and influences of the Church still remain. Be sure to make a visit to St Joseph’s Chapel, a Romanesque-style structure built in 1890 that is still operating and open to worshippers.

Another place to check out is the Yim Tin Tsai Village Heritage Exhibition, which was formerly the village schoolhouse, Ching Po School. You can browse a collection of cultural relics here, which embodies the local customs and heritage. Nearby, you can also find abandoned village houses, which still contain remnants from past residents, from kitchen utensils to old bed frames.

In recent years, former villagers have become actively involved in the conservation of cultural preservation on Yim Tin Tsai, even receiving the Award of Distinction from the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

HOW TO GET THERE: From Sai Kung Public Pier, boats to Yim Tin Tsai operate from 10am till 3pm on weekends and public holidays only. It costs $50 roundtrip for adults, and $35 for children and senior citizens.

Tung Lung Chau

AT A GLANCE: Tung Lung Chau has something for everyone, from family-friendly hiking to exciting rock climbing activities, ancient stone carvings, forts, and breathtaking natural landscape.

THE BACK STORY: Tung Lung Chau officially dates back to the Kangxi era (1662-1722), when Tung Lung Fort was built to protect the city from pirates. Enclosed by a three-metre high wall, the fort consisted of fifteen guardhouses and was armed with eight cannons, and visitors can still tour its ruins. The fort was largely abandoned in favour of Kowloon Fort (later the site of Kowloon Walled City) in 1810.

WHAT TO SEE: Besides the aforementioned fort, you’ll also find the Tung Lung Chau ancient rock carving - the largest, oldest, and biggest prehistoric rock carving that has even been found in Hong Kong. It was declared as a

Peng Chau

AT A GLANCE: At just under one square kilometer, Peng Chau is a small island community that’s home to around 6,500 residents. More lively and easy to access than Yim Tin Tsai and Tung Lung Chau, this is a convenient and less time-intensive trip that you can easily do any day of the week.

THE BACK STORY: In the past, Peng Chau was little more than a small fishing village. By the 1960s, however, this tiny island was a surprisingly industrious hub, with factories producing matches, steel pipes, leather and light bulbs. At the end of the 1970s, many factories closed down to relocate. Despite the closures, today you’ll find plenty of charming shops, restaurants and friendly locals.

WHAT TO SEE: Wing On Street is the busiest street in Peng Chau. As you stroll along it, you’ll spot the entrance to My Secret Garden, an old leather factory that was built in the 1930s. After it went out of business in 1975, it was transformed into an art village, where you can find disused materials repurposed into stunning works of art.

On the other side of the street is Chiu Kee Porcelain, one of the few local workshops still operating today. In business for more than 40 years, visitors can enrol in workshops here to make their own painted porcelain. The 2.5-hour workshops are held irregularly; if you’re planning on visiting and want to give it a go, remember to call and make an appointment.

Make a visit to Tin Hau Temple, a shoebox-sized temple that was built in 1792, and the Dragon Mother Temple (also known as Lung Mo Temple), a stunning red and gold building. It also just happens to overlook the main beach, a perfect spot to spend an afternoon sunning yourself and cooling off in the water.

HOW TO GET THERE: Head to Central Ferry Pier 6, where you’ll find ferries that leave every 30 to 45 minutes. For the fast ferry (a 30-minute trip), it costs $31 per adult and $15.50 for children and senior citizens. For ordinary ferry service (40 minutes), it’s $16.60 per adult and $8.30 for concessions.

protected monument in 1979, and is estimated to be as old as 3,000 years old.

From there, walk along the paved path to Luk Keng Wan, where you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the sea and crashing waves on jagged cliff s.

Next, check out the lighthouse, which is one of the few surviving pre-war lighthouses in Hong Kong. Surrounded by the sea on all sides, it’s a dramatic and scenic place to relax and enjoy the view, as well as a popular spot to go camping (pro tip: get there early to snag tent space!).

HOW TO GET THERE: The ferry to Tung Lung Chau is limited to weekends and public holidays. You can take a ferry from Kowloon, at the Sam Ka Tsuen Ferry Pier in Lei Yue Mun ($45 for a round-trip), or from Hong Kong Island at Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter in Sai Wan Ho ($55 round-trip).

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Dr Laurena Law is a General Practitioner with an interest in nutritional and lifestyle medicine. She is one of the team of international Medical Doctors at LifeClinic practicing a Functional and Swiss Biological approach to treating ageing, persistent health issues and chronic conditions from the root cause.

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