ON THE STREET

Indulge In Local Treats

Along the Tai O Market Street a few feet away from the bus terminal, you can have a taste of the must-try street snacks made with seafood. We demonstrate the best street food of Tai O, so you can plan a savory getaway with your loved ones to this delightful community.

The smell of seafood is everywhere in Tai O. With freshly-caught seafood, there are street food stores known for seafood snacks including grilled cuttlefish and jumbo fishballs. They are well-seasoned with homemade sauce and spices, known for a rich favour.

Of course, Tai O is also recognized for its shrimp paste, which is made of silver shrimp. They are usually captured at night, then salted, fermented, and dried as shrimp paste. Make sure you make your way to the store selling Chinese crepe wraps, with shrimp minced pork fried in rich shrimp paste inside. There are also modern coffee shops, whose owners generously give out free cool drinks.

Cultural Heritage In Hong Kong

From the southern edge of Hong Kong Island to the western edge of Lantau Island, we visited three distinct fishing villages which demonstrate different levels of impacts brought by urbanisation, in terms of the traditional lifestyle and culture of the indigenous Boat Dwellers.

With the proximity to the central area of Hong Kong Island, Apleichau and Aberdeen have experienced dramatic changes, and only a few houseboats at the Aberdeen Harbour and historical temples could survive amidst rapid urbanisation. In the meantime, maritime-related businesses which used to be the foundational economic pillars in Hong Kong, have lost their prosperities due to the economic transformation as well.

Fortunately, with the end of the pandemic this year, the local tourism industry is gradually recovering and Tai O rejuvenates as a tourism spot known for its rich fishing history. Nonetheless, the balance between urbanisation and cultural reservation would always be a complicated issue, and we should treasure the local cultural heritage before they vanish.