Destination Home Kong

Cheung Chau

WORDS: AMANDA CHEN | S/V PENELOPE

Approximately 12nm from Kellett Island, Cheung Chau is an easy day trip. There is generally sufficient anchorage at the southern end of the typhoon shelter and sampans running between the Sai Wan and main piers, which saves the hassle of launching your own RIB. The only issue with flagging a sampan down is that they often want to wait until they have enough passengers boarding at the Sai Wan pier before picking yachties up and could run out of room. If you prefer the independence of your own RIB, there are several spots to tie up before the main pier.

We enjoy having sundowners at The Pink Pig Music Bar & Restaurant – they have parked several rickshaws along the waterfront and modified them to include tables – giving you a bit of privacy despite being right next to the main thoroughfare. On the other side of the island, the folks running the Chau Windsurfing Center are very welcoming and it is quite the experience to witness a medical evacuation. The helipad is only a few feet away and you could not get better front row seats. Sundowners are usually followed by dinner at ChocoDuck – the food is wonderful and corkage is reasonable. Chef Stephanie has unfortunately shut her doors temporarily but, if you’re lucky, she could be persuaded to host private events.

WORDS: DEAN CHISHOLM | DARLING

robably one of the most secure cruising anchorages in HK with hills on four sides in Plover Cove Country Park. Around Sam A there are plenty of walking trails and restaurants to take a break from swimming and relaxing.

Sam A has no road access, the nearest road is 5.5km away at Wu Kau Fang and the nearest ferry is at Li Chi Wo pier, but only on public holidays and weekends. At night all the walkers exit the area, leaving a tranquil mooring. As Sam A is in the marine park, so there are no fisherman, unlike other areas of Double Haven.

Sam A has the convenience of three open air restaurants with 5 minutes walking distance of the pier. So the cook can have a break! Green Villa serves a short Hakka menu with daily specials overlooking an old green meadow off the main hiking trail. You can pre-order fish and it has a big old outdoor brick wok to braise the pork. The menus of Fook Lee and Hap Yick serve both Hakka food and a range of Cantonese favourites. On last checking none have ice cream!

Sam A is one of the seven Hakka villages of the Hing Chun Yeuk (or Hing Chun Alliance) the others being Kop Tong, Miu Tsz Lam, Lai Chi Wo, Siu Tan and So Lo Pun to the north, and Ngan Shi Wu on the extension of the Double Haven Country Trail. All are in walking distance, 3-10km return. Most of the villages are in various stages of abandonment! Lai Chi Wo, a walled village, now has a number of museums of Hakka heritage, mangrove viewing area and more importantly places to find sustenance. The walk to Ngan Shi Wu and then to Sai Lau Kong on the Double Haven Country Trail provides stunning views of the area and into Double Haven.