BIG DAY OUT

Cheung Chau

From pirate caves to beaches, Nicole Slater experiences the island like never before

Just a 35-minute fast ferry ride from Hong Kong Island, Cheung Chau is one of Hong Kong’s oldest inhabited islands with a population of over 20,000 people. With a rich history, the island is packed full of unique adventures and even has its own festival, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. Here’s our guide to having a great day out, Cheung Chau-style.

Hunt for treasure

Cheung Po Tsai Cave, also known as The Pirate’s Cave, is rumoured to have housed the treasure of the notorious pirate, Cheung Po Tsai in the 19th Century. Those with an adventurous spirit can clamber down the ladder into the rocks and search for forgotten treasures.

Enjoy the festivities

Cheung Chau Bun Festival takes place in April or May (depending on the year), it began as a ritual for fishing communities to pray for safety from pirates. Today, the festival has become a showcase of traditional Chinese culture with colourful parades, lion dances and peace buns.

Take a hike

Spanning eight kilometres across the island, The Cheung Chau Family Trail begins at the ferry pier and spans the circumference of the island. This path is pathed and offers stunning views across the ocean. Along the way you’ll come across the Mini Great Wall, a section of granite railings built to replicate the Great Wall of China.

Hit the beach

A few minutes walk from the ferry pier, Tung Wan Beach is a great place to take a dip and cool off. The beach is fully equipped with lifeguards and changing facilities along with bars and restaurants close by. You can rent kayaks, paddle boards and windsurfing equipment from the neighbouring beach of Kwun Yam.

Get active

Home to one of Hong Kong’s only glamping sites, Sai Yuen Farm is an outdoor adventure playground situated on over 11 acres of land on the Southwestern tip of Cheung Chau. The area offers a range of outdoor activities including a treetop canopy walk and archery. Shi Fu Miz is an annual three-day music and arts festival which takes place on the farm, this year it is scheduled to take place from October 29-31 with early-bird tickets going on sale on June 10.

Stock up on groceries

Located on Tai Hing Road, the Cheung Chau Market offers a range of local food including dried seafood and locally-grown fresh fruit and vegetables. Stock up on groceries before catching the ferry home.

During peak hours, ferries to Cheung Chau run from Central Pier 5 every 30 minutes. The fast ferry takes 35 minutes while the slow ferry takes around an hour.

How to get there