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Hong Kong’s outlying islandsA guide to Lamma, Cheung Chau and Peng ChauFor an escape from the usual hustle and bustle of Hong Kong just hop on the ferry for a relaxing visit to one of the nearby islands.
Lamma IslandOne of the largest of the outlying islands, Lamma houses weekend revelers and international ex-patriots. There is no car traffic but many well paved trails that wind from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan. What to doLamma has a few beaches to relax on. The closest to Yung Shue Wan is Hung Shing Yeh beach also called Power Station beach because the power station is right next door. Lo So Shing beach is a 30 minute walk towards Sok Kwu Wan, but it is farther away from the power station and has less people. Hiking is also a popular option. Trails branch out to different settlements, some quite steep and with stunning views of Hong Kong harbor in the distance. Cheung ChauAlthough the most populous outlying island, it also doesn’t have vehicle traffic. Cheung Chau is a fishing community with many colorful fishing boats dotting the harbor and well paved paths in the interior. What to doVisit the Pak Tai temple near the ferry terminus at Praya. This temple is dedicated to the sea god most likely for abundance of fish for the many local fisherman. A trip to this island isn’t complete without going to one of the nearby beaches, try Tung Wan beach. Hiking around the island brings you to many sites such as small temples and the island cemetery. The Cheung Chau bun festival is what the island is most famous for and the date is determined by the Chinese calendar, which is the eighth of the fourth month. Peng ChauOne of the smallest of the outlying islands, Peng Chau also has the lowest crime rate in all of Hong Kong. Vehicle traffic is prohibited on this island as well, making the stroll around the paved paths that much more relaxing. What to doRight next to the pier is the Seashore Garden. Next to this is a sports complex. For some temple gazing there are a few famous ones to see. The Tin Hua Temple is over 200 years old and most of the building is original. Also nearby are the Golden Flower Shrine and the Lung Mo Temple. A good hike is to take the “figure eight” path around the island going to the highest point at Finger Hill. Getting thereFrom Hong Kong’s Central there are the easy to find outlying ferry piers. The different piers are marked with which island and town they go to. So just make sure you get on the right one. You pay the fare with exact change in the turnstile before getting on the ferry. Prices are slightly higher on the weekends. More China
The copyright of the article Hong Kong’s outlying islands in Hong Kong Travel is owned by Lisa Schroeder. Permission to republish Hong Kong’s outlying islands in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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