Cheung Chau Ferry Pier is the arrival point for visitors to the island and is the starting point for this walk. Before reaching the pier the ferry passes through Cheung Chau's colorful and busy harbor and typhoon shelter, packed with junks, sampans, trawlers and other craft.

The pier exit leads out on to the island's busy promenade. Im... Moremediately opposite the pier are convenience stores, a supermarket and McDonald's restaurant (open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays). Visitors will also notice a row of accommodation stands offering apartments for rent. These stands are open from about 9am until late night, sometimes after midnight. Visitors seeking accommodations can view pictures in display albums before making a choice. These are mostly budget apartments but most are well-equipped and many have free Wi-Fi.Less

Cheung Chau Harbour is a colorful, vibrant, busy hive of activity day and night. Within the harbor are several piers and a typhoon shelter where sampans and other small craft busily scurry about among large ferries, cargo boats, trawlers, junks and houseboats. Along the praya (promenade), which runs the length of the harbor, are alfresco seafood re... Morestaurants, cafes, shops, a supermarket, temples, playgrounds and shipyard. Much of this walk follows the harborside promenades, which always provide something of interest for the visitor.Less

From the pier the walk follows San Hing Praya Street and Pak She Praya Road, which is the promenade running along the harborside north of the ferry pier. Along this street are many seafood restaurants, which are reasonably priced. These restaurants become extremely busy on weekends, when finding a table can sometimes be difficult. Continue walking ... Moreuntil reaching Pak Tai Temple Playground.Less

Pak Tai Temple Playground located in front of Pak Tai Temple is the venue for the annual Bun Festival. The festival which dates back to 1894, is held in honor of the god Pak Tai. It commemorates the day the plague finally ended and is intended to pacify the spirits of the many residents who died during the outbreak.

During the festival... More a temporary bamboo theater is erected in the playground and Cantonese opera performances take place.

The colorful Piu Sik (Floating Colors) Parade features "floating children" figures dressed in costume and makeup to represent historical characters and lion and dragon dancers. Pak Tai is seated in a red sedan chair at the head of the parade and leads the way to the playground, where it ends.

The festival ends at midnight with the Bun Scrambling Competition in which competitors race up a steel tower covered in layers of plastic buns, picking off as many possible within a given time. Suspended in 1978 when the tower collapsed, injuring more than 100 people, the bun scrambling was reintroduced in 2005. The competition now operates under strict safety conditions with competitors undergoing training with Hong Kong Mountaineering Association. Real buns were replaced by plastic buns for health reasons but during the festival more than 20,000 real buns are still made by local bakeries and handed out after the competition.

During the carnival about 60,000 visitors descend on the island and accommodations can be impossible to find. In accordance with tradition, many eateries offer only vegetarian food for three days during the carnival period, including McDonalds, which offers veggie burgers.Less

Pak Tai Temple was built in 1783 but has undergone several renovations, the latest completed in 2003. It is dedicated to the god Pak Tai, known as "protector of fishermen," "guardian of peace" and "military protector." Pak Tai was credited ridding the island of the plague in the late 19th century.

The temple contains a statue of Pak T... Moreai as well as a Qing Dynasty sedan chair that is used to carry the statue in the Bun Festival parade. Other deities on view include Kwun Yum (goddess of mercy) and Tai Sui (the "sixty gods of time") and there are the usual temple paraphernalia of drums and bells and an iron sword.
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Pak Tai Temple
Pak She Street
3718 6888
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Hours
Daily 7am-5pm
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Admission
A small donation is requestedLess

From the temple one can explore some of Cheng Chau's quaint and narrow shopping streets by following Pak She Street, which continues as San Hing Street.

You'll find a wide variety of shops, including dried seafood shops, bakeries, green grocers, hardware merchants, electrical shops and Chinese paper offering. Near the junction of Pak S... Morehe Street and San Hing Street, on Kwok Man Road, is an example of one of Hong Kong's remaining colonial post boxes. It was originally painted in the British post office red and since has been repainted in Hong Kong Post's green livery.

San Hing Street leads into the square on Tung Wan Road, marked by an ancient banyan tree on one corner. Follow Tung Wan Road past the banyan tree toward Tung Wan Beach.Less

The Ancient Banyan Tree on Tung Wan Road is worshipped as a symbol of Cheung Chau's prosperity and an altar stands beneath it. When a proposal was put forward to widen the road and cut down the tree such was the outcry that a restaurant on the opposite side of the road was demolished instead.

The popular B&B Cheung Chau, which opened in 2006, is located on Tung Wan Road, about a one-minute walk from the beach and a three-minute walk from the ferry pier. It provides excellent budget accommodations with modern, well-equipped and spotlessly clean--if small--rooms.

The guest house has 14 rooms and four suites located in its mai... Moren building. A second location on Pak She Street opened in early 2011 adding seven rooms.

There is a pleasant roof garden with panoramic views across the island and harbor. It hosts both local and international visitors. It has a high occupancy rate and is usually fully booked at weekends.
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BB Cheung Chau
14 Tung Wan Road
Cheung Chau
Hong Kong
852) 2986 9990
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This quirky, tiny teahouse has become something of an institution on Cheung Chau since being featured in several guide books and magazines. It is located a few steps from the beach, just off Tung Wan Road next to the B&B Cheung Chau guest house. The teahouse is run by its charming Japanese owner Takahiko-san and her husband, who is an artist. It se... Morerves sushi "snacks" and herbal teas. The teahouse is simply a counter with a few outside tables and seats.
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Hometown Teahouse
12 Tung Wang Road
phone: 2981 5038
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Hours
Daily Noon-9pmLess

Tung Wan Beach is the main beach on Cheung Chau. It has a narrow strip of good sands and is popular for swimming, windsurfing and canoeing. The northern end of the beach is overlooked by rather shabby holiday flats and at the southern end stands Cheung Chau's only hotel, the Warwick. There are public toilets, changing rooms and showers. Lifeguards ... Moreare on duty from April to October.Less

Warwick Hotel, located at the southern end of Tung Wan Beach, is Cheung Chau's only hotel. It is a three-star 63-bedroom hotel and most rooms have balconies overlooking the beach. Its restaurant is popular with locals particularly at weekend lunchtimes.
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Warwick Hotel
East Bay
Cheung Chau
Hong Kong
phone: 852-... More2981-0081
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On Hak Pai Road, just below the Warwick Hotel, is an ancient rock carving discovered by a geologist in 1970. The Bronze Age carving, which is enclosed in a glass case, is believed to be about 3,500 years old and depicts animal images and geometric lines similar to those found on Bronze Age pottery. The carving faces out to sea and is said to protec... Moret fishermen. It was declared a monument by the Hong Kong government in 1983.Less

Just beyond the ancient rock carving is a helicopter landing pad used for emergency transportation to Hong Kong Island or Kowloon. It sits in front of Cheung Chau Windsurfing Centre at Kwun Yam Beach. The windsurfing center is famous for having produced Hong Kong's only Olympic gold medalist, Lee Lai-shan, known locally as "San-San." He was born on... More the island and won the gold at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Windsurfing and kayaking gear can be rented here and there is a bar and cafe open to the public.
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Windsurfing Centre
No. 1 Hak Pai Road, Cheung Chau
phone: 852 29 81 27 72
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Hours: Wind surfing reservations must be made 7 days in advance. Hours vary on weather.

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Located next to the windsurfing center is Kwun Yam Beach. This beach is more sheltered and secluded than Tung Wan Beach and tends to be less crowded. This is the beach used by the windsurfing club and is also popular for kayaking and canoeing. The next stage of this walk follows the steps behind the changing rooms, which lead away from the beach up... More a hill.Less

The steps from Kwun Yam Beach lead up to a junction of paths. Follow Fa Peng Road, ignoring any paths on the left, and continue past Cheung Chau Sports Ground. On the right will be a junction with Peak Road. Follow Peak Road to the left and continue along past residences, the Alliance Bible Seminary and a school. Then follow Peak Road West, which b... Moreranches off to the left. Peak Road West follows a scenic path on a forested hillside past Cheung Chau Cemetery and Crematorium with views over the South China Sea on one side and across the island on the other. Continue along Peak Road West following the signs to Sai Wan.Less

Peak Road West descends and leads into Tsan Tuen Road, which runs through the Canadian-funded Self-Help Care Village to the picturesque Sai Wan Harbour and pier. The harbor is populated by sampans and small fishing boats and is the meeting point for Cheung Chau's dragon boat paddlers.

A sampan ferry service operates through the harbo... Morer to Cheung Chau Public Pier, next to Cheung Chau Ferry Pier. This is a short scenic trip that visitors may use as an alternative to the final stages of this walk. The ferry operates at about 20-minute intervals from 6:40am to 6pm daily and also operates subject to passenger demand between 6 and 8pm. Ferries may run more frequently on Sundays and public holidays. Visitor fares are HK$3, cash only; residents pay HK$2.

The next point of interest, the Tin Hau Temple, is just a short walk from the pier; follow the direction signs.Less

From Sai Wan Harbour follow the signs for a short distance to the small Tin Hau Temple, which stands on the cliff above the typhoon shelter wall. The temple is one of four Tin Hau temples on Cheung Chau and is believed to have been built sometime in the early 1900s. The temple is not particularly remarkable but does have some elaborate porcelain ro... Moreof carvings.

Just beyond the temple stands the Tin Hau Pavilion with views across the Adamasta Channel to Lantau Island.Less

Continue to Cheung Chau Po Tsai Cave by walking along the footpath past the Tin Hau Temple and up a flight of steps to a pavilion, where a path descends to the cave via steps. Or follow the signs that lead up a set of steps between the temple and the pier.

Cheung Po Tsai Cave is believed to have been one several hideouts for notorious ... Morelocal pirate Cheung Po Tsai. The son of a fisherman, he was born in 1786 in nearby Guangdong Province and kidnapped at age 15 by a pirate king. When the pirate king drowned, his wife took over command of the fleet and is said to have fallen in love with Cheung Po Tsai. He subsequently rose to power, terrorizing foreign merchant ships that had to pay protection money. At the height of his powers he had a fleet of more than 270 ships and commanded more than 15,000 men. He eventually surrendered to the Qing Navy in 1810 and was offered an officer's post, later becoming a major-general. He died in 1822.

The cave, which is no more than a cleft between rocks, is accessed via a flight of steep steps down a hillside to the rocks below. A certain amount of agility is required because the entrance to the cave is narrow; a flashlight will help you explore.Less

From the pirate's cave the walk returns to Sai Wan Harbour and then follows the typhoon shelter, which runs alongside Cheung Chau Sai Tai Road. This is where the annual Cheung Chau Dragon Boat Races take place during Tuen Ng Festival, which takes place on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar (June on the Western calendar). Dragon ... Moreboat paddlers can often be seen training here.Less

Cheung Chau Sai Tai Road is a pleasant straight stretch of promenade running alongside Sai Wan Harbour and the typhoon shelter. There are plenty of seats for visitors to take a break, relax and enjoy the picturesque views across the harbor and Adamasta Channel to Lantau Island. This a particulary good place from which to enjoy some stunning sunsets... More as the sun slowly slips behind the hills of Lantau. A popular cycle track runs along the road.Less

Alongside Cheung Chai Sai Tai Road stands a dragon boat, a symbol of the dragon boat racing activity in the area. Visitors can usually beat the drum, although at the time of the author's last visit, the drum "hammer" was missing.

At the end of Cheung Chau Sai Tai Road the praya (promenade) continues as Tai Hing Tai Road. Continue along with the colorful harbur and fireboat station on the left before reaching the Buddhist Wai Yan Memorial College.

The road then passes several shops and cafes, including rental shops where bicycles and canopy-covered tricycles ca... Moren be rented for about HK$20 per hour and HK$100 deposit. Just beyond, on the right, is a square shaded by ancient banyan trees and seats where Cheung Chau's old folk congregate and while away the day.

In the square are three restaurants with outdoor tables. Immediately on the right off Tai Hing Tai Road is Coffee & Tea, which serves Western as well as Chinese meals. On the opposite side a popular hotpot restaurant. At the far end of the square is a the small Hung Sing Temple and a funeral parlor.

Continuing along Tai Hing Road there are more restaurants and a cafe before coming to the wet market and libary on the right. Directly opposite on the harborside is the cargo pier, always an interesting hive of activity with boats off-loading supplies for the island. Fish left out to dry are also a common sight here.

Just beyond is the distinctive white canopy of Chau Public Pier.Less

Located next to the main ferry pier, Cheung Chau Public Pier is where the walk ends. The pier is very distinctive with its white fabric canopy that was erected in 2005, following renovation of the pier. From here a local sampan ferry service operates to Sai Wan Pier (see Sai Wan Harbour and Pier above for details) and sampans also can be hired. The... More pier is another favorite meeting place for the island's old folk and is good spot to stand and observe the activity all around.

Visitors can continue exploring Cheung Chau's quaint streets or at the adjacent Cheung Chau Ferry Pier, take a ferry back to Hong Kong Island.Less