When the holidays come, many citizens feel lost and don’t know what to do. Staying at home doing nothing, but going out is afraid of having nowhere to go, and traveling is out of the question without enough money and time. But in fact, Hong Kong still has many different good places for citizens to explore and relax. This time, let me introduce Cheung Chau to you, recommending two must-visit places.
A little information
Cheung Chau is an island located southeast of Lantau Island, about 10 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong Island. It takes about 35 minutes to reach from Central by fast ferry, or about 1 hour by slow ferry. Cheung Chau is nicknamed “Dumbbell Island” due to the shape of the island resembling a dumbbell. The current estimated population is around twenty thousand, making it one of the most densely populated islands in the outlying islands district.
In addition to the ferry terminal along the coast, Cheung Chau is full of seafood restaurants and various street food stalls. Another feature of Cheung Chau is its many tourist attractions, such as the famous Cheung Po Tsai Cave, Cheung Chau Pak Tai Temple, and Cheung Chau Rock Carvings. In addition, the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival and bun scrambling competition are the most attractive events, making it the largest traditional event on Cheung Chau, attracting a large number of visitors each time.
East Bay Beach
The first recommended location is, of course, the Repulse Bay Beach. As one of the well-known beaches in Hong Kong, Repulse Bay Beach is very conveniently located, with a maximum of 1 hour boat ride from Central and only a 5-minute walk from Cheung Chau Pier.
And convenient access allows citizens to leisurely visit on weekends, relieving the stress of daily life by looking at the endless blue sea, golden beaches, and cheerful visitors. At the beach, playing in the water, swimming, building sandcastles, and more are suitable for people of all ages, ensuring you have a great time. If you’re interested, you can even try surfing at Dongwan Beach.
Zhang Baozai Cave
When it comes to Cheung Chau, of course, we have to mention the famous historical site of Cheung Po Tsai Cave. According to legend, during the Qing Dynasty, Cheung Po Tsai, the leader of the Red Flag Fleet pirates, was active in the Guangdong area of China. Before Cheung Po Tsai was granted amnesty by the court, he often appeared in a natural cave on the cliffs of the west bay of Cheung Chau. This cave served as his main hiding place to evade the court’s pursuit at that time. It is rumored that he hid some of his treasures in the Guangdong area, including caves on many small islands, including Cheung Chau.
So far, the most well-known Cheung Po Tsai Cave is located on Cheung Chau Island, attracting numerous visitors every year to explore the legendary cave where Cheung Po Tsai is said to have hidden his treasures. To enter the cave, visitors must descend along an iron ladder and bring a flashlight for illumination. Due to the narrow body of the Cheung Po Tsai Cave, only one person can pass through at a time, so visitors must enter from one side of the cave and exit from the other side.
However, please remember that due to the long-term erosion of the cave by wind and rain, and the lack of regular maintenance, accidents may occur. Please be extra careful when visiting Zhang Baozai Cave, pay attention to your footing and head. In 2012, due to the long-term effects of wind and rain, one of the large stones at the entrance of the cave slipped down, making the entrance narrower.
