Hong Kong is home to hundreds of little islands, with only a handful being populated. Each of Hong Kong’s outlying islands has its own character to explore. Sample delicious seafood on a Lamma island trip, go on hikes along hidden trails in Peng Chau or time your visit with the Cheung Chau Bun festival. There are plenty of adventures to be had, just a ferry ride from the city!
#1 Try Tap Mun for some scenery and culture
If you haven’t done an island day trip to Tap Mun, off the northeast coast of Sai Kung, it’s worth the effort! The name Tap Mun means “stupa door”; this probably comes from the island’s step-like rock formations and caves, which resemble a temple entrance. The best-known is Balance Rock, two huge cubes of stone sitting on top of each other like the Chinese character lui: 呂.
You’ll also hear Tap Mun called “Grass Island” – for obvious reasons. There are plenty of meadowy fields to be found, but the best is located a short walk from the pier to the eastern side of the island. A pavilion at the top is a popular spot for a picnic. Just keep an eye on the resident cows who’ll wander up to visitors sitting at tables and under shelters to have a sniff for food.
Eslewhere, the Tin Hau temple is a cluster of three temples, around 300 years old. (A bronze bell in one of them dates back to 1737.) According to a local legend, a pirate’s tunnel once ran from the temple to a spot near Balance Rock. Keep an eye out for the pretty sculptures on the temple roof.
The main village has a couple of restaurant options – choose the seafood dishes, of course. Oh, and if you enjoy a rustic religious festival, there’s one held here every 10 years, but you’ll need to wait until 2029 for the next one!
#2 Attend a festival in Cheung Chau
Visit Cheung Chau to witness one of the more interesting festivals you’re ever likely to see – the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. This quirky festival dates back 100 years to a time when a plague struck this small island to the south of Hong Kong. The locals held a parade and made buns to offer the gods in the hopes that the plague would end. It worked, and today the parade is held annually.
The festival itself lasts a week but the main event is the Piu Sik (floating colours) parade. This year, it’s on 24 May. Here, a papier mâché deities and small children decked out in costumes and standing on pedestals are carried through the streets. There’s also the “bun scrambling” competition at midnight (12am, 25 May). This sees locals testing the their strength by climbing a tower covered in buns, scrambling to pull as many of them off as possible. It’s usually crowded and hot, and there’s a bun fight (sorry!) to get on the ferries, but it’s definitely worth seeing at least once. You can also easily escape the madness and see the rest of this idyllic island while everyone else watches the parade.
#3 Explore Lantau’s traditional villages via a hike or a beach day
Lantau is the largest of Hong Kong’s outlying islands, and there are plenty of reasons to visit. Two of the key ones are the beautiful beaches (at 3km long, Cheung Sha Beach is the longest beach in Hong Kong) and the hiking (highlighted by the 70km Lantau Trail).
Parts of the coastline are dotted with some pretty cool villages too. The now-famous Sea Ranch gives a glimpse into the life of expats many decades ago, while Tai O is about as close as you can get to an authentic traditional village in the territory. In fact, Tai O’s origins stretch all the way back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It’s home to the Tanka people, a fishing community renowned for building their houses on stilts along the tidal flats. For around $40, you can take a 20-minute sampan ride for a closer look.
A great way to see all of this is by tackling a stage or two of the Lantau Trail. The first half of the route sticks mostly to higher territory – Sunset Peak and Lantau Peak, for example – but the second half, from Stage 7, brings you down to the coast where you can stop at the aforementioned beaches and villages.
#4 Find hidden gems in Peng Chau
Peng Chau is one of Hong Kong’s smaller outlying islands, located off the east coast of its bigger sister Lantau. Once an industrial hub, the island is now known for its laid-back charm and scenic views of HK from the top of Finger Hill.
There are plenty of abandoned buildings to explore if you’re feeling adventurous. These include Peng Chau Theatre, once home to a 500-seat cinema. There’s also an abandoned lime factory where lime was once produced by burning coral and shells, for use in the building industry in Hong Kong.
Tiny Tai Lei island lies to the northwest of Peng Chau and is accessed by a 130-metre bridge that’s a popular fishing spot. And there are also several significant temples on Peng Chau, including an old Tin Hau temple erected in 1792.
#5 Take a Lamma island trip for seafood and walks
Situated just a 20-minute ferry ride away from HK island, Lamma feels a million miles away. Home around 6,000 or so residents, Lamma appeals to those who really want to get away from it all. There are no cars on this 13-square-kilometre outlying island, which gives you the perfect excuse to explore on foot. Yung Shue Wan is the island’s main village, and it’s home to a number of great bars, cafés and shops.
Some of the best seafood restaurants in HK can also be found on Lamma. Some, like Rainbow Seafood Restaurant, even provide a ferry service to and from Central! Tai Yuen Seafood also comes highly recommended.
After lunch, take the family for a hike. The popular Family Trail cuts across the island to the village on the other side, Sok Kwu Wan. From there, it’s a short walk to Lo So Shing beach. This is a little slice of paradise without the usual crowds of other HK beaches.
Lamma trivia
The island was formerly called Pok Liu Chau (meaning “a place for docking or parking”). The name Lamma came about from a mistake. In the 1760s, a geographer from Scotland named Alexander Dalrymple saw a map with the Portuguese word “lama” and figured it was the island’s name. In fact, “lama” means “muddy land”!
Liked these ideas for a Lamma island trip or a visit to HK’s other outlying islands? For more activities in Hong Kong, visit our Things to Do section!
