Cheung Chau is the most densely populated island and the most popular tourist destination in the Islands District of Hong Kong. Other than eating street food, cycling and playing water sports, Cheung Chau is also a great place for hiking!
Transportation: Take ferry from Central Pier No. 5 to Cheung Chau Ferry Pier. The fast ferry takes about 35-40 minutes and the ordinary ferry takes about 55-60 minutes.
Hiking Trails
One-hour Hiking Route to North Tiaoting Pavilion
In addition to the Cheung Chau Family Trail and Mini Great Wall, Cheung Chau has a lesser-known hiking trail.
Turn left at Cheung Chau Ferry Pier and walk along San Hing Praya Street and Pak She Praya Street. Then turn right to reach Pak Tai Temple Playground and Cheung Chau Yuk Hui Temple (also known as Pak Tai Temple). This temple is not only the largest Pak Tai Temple in Hong Kong, but also a Grade I historic building!
Climbing on the ramp beside the Cheung Chau Home for the Aged next to the Pak Tai Temple. After passing the Pak She Cheung Lee Playground and Cheung Chau Christian Cemetery, you will arrive at Pak She Park. The entrance of the park is a Japanese-style torii gate. Follow the stone stairs in the park and you will reach the North Lookout Pavilion, which is the highest point of the Cheung Chau island.
If you still have time, you can go down and reach the northernmost cape of Cheung Chau, Pak Kok Tsui. The view is really amazing!
The Adventure to Cheung Po Tsai Cave
If you love legends, Cheung Po Tsai Cave is definitely a can’t miss. Turn right at Cheung Chau Ferry Pier and walk for 20 minutes along Tai Hing Tai Road and Cheung Chau Sai Tai Road to Sai Wan; or take a five-minute kaito to Sai Wan at Cheung Chau Public Pier, which is located next to Cheung Chau Ferry Pier. Then follow the signs on Cheung Po Tsai Road and arrive at Chang Po Tsai Cave via Chang Po Tsai Cave Picnic Area.
Cheung Po Tsai Cave is a nature cave littered with winding passages which was said to be the treasure trove of the infamous Qing Dynasty pirate Cheung Po Tsai. It is the most iconic tourist attraction on Cheung Chau Island. Visitors must enter from one side of the cave and leave on the other side, and the walk takes about 5 minutes. The cave is very narrow, especially at the entrance and exit. Beware and don’t get hurt! Also, the inside is completely dark, so be sure to use a flashlight for illumination.
Although the cave is narrow, for the time being, I have never heard of anyone getting stuck in the cave (laughing). So as long as you can pass through the entrance, you should be able to reach the exit. In addition, I have seen many parents exploring the cave with their young children. You need to know that the inside is really dark, and you have to climb down a metal ladder, which may be too tall for small kids, when you enter the cave.
After leaving Cheung Po Tsai Cave, you will see a sign that indicates “No Access To Reclining Rock”, but that is not exactly the case. Go down the stairs and pass through the rocks, and you will arrive Po Yue Wan. At Po Yue Wan, you can look at the Reclining Rock from a distance. Alternatively, you can walk along the seashore during low tides, or climb up the barbed wire (which I don’t recommend) to reach the Reclining Rock.
Food Recommendation
1. 允升甜品
Speaking of Cheung Chau’s most iconic food, Cheung Chau mango glutinous rice dumpling is definitely on the list. When you come to Cheung Chau, you must not miss the origin of this dessert, 允升甜品! The dumpling wrapper was thin and tender, with a large piece of sweet mango filling. Other mango desserts, such as mango rolls and mango pomelo sago (楊枝甘露), are also not to be missed.
By the way, I tried to replicate the Cheung Chau mango sticky rice dumplings at home. Although the dumpling wrapper was not thin enough, I think it still looked and tasted like the original version.
Address: G/F, 5 San Hing Street, Cheung Chau
2. 甘永泰魚蛋
Fish ball is a must-eat in Cheung Chau and 甘永泰魚蛋 is the most famous and historic snack bar that mainly sells fish balls. This store has opened for more than 40 years. When I was a child, I would buy fish balls whenever I went to Cheung Chau. Before I left the island, I would even buy takeaways and bring it home. Although the huge Cheung Chau fish balls have become popular lately, I still prefer 甘永泰魚蛋 more.
Recently, I ate fish balls here again. The fish balls were still authentic and springy as what I had remembered! Unfortunately, probably because there were too many people waiting, the fried fish eggs were a bit greasy and not hot enough.
Address: G/F, 106 San Hing Street, Cheung Chau
3. Hing Fat Kee (慶發記)
A large bowl of taro balls with grass jelly/double skin soy milk and toppings only costs HK$20 – 30! This is probably one of the best taro balls desserts I have ever tried in Hong Kong (with such a low price). Although the shop is located in an alley and there are only two dine-in seats, you can buy takeaways and enjoy the desserts on Tung Wan Beach or Kwun Yam Beach in a 5-minute walk.
Address: G/F, 2 Shing Cheong Lane, Cheung Chau
4. Katie Dessert (師妹甜品)
Katie Dessert does not open every day, do check the opening hour before you visit the shop. Baked Alaska and Flaming Chocolate Lava Cake are the signature dishes. All lights are turned off before flame desserts are served. This adds a visual effect on top of the tasty desserts.
Address: No. 12, Kin Seng Avenue, Cheung Chau
5. Cheung Chau Bing Sutt (長洲冰室)
This dessert shop specialises in shaved ice with taro balls. The shaved ice looked attractive and was Instagrammable. Although the shaved ice tasted good, the taro balls were too bland and hard to me. I think there are better options at this price.
Address: G/F, 19C Pak She Praya Road, Cheung Chau
6. Chiang Mai Thai Food (清邁海鮮燒烤餐廳)
One day after getting off the ferry at noon, I suddenly wanted to eat Thai food. So I found a Thai restaurant near the Cheung Chau Ferry Pier. Surprisingly, the lunch set costed less than HK$50 and the price even included a Thai drink! The soup base of tom yum noodle soup was good. The Pad Thai was served in large portion with a lot of seafood, but the shrimp paste tasted too strong for me.
Address: G/F, 17A Pak She Praya Road, Cheung Chau