Ap Chau (鴨洲) and Kat O (吉澳) are both major geological attractions of Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. Even though they used to be fishing villages, they have a unique geological, natural and cultural heritage. The weekend kaito ferry service between Ma Liu Shui and Ap Chau/Kat O started to operate in 2018. Since then, it is much easier to visit Ap Chau and Kat O on a day trip!
How To Get There
Take the kaito ferry operating between Ma Liu Shui to Kat O and Ap Chau on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Visitors can get off at the University Station of MTR East Rail, then walk from Exit B for about 15 minutes to Ma Liu Shui Landing Steps No.3 for the ferry service to Kat O and Ap Chau.
Return Trip: HK$90
Single Journey (from Kat O to Ma Liu Shui): HK$50
09:00 Take the ferry at Ma Liu Shui Landing Steps No.3 to Ap Chau
(recommend not to get off the ferry in Ap Chau at 10:45)
11:00 Visit Ap Chau
12:30 Take the ferry from Ap Chau to Kat O
12:45 Have lunch in Kat O
13:30 Visit Kat O
15:30 Take the ferry from Kat O back to Ma Liu Shui
17:00 Arrive at Ma Liu Shui Landing Steps No.3
*Since there is only one ferry service throughout the day, please make sure you can get on the ferry on time!
Ap Chau
Ap Chau is located in the north-eastern New Territories of Hong Kong, less than two kilometres away from Shenzhen Yantian Port to the north. It is the smallest inhabited island in Hong Kong, with only 4 hectares in sizes, which is equivalent to 4 standard football fields. Ap Chau is mainly composed of reddish-brown ochre breccia, which is rare in Hong Kong. The island is named Ap Chau, literally translated as “Duck Island” in English, because its appearance resembles a duck protruding over the sea. The “Duck’s Eye” at the northern end of the island is the only sea arch that can be viewed up close in Hong Kong and is known as one of the natural wonders of Hong Kong.
If you have time, you can visit the Ap Chau Story House, which was converted from the old Ap Chau Fishermen’s Children Primary School, then walk up a hilltop lookout along the stone steps next to the School to overlook the Ap Chau Fishing Village.
Kat O
The boat trip from Ap Chau to Kat O just takes about 15 minutes. If you want to visit the most places in a limited time, you can follow the Kat O Nature Trail which takes about one hour. In addition to enjoying the natural landscape while hiking, you can also learn about the culture and history of the Kat O fishing village.
After getting off the ferry at Kat O Pier, turn left until you see the Sam Sing Kung Temple. Take a 20-minute walk up the hill to Ko Tei Teng. At the hilltop lookout, you can have a panoramic view of the entire island, gaze across Ap Chau and The Six Treasures of Double Haven.
After going down the hill, it’s time for lunch! There are only two restaurants in Kat O and we picked Yik Man restaurants. We ordered the signature Steam Cuttlefish Ball and Hakka Braised Pork Belly with rice and drink. It only costed us HK$55 per person! There are not many seats in the restaurant, so if you want to eat at lunchtime, you’d better make a reservation in advance.
- Yik Man (益民酒家)
Tel：2679 9337 / 2679 9132 - (榮記海鮮館)
Tel：26799259
If there is time left, you may as well visit the Tin Hau Temple and the Kat O Story Room at the end of Kat O Main Street. The Kat O Story Room is situated in the Tin Hau Temple, the oldest building on Kat O. The cultural relics and historical photos in the Story Room can help visitors to understand the island life in the past.
