Travel Through Time
Tung Chung to Tai O
Modern megastructures to ancient villages - On Lantau Island, the Tung O Ancient Trail was once an important passage for villagers to commute between Tung Chung and Tai O. The coastal trail offers manifold photography opportunities, from the futuristic mega infrastructures of Hong Kong
International Airport and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (under construction) to an ancient fort, temples and a centuries-old fishing village set against mangroves and green hills.
Tung Chung Fort
Built in 1832, Tung Chung Fort was once the naval headquarters of the Right Battalion of Dapeng (today’s southeast Shenzhen). The fort is now a Declared Monument and visitors are free to explore the parapet wall, barrack houses and antique cannons.
Tung Chung Bay
Follow the village path and you will be led to the mangrove-lined estuarine intertidal mudflat. This ecological hideout has a place in China’s history, when the last emperor of the Song Dynasty took refuge in Lantau Island temporarily to flee the Mongol army in 1278. Hau Wong Temple, built in 1765, commemorates the faithful prince marquis Yeung Leung-jit who protected the emperor.
Hau Hok Wan
Stay on the level path along the coastline. Literally ‘Horseshoe Crab Bay’, the name of this cove suggests that this living fossil species once thrived here. Take a break at the pavilion after climbing up the slope and watch planes take off behind Hong Kong Link Road.
Po Chue Tam
This tranquil inlet behind Tai O gives perfect reflections of the green hills around. Follow the paved path to Yeung Hau Temple built in 1699, also to commemorate the prince marquis Yeung Leung-jit.
Stilt Houses
Dubbed ‘the Venice of Hong Kong’, Tai O is home to fisherfolk who’ve built their houses on stilts above the tidal flats for generations. These elevated houses are interconnected, forming a tightly knit community above the water. Today you will still see dwellers tidying their fishing nets, sun-drying salted fish or making shrimp paste on their balconies.
Tai O Heritage Hotel
Built in 1902, Tai O Police Station was revitalised into a boutique hotel a few years ago. Many of its original features are well preserved, such as the colonial-style architecture, cannons, corner turrets and cells. From here, proceed to Tai O Bus Terminus for bus connections to other districts. |