Cheung Chau

Cheung Chau (長洲 Chèuhng Jāu) is one of the most populous of the Outlying Islands of Hong Kong with a population of 23,000 (2011). The island is also referred to as "dumbbell island" (啞鈴島) in Cantonese due to its shape.

Cheung Chau is a popular weekend getaway destination for Hongkongers, and during summer the streets can get very busy. At peak times during the year, it is not unknown for the population of the island to more than double as busy Hongkongers come to the island for a break from the city and to sample the seafood on offer.

Understand
A small island near Lantau that used to be a pirates' den but now houses mostly windsurfers and sunbathing day trippers.

It still has a traditional community based on an active fishing fleet and many thriving seafood restaurants, and also has a number of reasonable hiking trails and some usable beaches.

In the past, the higher parts Cheung Chau were, like Victoria Peak, racially segregated and Chinese were prohibited from living there, and the southern shore of the island was a beach reserved for white people only. These rules relaxed after the Second World War, and now much of the land on the hilltops of the island are now occupied by monasteries.

Get in


There is also service between Cheung Chau and South District of Hong Kong Island (Aberdeen). One-way journey takes about 55 to 65 minutes.

Cheung Chau is also accessible from the island of Peng Chau, or from Mui Wo on Lantau island by the inter-island ferry.

Get around
Cheung Chau has no cars except for some small "village vehicles" used to transport cargo, and the vehicles used by the emergency services. Visitors must travel by foot or by bicycle.

See
There is a walking tour available around the island with scenic views and temples; look for the tourist map near the ferry pier. It is best to visit in good weather, if it rains, there's nowhere to wait it out because nearly everything is outside.

Buy

 * Shrimp paste is a very famous sauce in Cheung Chau which is made from fresh prawn.

Eat
Hong Kong is famous for its fishballs. however, the quality of the fishballs reach peak height in Cheung Chau. One of the most famous fishballs are the Gan Yongtai fishballs that are enjoyed by locals. Some of the fishballs are made with bean curd.

Another delicacy is seafood. There are various types of seafood in Cheung Chau, such as chili clams, steamed prawns and deep fried squid.

Stay safe
The Cave is dark and the ground is uneven. One should wear appropriate shoes and bring a flash light when exploring the Cave.

From 2000, there were a number of highly publicized suicides by charcoal-burning in vacation homes and guesthouses in Cheung Chau. While the number of suicides in Cheung Chau has gone down since then, if you arrive at a guesthouse and senses something is wrong (sealed windows and burnt charcoal in closed space), leave the building and call emergency hotline (999) immediately.

Emergency services
Due to the size of the island, and the narrow streets, the vehicles used by the emergency services are somewhat diminutive. Cheung Chau is the only outlying island that has its own hospital, although for serious issues, patients may be taken to a larger facility by ferry, or by helicopter, depending on the seriousness.

Go next

 * Central District - the Central Business District of Hong Kong.