Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Along South Lantau Rd is a succession of beaches that attract surfers, beach-goers and retir-
ees alike. Just 5km southwest of Mui Wo, Pui O has a decent beach, but as it's the closest
one to Mui Wo it can get very crowded. The village has several restaurants, holiday flats
galore and, in season, stalls renting bicycles.
BEACH
CHEUNG SHA
Cheung Sha (Long Sand), is Hong Kong's longest beach, stretching over 3km on the south-
ern coast of Lantau. It's divided into 'upper' and 'lower' sections; a trail over a hillock links
the two. Upper Cheung Sha, with occasional good surf, is the prettier and longer beach, and
boasts changing facilities and a snack bar. Lower Cheung Sha has a beachfront restaurant
and a water-sports centre. This is said to be the best windsurfing beach in Hong Kong, espe-
cially from November to March.
BEACH
TONG FUK
The beach at Tong Fuk is not Lantau's nicest, but the village has holiday flats, several shops
and restaurants, and its distance from Mui Wo means it's usually quite peaceful. To the
northwest is the not-so-scenic sprawl of Ma Po Ping Prison.
Tai O
VILLAGE
TAI O
On weekends, droves of visitors trek to the far-flung west coast of Lantau to see a fascinat-
ing way of life. Here in Tai O, historical home to the Tanka boat people, life is all about the
sea. Houses are built on stilts above the ocean, sampans ply the dark-green waterways, and
elderly residents still dry seafood on traditional straw mats and make the village's celebrated
shrimp paste.
Tai O is built partly on Lantau and partly on a tiny island about 15m from the shore. Until
the mid-1990s the only way to cross was via a rope-tow ferry pulled by elderly Hakka wo-
men. That and the large number of sampans in the small harbour earned Tai O the nickname
'the Venice of Hong Kong'. Though the narrow iron Tai Chung footbridge now spans the
canal, the rope-tow ferry is resurrected on some weekends and holidays: drop HK$1 in the
box as you disembark.
