Get Away From the City in Hong Kong’s Cheung Chau
Hong Kong’s bustling metropolis gets a lot of attention, and rightly so. But sometimes, you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you’re visiting Hong Kong, one place to go is Cheung Chau island. It’s only a 35-minute ferry ride to get away from the city for a day, and there’s plenty to do while there.
Breakfast
Dai Pai Dong
The most rewarding way to travel is to throw yourself in at the deep end, to do as the locals do. So be adventurous and try a Cantonese dish at the Dai Pai Dong: Congee and Yau Char Kwai (rice porridge and fried breadstick) is a popular breakfast meal.
Morning Activity
Everywhere on the island is within walking distance, but if you’re not feeling energetic yet, take a sampan ferry to Cheung Po Tsai caves for $5. Look out for the small ferries with coloured flags on top.
The small caves, in which the notorious pirate Cheung Po Tsai is said to have hidden his treasure, is a short but worthwhile activity.
The winding underground passage — at points diet-inspiringingly narrow — takes you down a ladder and into the darkness of the cave. Take a torch; the ceiling is low and unless you ate all your carrots as a child (let’s be honest, who did?), you won’t know it’s there until your head connects with it.
Lunch
Hometown Teahouse
You’ve never had sushi like this. If you’re in a hurry you can grab a few hand-rolled sushi from the window, but the real experience comes from taking a seat inside the cosy teahouse.
The Japanese owner greets all customers like long lost friends: you are placed at a table in what looks like part of her house, shown albums of photographs, and encouraged to sign the café guestbook.
The meals come in sets, which includes one roll of sushi, a pot of green tea, and mini red bean pancakes. The crab and sausage sushi is well worth a try.
Afternoon Activity
If you’re finding the size of the island too restricting, you can always take to the water. Cheung Chau’s Windsurfing Centre offers the equipment and expertise (if coaching is needed) for stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, kite surfing, and of course, windsurfing.
If you want to try these activities, or simply go for a swim, the water is comfortably warm in the summer and never drops below 15 degrees in the winter
Dinner
If you like your food fresh, it doesn’t get any fresher than buying your own live seafood from stalls on the waterfront. Don’t eat it just yet though (live octopus can be a handful). Take your food to a waterfront restaurant and they will cook it and prepare it for you. Enjoy.
There are more destinations for outdoor and in the city activities at Trip Tipping. Check them out.
