Cheung Chau Island is located south-west of Hong Kong Island, and west of Lamma Island in Hong Kong. It is one of the favorite outlying islands for locals and tourists. It is approximately 40 to 60 minutes from the center of Hong Kong. Taking the ferry is a pleasant and relaxing way to reach the island. In Cantonese, the name means long island. This small island with a land area of about 2,5 square kilometers has a population of over 20,000 people. The island is quiet most of the week, but on weekends, is bustling with tourists. The population of the island doubles every weekend as tourists and locals, who want a holiday weekend, arrive on the island.

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What to see?
Cheung Chau Island is scenic and offers a lot things to do. For those who like sports activities, there are Tung Wan beach which is nice for swimming, Kwun Yam Wan beach and the nearby Cheung Chau Windsurfing Centre, or if you like hiking, walk around the island. For cultural travelers the island offers a number of temples, and Cheung Po Tsai Cave which has a great history. Also, there are pleny of small seafood restaurants. The only hotel, Warwick Hotel Cheung Chau, is located on East Bay.

Swimming - A favorite activity on Cheung Chau is swimming, and the Tung Wan beach is a short walk from where the ferry docks. Another favorite beach that's close to the dock is Kwun Yam Wan, which is nice for water sports. The beach is a popular spot with local residents and tourists.

Cheung Po Tsai Cave : One of the attractions that shouldn't be missed while on a visit to the island is Cheung Po Tsai Cave, named for a legendary local pirate. The legend says that Cheung Po Tsai hided his treasure in that cave.

Temples :  There are several temples located throughout the island. Situated north of the pier, Pak Tai Temple is dedicated to Taoist God. It was built in 1783 after suppressing the plague. Also, there are a number of temples dedicated to Tin Hau.

Festivals :  During the months of April and May, whenever the fourth moon of the lunar calendar occurs, the most famous event is held on the island. The Bun Festival is an annual event and lasts for an entire week. The Jiao-festival of Cheung Chau Island has been held every spring for the last 100 years. The custom began when a plague hit the island during the Qing dynasty. The island residents prayed to their god Pak Tai to keep evil spirits away. The erected a sacrificial altar directly in front of the Pak Tai Temple, and even carried statues of their deities through the streets. After the religious ritual was performed, the plague ended, and the people have celebrated every year since then.

The Jiao-festival of Cheung Chau Island has been passed down from generation to generation. Entire families join in the preparation for the thousands of visitors who flock to the islands to be a part of the celebration. Local residents display their handiwork at the festival, including paper-mвche images of the gods. Families make delicious homemade buns. Local artists perform Taoist rituals, dance, and play traditional music. Events include a parade, lion and qilin dances, and drum-beating. The Bun Festival ends with a procession through the streets in a carnival atmosphere. Local children in costumes join in the parade. The festival is one of China's most important cultural events.

Ferry Service : There are two types of ferry services that serve Cheung Chau Island. Both are located at Central Ferry Pier #5 on Hong Kong Island. The first is Ordinary Ferry Service. On this service are operated multi deck vessels with a high passenger capacity and the journey takes about an hour. The second is Fast Ferry Service. Fast Ferries are high-speed catamarans with a passenger capacity 230-400 passengers and the journey takes about 40 minutes. Ferries run every 30-45 minutes from 7am till 9pm.

 

Operating Hours: 
Central -> Cheung Chau Island: 04:15am to 01:30am
Cheung Chau Island -> Central: 05:10am to 02:20am

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