Cheung Chau
|
|
Cheung Chau (長洲; lit. "Long Island") is a small island 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island. It is inhabited and has been inhabited for longer than most other places in the territory of Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Islands District. Population: approx. 30,000.
| Contents |
Geography
Geographically the island is formed from two mostly granite lumps joined by what was presumably once a tombolo, a kind of sandbar. The island is therefore "long"; hence the name which translated from Cantonese as Long Island. So, it is redundant to say "Cheung Chau Island". The island is in fact dumbbell-shaped, with hills at the northern and southern ends and a village inbetween. Area: 2.45 km².
Economy
The central part of the island is well developed with shops and houses. The laneways there are so narrow that virtually the only motor vehicles on the island are specially designed mini-fire engines. Residential areas also exist on the hills of the north and south.
Traditionally the island was a fishing village and there is still a fishing fleet working from the harbour. However in recent years the island has become a major tourist attraction, offering a mixture of sandy swimming beaches and traditional Chinese culture.
Sights
Temples
- Pak Tai Temple - one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong. The temple was built in 1783 and completely repainted in 1989. In front of the temple, there are 4 pairs of guarding lions. Before the altar are statues of two generals, Thousand Miles Eye and Favourable Wind Ear, who together are traditionally said to be able to hear and see anything
- Four temples dedicated to Tin Hau, including the Pak She Tin Hau Temple
- Kwan Gong Chung Yi Ting, a traditional temple built in 1973, dedicated to the god of justice Kwan Tai
Others
- Alleged hiding place of Cheung Po Tsai (張保仔), a famous 19th century pirate
- Rock carvings located near Tung Wan Beach are declared monuments of Hong Kong
- Tung Wan and Kwun Yam Wan beaches
- Kamikaze Cave
Miscellaneous
The yearly Cheung Chau Bun Festival - is a festival which includes a parade of floats, most famously including young children dressed as famous characters doing impossible balancing acts. It last seven days and attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the island.
Cheung Chau was the birthplace of Ms. Lee Lai Shan (born 1970), a windsurfer who won the first Olympic gold for Chinese Hong Kong in 1996.
Transportation
First Ferry operates ferries between Central pier and Cheung Chau. They run approximately every 30 minutes depending upon time of day. Schedules on Sundays and public holidays differ from weekdays. The trip of about 16 miles takes 55 minutes or 35 minutes for ordinary ferries and high speed ferries respectively.
See also
External links
- Cheung Chau at discoverhongkong.com (http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/touring/hkwalks/ta_walk_walk5.jhtml#route03)
- Pictures of Cheung Chau (http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~jbartel/hongkong/cheungmeta.html)Template:Islands of Hong Kong