PENG CHAU

Peng Chau is a tiny island situated 8km west of south Hong Kong Island and a short distance from the southern coastline of Lantau Island. Around 6,300 people live on the island which being only around 1000 metres long is densely populated. It is almost a like a miniature version of its neighbour Cheung Chau although perhaps not quite as interesting.

GETTING THERE – Peng Chau is served by ferries from Central Pier 6 on Hong Kong Island. These operate at approximately 45/50 minute intervals until 23-30. There is also a ferry back from Peng Chau at 3-40am. Services mostly alternate between "ordinary" ferries and "fast" catamaran ferries. The journey takes about 25/30 minutes by Fast Ferry and 40 minutes by Ordinary Ferry.

HKKF "Ordinary" Ferry from Central arriving at Peng Chau Ferry Pier (HKKF took over this route in July 2008)

The island is also served by the First Ferry Inter-Island Ferry linking it to Mui Wo and Chi Ma Wan on Lantau and to Cheung Chau at approximately two hourly intervals and kaido ferry services link the island to Nim Shue Wan at Discovery Bay, the Trappist Haven Monastery and Mui Wo on Lantau.

The full timetables are here;

http://www.hongkongextras.com/ferries_outlying.html

                                    Peng Street and Tin Hau Temple

There are no cars on the island, just bicycles and small motorised carts. It is possible to walk round the whole of Peng Chau in just over one hour which makes the island suitable for a half-day visit or a simply a port of call on an “island hopping” excursion. Peng Chau is relatively flat but does have one small peak, Finger Hill with its pavilion and from where there are panoramic views over the island and to Discovery Bay, Disneyland, Lamma, south Hong Kong Island and across the Adamasta Channel towards Cheung Chau.

View over Peng Chau from Finger Hill. Across the Adamasta Channel set against the hills of Lantau Island is Discovery Bay

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Some parts of the island still have a very rural feel particularly the south-east corner around Nam Wan and Tai Wo which has woodland and organic farms.

Rural scene near Tai Wo

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Close to the pier are narrow shopping streets and a covered market whilst a promenade runs along the south-west side of the coastline. On the north east side of the island is Tung Wan with its pleasant sandy beach.

Tung Wan Beach

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There are a couple of interesting small temples in the centre of the island which can be reached from the ferry pier by following Wing On Street (Peng Chau's oldest street - Wing On means "Peaceful forever) northwards a short distance from Wellcome Supermarket, Kam Fa (Golden Flower Mother) Temple and a Tin Hau Temple which contains a whalebone known to be over 400 years old.

Kam Fa Temple

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The island was once home to the largest match factory in South-East Asia, the Great China Matches Factory set up by the Kuo Min Tang people in the 1930's. Although the factory was demolished long ago the site at Tai Long Tsuen is still marked by boundary tablets

There is a heritage trail around some of the historical and cultural buildings on the island;

http://greenpengchau.org.hk/theme.php?page_id=TrailIntro&lang=e 

Wai Tsai Tseng San Tsuen in central Peng Chau

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There are a few seafood restaurants on the island and snacks and drinks can be obtained from Wellcome Supermarket near the ferry pier.


WEATHER WEBCAMS – Hong Kong Observatory real time weather pictures taken from Peng Chau looking towards Discovery Bay;

http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/ts/webcam/PE2_e_realtime.htm 

and towards Disneyland;

http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/ts/webcam/DNL_e_realtime.htm