Rugged, windswept and diverse, Tung Lung Chau has a little bit of something for everyone. From family-friendly outings to adrenaline-inducing rock climbing sessions, this craggy outcrop has all the tricks to keep you more than entertained for the day. Easily accessible, the island on the tip of Clearwater Bay makes for a convenient full or half-day trip away from the city.
Getting there
Take the ferry from Sam Ka Tsuen Public Pier in Yau Tong (a five-minute walk from Yau Tong MTR Station). Several sailings make their way to Tung Lung Chau each day from 8:40am until 4:40pm. Make sure to check out climatic conditions the day before venturing onto the water. If the weather is wild, it may not make for the most pleasurable of experiences, but on a fair day the island and its surroundings are simply stunning. Departing adjacent to the picturesque Lei Yue Mun Village, the ferry embarks across the open water of eastern Victoria Harbour. There are brilliant views across the Clearwater Bay Peninsula to the north and to Shek O Peninsula to the south. After half an hour on board, Tung Lung Chau’s Nam Tong ferry pier will come into view.
Read more: Your neighbourhood guide to Clearwater Bay
Hiking on Tung Lung Chau
Easy route
Once ashore, you’re greeted by a selection of route options. For those who fancy either a relaxing day out or want to be thrust straight into the action, turn left at Nam Tong, following signs to Tung Lung Fort. A twenty-minute stroll will take you to the eastern side of the island.
Read more: 5 easy Hong Kong hiking trails for beginners
Advanced route
For the more intrepid traveler, a longer walk around the island may suit. There is an 8.5km route circumnavigating Tung Lung Chau that takes around four hours to complete and is best experienced in an anticlockwise direction. This trail is a great way to pack in all the sights of the island, including a climb to its 232-metre pinnacle.
No matter which of the two routes you choose, you’ll arrive at Tung Lung Chau’s northeastern promontory. Close to the campsite lie the remains of Tung Lung Chau Fort, which was built between 1662 and 1722 by order of Yang Lin, Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi. It used to defend the island from pirates attempting to enter Victoria Harbour from the South China Sea.
Rock climbing
Regarded as one of the best places in Hong Kong for rock climbing, the eastern escarpments of Tung Lung Chau offer bountiful climbing lines in a spectacular setting. Several operators including Hong Kong Climbing provide climbing sessions here.
