Tag: Camping

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Tung Lung Chau 東龍洲 – A Secret Paradise Island in Hong Kong

Aerial shot of Tung Lung Chau!

Tung Lung Chau 東龍洲, or “East Dragon Island” with the direct translation, is an island located off the tip of the Clear Water Bay Peninsula in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It is also referred by Hong Kong people as Tung Lung To or Tung Lung Island (東龍島). The island is largely uninhabited. Administratively, it belongs to Sai Kung District.

The secret blue cave!

This island is definitely a secret island, a well hidden paradise that is not known by many people. In Hong Kong, when you talk about nice beaches, you’ll think of Sai Kung right away; when you talk about beautiful cave, you might think of Cape D’aguilar; when you talk about hiking, Tai Mo Shan & Sunset Peak will pop in your mind. Tung Lung Chau has a lot to offer, breathtaking landscape, scenic hiking trail, rock formation, caves, natural fountain, historical rock carving, beautiful cliffs, etc., you name it. 

It is definitely one of the best place for camping!

Other than what I have mentioned, this beautiful island is also a perfect place for camping & rock climbing. 

Why camping on Tung Lung Chau? 

If you are a sunset & sunrise lover like me, you definitely have to experience camping on this island. After setting up your tent, you can hike to the highest point (250M) of Tung Lung Chau for watching sunset, it is about 30-40 minutes hike from the campsite. You can take all your time to enjoy the sunset and the colour transformation of the sky, and your tent is just half an hour away. Do remember to bring your headlamp with you though. 

Sunset watching on the highest point of Tung Lung Chau!

Let me share my little tip with you when you choose your spot for setting up your tent, the official campsite is usually packed. Since the ferry services to Tung Lung Chau only run during weekends and public holidays, it is not a surprise when you see the campsite is overcrowded. There are much better spots, so don’t worry if you can’t find a spot. Follow the trail and go to higher ground, you should be able to see some tents from far, that’s where you are heading. Up there, you will find your spot easily with more space, less people and much quieter and peaceful. You are going to get an unobstructed view of the sunrise the following morning.

Good morning world!!!

Imagine waking up the next day with this absolutely gorgeous sunrise right in front of your tent, the whole world just belong to you.

Best place to brush your teeth!

How to get there & return:

1. Take MTR Kwun Tong Line to Yau Tong 油塘 station.

2. Take exit A2 and get to Cha Kwo Ling Rd., follow the road, it’s slightly steep, keep going until you get to Shung Shun St., walk until the end towards the sea and you will arrive at Sam Ka Tsuen Ferry Pier 三家村渡輪碼頭. 

3. Buy your ferry ticket to Tung Lung Chau, you have to decide your returning date and time because they only sell “return ticket”. The reason is they are trying to control the number of passengers on every departure.

Ferry Schedule of “Sam Ka Tsuen – Tung Lung Chau” vice versa.

4. Alternately, you can take MTR Island Line to Sai Wan Ho 西灣河 station.

5. Take exit A and get to Tai On St., walk towards the sea and turn to Tai Hong St., you will arrive at the Sai Wan Ho Pier 西灣河渡輪碼頭. You can buy your return ferry ticket to Tung Lung Chau.

Ferry Schedule of “Sai Wan Ho – Tung Lung Chau” vice versa.

#Remember, the ferry services from both piers to Tung Lung Chau only run during weekends and public holidays. If you would like to secure your time slot going and returning, I’d strongly advise you to be there early to buy your ticket. It’s first come first serve.

Beautiful traditional ferry to Tung Lung Chau, with a head of a dragon at the front.

What to see in Tung Lung Chau?

The attractions of Tung Lung Chau!

As you can see from the map above, there’re plenty of sights to see on Tung Lung Chau, the best way is definitely to camp there, so you can truly enjoy the island taking all your time without feeling the rush to catch the ferry.

It’s not a big island, so with the map, you can easily plan your own adventure and have a lot of fun. 

Aerial shot of Tung Lung Chau!

If you have a drone, you have to bring it there, it’s the perfect place to fly your drone and capture some insanely beautiful images and footages. The landscape is beyond captivating, it didn’t feel like you are in Hong Kong at all when you are standing in front of those caves and cliffs. 

If it’s not because of the pandemic, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to truly explore Hong Kong because traveling is not possible. Not only have I learned so much about the place I have been living in for over 12 years, I have realized how fortunate I am, living in a metropolitan with direct access to breathtaking nature and incredible landscapes, and they are all in close proximity. 

The “Secret Blue Cave 崖下秘洞” is a spot you must not miss. It is rather hidden, if you look for the path carefully checking against the map, you will find your way. When you reach the spot shown on the picture above, then you are going the right way. The “Secret Blue Cave 崖下秘洞” is just located below the cliff, carefully find your way down stepping on the rocks and you will see it at the bottom. 

This is the path descending to the “Secret Blue Cave 崖下秘洞”!

And here we are … 

the “Secret Blue Cave 崖下秘洞”



“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”

– Henry David Thoreau

In Tung Lung Chau, you can easily find your instagram-worthy spots. Go out there and get lost on the island, that’s all I can say if you ask me how to have an incredible adventure! 

Rock Climbing!

If you love rock climbing and zip lines, you’ll probably want to try it there.  

Worrying about food and supplies? 

There are a few village stores and restaurants on the island selling delicious local food and cold drinks to quench your thirst. The price is very reasonable, a bowl of soup noodles is about HKD38 and a plate of fried rice/ noodles is between HKD50-60. They also sell home-made dessert, I recommend you to try it!  

Lastly, Tung Lung Chau is a remote island without basic facility, and there are a small number of inhabitants living their humble lives there. They welcome tourists but do remember that we have our responsibility to keep the island clean so the others can enjoy. The least we can do to help the villagers is to pack our own trash bag and bring it to the pier for disposal. 

If you enjoy exploring Hong Kong’s outlying island, you might be interested in checking out Grass Island 塔門.

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Grass Island 塔門 – A Forgotten Island

Grass Island Pier

Grass Island, or you may call it Tap Mun 塔門 is located in the northeastern part of Hong Kong, it is very close to Sai Kung East Country Park. Getting to Grass Island is a long way with different mode of transportation, but trust me you will not regret it going there.

Aerial shot of Grass Island

How to get there & return:
1. Take MTR East Rail Line to University station.

2. Take Exit B, follow the sign to Ma Liu Shui Pier, it takes about 10 minutes walking. (After exiting the station, take your left and follow the red bicycle path, walk towards the sea direction)

3. Get on the Kaito Ferry at Ma Liu Shui Pier to Grass Island (Tap Mun), journey is about 1.5 hours. (Fare: Monday to Friday – $18 / Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays – $28). Although the ferry journey is long, it’s very scenic as you sail your way to the island. You will see the beautiful Sai Kung Country Park  & Ma On Shan on your right, and on your left, you will the Pat Sin Leng, the Eight Immortals Mountains and also Plover Cove Reservoir. Get some fresh air, enjoy the breeze and admire the view you have around you.

Kaito Ferry Timetable between Ma Liu Shui, Grass Island & Wong Shek Pier

4. For return you can either take the ferry back to Ma Liu Shui, or you can take the ferry to Wong Shek Pier:
( i ) From Grass Island back to Ma Liu Shui is the same journey, 1.5 hours. After arriving Ma Liu Shui Pier, you will walk to East Rail Line University Station to take the train.
( ii ) If you choose to go to Wong Shek Pier, which is in Sai Kung, ferry journey is only 35 minutes. However, you have to take the KMB bus #94 to go to Sai Kung Pier for changing other buses to go back to the city. KMB bus #94 frequency is every half-hourly.

5. Kindly refer to the Kaito Ferry website for more details of their services.

Strong waves hitting on the rocks, at “Balanced Rock”

Grass Island is a small island with only approximately 100 population, it’s a place you’ll find peace & inspirations. Most people are doing day trip from the city, you can easily round the island by feet within 3 hours. It is also a good place for camping. The campsite is facing the east, so you are going to get a beautiful sunrise right from your tent when you wake up in the morning.

The campsite facing east and Sai Kung East Country Park

“Land really is the best art.”

– Andy Warhol

Aerial view of Grass Island

Remember to try their famous Sea Urchin Fried Rice, Sea Urchin & Egg Sandwich and their Ice-less Cold Ginger Milk Tea, they are not to be missed. As soon as you arrive at Grass Island Pier, you will smell sun-dried fish and other seafood as the villagers are selling them on the stalls setting up along the small path from the pier to the village. You’ll then find yourself in the village where you’ll see a few restaurants, they are all having almost the same menu. Go check them out and find one that you like. Bon Appétit!!!

The famous Sea Urchin Fried Rice, price is about HKD110
Tin Hau Temple

Tap Mun New Fishermen’s Village and Yung Shu Village are the only 2 villages on the island. You’ll be walking through the villages when you do your circular walk, you’ll see the rustic life of the people there. As a tourist, we should not forget respecting their place of living, keeping the island clean, while enjoying ourselves.

The incredible “Balanced Rock 疉石”
”Lung Ken Kan 龍頸筋“

“Balanced Rock 疉石” and “Lung Keng Kan 龍頸筋” are 2 beautiful spots for pictures, follow the path and you won’t miss it. For “Lung Ken Kan”, it is less common, and its location is not far from the Dragon View Pavilion, slightly up north, follow the ribbons and the chalked-arrow that are left by the hikers. You will find it easily, you know you are on the right track when you see a steep slope with a long rope, hold on tight to the rope and descent. Be very careful and go slow, safety always comes first.

The last ferry leaving Grass Island for Ma Liu Shui is at 1730, make sure you don’t forget to check your watch. Ferry to Wong Shek Pier has more frequency, giving you more flexibility. The villagers also run private speedboat to Wong Shek Pier for your information.

Grass Island to Wong Shek Pier (Weekdays: 0745, 0945, 1145, 1345, 1545, 1800 | Weekend & Public Holidays: 0800, 0900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800)

If you enjoy Grass Island, I am sure you’ll love Tung Lung Chau 東龍洲 even more.