Hong Kong being itself an island, there are others less well known but equally worth a visit. Lantau Island, facing the South China Sea and home to the famed giant Buddha statue and exquisite Po Lin Monastery, is the central starting point for visits to these historical treasures.
Lantau Island itself houses much more than the Po Lin monastery and famous Tian Tan Buddha. A short bike ride from the monastery is Mui Wo, located at Silvermine Bay. This location was named after the 19th century silver mines
that provided wealth for some and hope for others. Though the Silvermine Cave where most of the digging took place is now sealed off for safety reasons, the area still offers much to see. The peaceful coastal waters and many trails aside lush greenery make the side trip well worth the effort.
West of Lantau Island is Tai O, known as "Hong Kong's Venice". Home to several temples, including Yanghou, Hongshenye and Guandi this tiny fishing village offers visitors excellent fish and shrimp paste.
Located on the southwest corner of Lantau Island is Fan Lau, a fort built in 1729 to protect shipping on the Pearl River. Once among the most notorious areas - hotbed of smugglers of drugs, guns and people - the fort now provides arrivals with a more peaceful visit. The ruins provide an interesting look back to a - happily - bygone era.
After a small meal, explore some of the pedestrian bridges and waterways that make this island so spectacular. Among the many interesting sights are the houses built on stilts over the waterways or pang uk.
Here live the Tanka, descendants of an ancient people. Immigrants to the Hong Kong area during the Han Dynasty, the Tanka have been navigating and fishing these waters for hundreds of generations. Pay one of the local boat owners a small fee and take trip out in hopes of catching sight of one of the renowned Chinese white dolphins.
While the village houses a small museum, the streets themselves offer still the best source of information about the area. Residents can tell visitors anything they want to know about its ancient history or contemporary situation.
If you're looking for something out of the way, Peng Chau is worth a visit. Along the quiet green hills, hikers can take a journey back through time only a short ferry ride away from bustling, ultra-modern Hong Kong.
Here you can enjoy a visit to the small Tin Hau temple, built in 1792. Walk around the less than one square kilometer island and take a hike up to Finger Hill, then take the ferry back to Hong Kong.
Lantau Island, Home of the Large Bronze Buddha
