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the story of hong kong is a story about the sea.

you don't have to go to the pier or the beach in person; you can feel the salty ocean breeze in the financial center with tall buildings. people in suits and ties walk hurriedly past hakka elderly people who are drying seafood on the street; the light show at victoria harbour is interspersed with rows of giant sand-carrying ships and jogging citizens; tourists will unknowingly pass through the undersea tunnel just by sitting on the bus or subway; next to the bustling ocean park where screams can be heard, the "tanjia people" of aberdeen fishermen who have lived on the sea for generations are resting comfortably.

ocean culture embraces all things, and seemingly opposing elements can coexist in hong kong. from a topographical perspective, hong kong has a lot of mountains and little land, is surrounded by the sea on three sides, has a winding coastline and many islands, and there are more than 300 officially named islands, which is the same as the number of shopping malls.

there is no need to travel all the way to southeast asia, it turns out that hong kong is also a city that is very suitable for island travel.

hong kong besides city walk

also suitable for "island walk"

01

hong kong's backyard: sai kung

sai kung is the second largest area in hong kong in terms of land area. it is also a "refuge" in the hearts of hong kong citizens that has not yet suffered the negative impact of urbanization. the sea water is so clean that even the bryde's whale, a national first-class protected animal, is willing to stay here. the unique geological features here are mostly composed of country parks and island beaches. the most famous one is the hong kong unesco global geopark. in the simple fishing village and the hiking trail with 360-degree sea views, you will occasionally pass by strolling buffaloes, wild boars and monkeys begging for food. they are also sai kung villagers protected by the government.

sai kung half moon bay (xiamen bay)

the city is not far from sai kung, and it only takes half an hour to reach sai kung pier from the center of kowloon.the city center of sai kung is very lively in the summer. as the starting point of the 100-kilometer maclehose trail, it attracts a large number of hiking enthusiasts of varying levels every day. in addition, there are large groups of people gathering at the pier waiting to board the boat to participate in the yacht party, go to kau sai chau to play golf, or go on a boat trip with the whole family to the kau sai fishing village with a history of more than a hundred years to fish for cuttlefish at night.

the hong kong tourism board has planned a number of guided tours in the sai kung geopark, among which “island hopping” is the best way to see the rich and varied geography of sai kung in one day.visitors can buy tickets at the on-site pier to take a boat, or book a yacht in advance on the travel platform. go to see the cute cracked boulders like "pineapple buns" on qiaozui island; the half moon bay that is comparable to an exotic resort island; the hexagonal column rock column group formed by a volcanic eruption 140 million years ago; the natural sea erosion arch of diaozhongzhou island that is as stunning as a palace... you can go up the mountains and down the sea from the city in one day to appreciate the natural wonders.

the sandbar on sharp island can only be seen at low tide every day.

at the same time, the numerous seafood restaurants here are also famous throughout hong kong. the fresh seafood caught by fishermen every day is sold out in the morning. if you are lucky, you can encounter a sea urchin boat like a mountain in the afternoon. in addition to visiting "quan kee seafood" which has won one michelin star for several consecutive years, going deep into the town's niche buyer shops and boutique coffee shops is also one of the ways to enjoy the leisurely life here.

seafood market in saigon

02

hong kong little south: stanley

stanley, once the administrative center of hong kong, has now shed its responsibilities and is now just an island with a strong exotic atmosphere. walking through the old and new ancient british buildings and looking back at history, you will find that this town bathed in a poetic holiday atmosphere is actually not that simple. starting from central or causeway bay, you can leisurely walk to stanley main street. looking up at the blue sea and blue sky at the seaside, tourists who taste exotic delicacies forget the time under the brightly colored houses. no wonder this place is called "hong kong's little south france".

warm and bright stanley streets and beaches @ 芋虾

the murray house, built in 1846, is a landmark building here. its exterior retains the early victorian-style granite design, while its interior features a combination of greek retro round stone columns and chinese-style tiled roofs. it is a textbook-level representation of hong kong's fusion of chinese and western architectural styles.

during the japanese occupation, this place was used as the execution site for japanese parliamentarians. it is estimated that as many as 4,000 people died here. as a result, this is also the place where ghost stories are most prevalent. in 1963, the government specially arranged for 56 eminent monks to perform salvation for the dead here until the haunting incidents gradually subsided.in 2001, the murray house moved from the land-scarce central to here. today, it is quietly surrounded by mountains and rivers. standing on the second floor, you can overlook the nearby stanley blake pier and the sea. the reputation of the "hong kong haunted house" has gradually been washed away by the sea.

murray house @ taro shrimp

03

mcdull's hometown is full of originality:

cheung chau island

starting from pier 5 in central, where high-rise buildings are lined up, a half-hour speedboat ride will take you away from the time-sensitive city life and bring you to mcdull’s hometown - the pristine and relaxing cheung chau island.

cheung chau island is one of the third largest islands in hong kong and one of the most densely populated islands in the outlying islands area.in the early days, it prospered as a stopover for fishing boats and trading ships. when the trade center shifted, the appearance of the fishing port here did not change at all, as if it had remained in the urbanization style after the 1980s and 1990s. like other outlying islands in hong kong, fishing boats and seafood restaurants can be seen everywhere along the coast, with clear sandy beaches and beautiful family trails. there are no vehicles on the island, and people can only walk on it. therefore, it attracts many people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle to go on vacation. in recent years, many office workers have moved to cheung chau and live a special life of commuting by boat every day.

cheung chau island in a peaceful and tranquil state @土豆强一

the traditional culture of the island is well preserved. the first thing you see when you get off the boat at the pier is the tin hau temple on the island, which has a history of more than 200 years. in the past, cheung chau was mainly engaged in fishing, and fishermen believed in tin hau, the patron saint of the sea. legend has it that tin hau saved countless people in shipwrecks, and coastal villagers and fishermen regarded her as the patron saint of the sea and built a temple to worship her, praying for good weather and a good harvest.

every year on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the people of cheung chau island and the whole of hong kong celebrate the "buddha's birthday" together. this traditional festival with a history of hundreds of years is also famous on the island for the "bun mountain competition" and the finale of the "piao se parade". after many selections, the contestants came to the finals and scrambled to climb the 14-meter-high bun mountain made of bamboo frames and peace buns. according to legend, the family that grabs more and higher peace buns will have good luck for the whole year. this attracts about 30,000 people to gather in cheung chau every year to witness this cultural heritage.

the production process of cheung chau island ping an bao

today's peace buns are available all year round, and are listed as a must-try on cheung chau island along with the island's famous mango glutinous rice balls and oversized fish balls.living the slowest pace of life in the fastest city, this unique sense of contrast cannot be experienced anywhere else. next time you pass through central, why not spend an afternoon on this romantic island.

take an adventure at sea

hong kong's islands are more fun than you think

hong kong's athletic spirit attracted worldwide attention at this year's paris olympics, but it is not just that. located in a subtropical region that is warm and humid all year round, hong kong's many outlying islands are very suitable for various water activities. it only takes a few dozen minutes' drive to experience hong kong's unique attraction on the water.

hong kong hiking spot maclehose trail section 2 po pin chau

here, you can find corresponding communities for communication for any niche sport. no wonder there has been an endless stream of tourists and locals coming to hong kong beaches to play water sports in recent decades. when hong kong island tours are combined with water sports, the islands have become another way to explore, riding the waves to slide freely, or even jumping in the air, and the adrenaline will soar instantly!

01

hiking or camping,

the best way to see the sea in hong kong

compared to the more difficult and time-consuming maclehose trail, i recommend you experience the "dragon's back", which is known as one of the "four major hiking routes in hong kong".this route is named after its undulating ridgeline, which is like a giant dragon winding along the coastline. from tudi bay, follow the hong kong island trail to the peak observation deck, where the sea breeze from the south china sea blows refreshingly on your face, overlooking the isolated shek o village and beach. this is also the filming location for the movie "the king of comedy" and the song "boundless oceans, vast skies" mv.

overlooking shek o from the peak observation deck

in general, the dragon's back hiking route not only has excellent scenery, transportation, catering and other supporting facilities, but is also not very difficult, making it suitable for people who come to hong kong for the first time to climb mountains and see the sea.

hong kong dragon's back hiking scenery

if you are a fan of outdoor camping, you must not miss the tapun island, known as "little kenting".although it is not an official camping site, it is famous for its large grassy campsite with a sea and sky. the only means of transportation to the island is by ferry, which takes half an hour to 1.5 hours from wong shek pier in sai kung or ma liu shui pier in university station.

during the day, you can hike across the island and see the lush green mountains, blue sky and blue sea. at night, you can order a plate of "sea urchin fried rice" in the restaurant and watch the stars twinkle with the wild buffaloes and wild boars in an environment without light pollution. when you wake up in the morning, you can greet the first light of hong kong in front of the coastline with no blind spots...

the wild and wild tap mun island

02

in the little maldives of hong kong,

canoe snorkeling to see the ecology

the legally protected hoi ha wan marine park is known as the "maldives of hong kong".this is the best waters in hong kong. of the 84 species of corals found in hong kong, 64 can be found here.therefore, entering the colorful underwater world by snorkeling and canoeing is the most exciting and well-known way to play here.

the clear glass sea of ​​xiawan@duoduo

take minibus no. 7 from sai kung pier. after arriving at hoi ha village, you can rent canoes and snorkeling equipment. follow the map and paddle for about 20 minutes with your friends to reach the main coral community.please be careful not to take away any creatures or leave any garbage here, so as not to damage the fragile coral ecosystem.

if you are interested, you may take a ferry across dapeng bay to tung ping chau, the easternmost part of hong kong.this place is known as the "real version of the thousand miles of rivers and mountains" because it combines coastal parks, geological parks and country parks. it is also included in the scope of the hong kong unesco world geopark. the most well-known of these is the shale formed in the late cretaceous period. it has the largest number of stony corals in hong kong, more than 100 species of coral-associated fish and more than 200 species of marine invertebrates, so it is also a snorkeling paradise.

animals seen while snorkeling in haixia bay

although the location is remote, it is flat and easy to walk on. even if you don't go into the sea, you can still take a vivid biogeography lesson by walking through various rugged rocks formed by years of erosion by sea water on the shore. the beach is full of various white fossils.

03

hong kong's "ronin" movement,

richer than expected

hong kong has many great surfing spots.for example, big wave bay where waves can reach over two meters high; lantau island's xiachangsha beach and pui o beach, which are suitable for beginners.hong kong has something for everyone, whether you're a beginner or an experienced surfer.

beginners can try out wakeboarding and water skiing. both of them use specific speedboats to create waves, without natural wind and waves, and are suitable for both beginners and veterans who like excitement. however, the difference is that the former can release the water ski rope after the waves are created, and move forward naturally with the thrust of the stern waves; the latter is faster, but the rope will not be released during the game, and the feet will be wearing fixed shoes and cannot move freely, which requires higher balance and body coordination. the temple bay in tseung kwan o is suitable for beginners to master the basic skills of water skiing at a relatively low cost.

experience surfing on hong kong island

in hong kong's waters, you'll also see windsurfers and even kite surfers.these two sports not only require accurate judgment of the wind, but also require strong body control ability. it is a very challenging and rewarding sport. stanley beach is the training base of the hong kong sailing team. here you can experience the cheapest windsurfing in hong kong. the relatively gentle waves every summer also make it an ideal destination for beginners.

kite surfers in hong kong

there are so many water sports and island options. if you want to try them all, you might as well go to midway island in south hong kong island.located between deep water bay and repulse bay, midway island is surrounded by the sea when viewed from the sky. it is a comprehensive water activity training center that hosts island-wide swimming competitions, sailing, rowing, and canoeing training courses and competitions.

in the context of modern life with such a fast pace and such great pressure, these islands in hong kong can not only allow citizens and tourists to feel the healing power of nature, but also allow them to continue to improve and grow in the highly inclusive water sports and gain the courage to face the future again. this is an ideal destination for a short escape from busy life. when you are disappointed and confused about life, watching the sea may be the secret to "regaining happiness".