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Tuorist place in Cheung Chau Island |
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| Tuesday, 15 April 2008 | |
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History of Cheung Chau Island
Cheung Chau is a small island about 12km/71/2 miles west of Hong Kong (an hour by ferry from Central). The population of almost 40,000 has no traffic problems: there are no motor vehicles on the island except electric cars, and people go around on foot. Life goes at a leisurely pace here. The island is a favorite weekend excursion with the people of Hong Kong.
Tourist Attractions inCheung Chau Island
Cheung Chau Bun Festival
 The Bun Festival is celebrated annually on Cheung Chau Island. Most of the festivities take place near Pak Tai Temple. Bamboo towers are decorated with sweet buns, and on the final day of the celebration a street procession makes its way through the streets.
Pak Tai Temple  The bay on the west side of Cheung Chau Island provides an anchorage for hundreds of fishermen's junks; on the other side is the Tung Wan beach, with many restaurants; and on the hill between the two bays stands the Pak Tai Temple, built in 1783. This Taoist temple, in a style typical of its period, contains a sword of the Sung dynasty (920-1279) which was recovered by fishermen from the sea just off the coast and presented to the god Pi Tai, to whom the temple is dedicated.Prehistoric Rock Engravings  Some 4m/13ft above the road to the right of Tung Wan beach are a number of small but interesting prehistoric rock engravings. They are, however, difficult to find.
Cheung Chau Island Hong Kong  The moment your ferry touches shore at the Cheung Chau Island in Hong Kong, the interminable rows of fishing boats in the harbor will begin to give you a picture of the heritage and tradition of the island. That is precisely what the Cheung Chau Island of Hong Kong used to be and still is: a fishing island-village. This island, whose name literally translates as "Long Island" in Cantonese and which measures a good 2.45 Sq Km in area, is nicknamed as the 'dumbbell island' for its shape.
The Cheung Chau Island of Hong Kong is one of the first places in the territory to undergo human settlement. Located some 10 Km away from the Hong Kong Island to the southwestern side of it, the Cheung Chau Island of Hong Kong is made of hills in the north and south and a thin strip of land connecting the two; thus acquiring the dumbbell shape. Most of the population concentration of the Cheung Chau Island exists in the intermediate connecting strip of land. The island is said to have once been a 'tombolo' or a deposition landform on a water body serving almost as a connector between two land masses. The Cheung Chau Island is mostly granite in composition. Tin Hau Temple and Po Tsai Cave  At the southwestern tip of the island, near Sai Wan, are a temple dedicated to Tin Hau, queen of heaven and patroness of fishermen, and a cave in which the notorious pirate Po Chai once had his lair. From here, barely two hundred years ago, he preyed on shipping in the South China Sea with a fleet of 300 junks until the coming of the British put an end to his activities. The colorful Bun Festival is held here in spring. |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 30 September 2008 ) | |
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