Po Toi
So close, so different
Only a few kilometres from the hustle of Hong Kong Island there is a place inhabited by people who have no official electricity and no running water supply. This is Po Toi, an island which used to be home to over a thousand people, although the population has dropped to under 200 in recent times, resulting in several streets of eerie, abandoned village houses.
Po Toi is a relatively sizeable 3.7sq km, making it a good spot for a day of walking. There's one main path on the island, the Po Toi Country Trail, a figure-of-eight loop.
The coastal section of the walk is shorter and easier, and can be completed in well under an hour. This loop takes in Po Toi's photogenic lighthouse as well as some dramatic rock formations: spot the famous Turtle Climbing up the Mountain, Monk Rock and Palm Cliff. You can also take a short detour down a cliff to two large Bronze Age carvings.
The other half of the path takes you up the hill to a pagoda at Ngau Wu Teng, with rewarding views. This portion of the walk is around three kilometres, with some steep and occasionally overgrown sections. Back down near the village, try the 15-minute signposted detour up to the reputedly haunted Mo's Old House.
Finish up your day at the small village down in Tai Wan. Ming Kee seafood restaurant is highly regarded for its black pepper squid. You can also wander up to the Tin Hau temple for scenic views.
Don't miss Those rocks.
Get there A public ferry runs from Stanley (30 minutes) and Aberdeen (one hour) on weekends, and from Aberdeen on Tuesdays and Thursdays (40HKD return trip). Alternatively, hire a private boat or junk. See bit.ly/potoiferry for a full schedule and bit.ly/potoiisland for general information.
We recommend:
