Tai O village
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Tai O village - by Koreval
Description
Tai O is a fishing village located on the Western side of Lantau Island. It is home to the Tanka boat people with their houses built on stilts and their sampans plying the waterways. The village is split by a water inlet 10-15m wide and, until the mid-1990's, crossing was done on a rope-tow ferry, which can still be done on week-ends by tourists for HKD1; now there is an iron footbridge linking the two sides. It was also heavily impacted by a large fire in 2000. The village is known for its salted fish and shrimp paste (you can see shrimp drying on straw mats next to many houses) and a few buildings are worth visiting, in particular the Yeung Hau temple, the Kwan Tai temples and the Old Tai O Police Station which has been given a new life as the Tai O Heritage Hotel.
Access & Transport
The village can be reached by taxi or by bus from Tung Chung (NLB 11), Mui Wo (NLB 1) or Ngong Ping (NLB 21) where the Big Buddha is located. One can get to Tung Chung by MTR and to Mui Wo by ferry from Central. It is also possible to get to Tai O by ferry from either Tuen Mun or from Tung Chung.
Instructions & Recommendations
No need to pack lunch or a snack as there are plenty of markets and shops in the village itself. If you can avoid weekends, it is better to do so, as the place will be quite crowded and the line to get a taxi or bus out of the village can require some patience. A good option is to combine this visit with that of the Po Lin Monastery and Big Budha and/or some hiking on Lantau Trail, possibly to the top of Lantau Peak or the wilder western sections near the village itself.
Environmental & Social
Little carbon footprint from visiting the village itself but much more from getting over there by road or ferry and possibly by a dolphin sightseeing boat trip from the village. Socially, it does feel like the village is on show, but absent the influx of tourists and related business, its community and culture would probably have disappeared at the turn of the 21st century.
Conclusion
Tai O village will show visitors quite a different side of the Hong Kong territory than Kowloon or Hong Kong Island. For that reason, it may make sense to have spent some time discovering the traditional side of the city first to then appreciate the contrast. It can feel a bit of a tourist trap on weekends, but it is definitely a different and interesting side of the territory that you will experience. There are other seaside villages in Hong Kong where one can see houses on stilt but nowhere is the history so present.
Key positive
Interesting history of the settlement and its role on the geographic edge of the HK territory
Some interesting buildings and local food specialities
Key negative
Can feel too geared towards tourism nowadays
Takes a while to get to and come back from
Suitability
The village itself is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility but the challenge might be in getting there.
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
May 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:1h 20m
est. visit time:2h
Sunrise / early morningOk
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightNo
Night – aft. midnightNo