Tung Ping Chau

The striking island of Tung Ping Chau lies in the very far northeast of Hong Kong and is formed from ‘new’ sedimentary rock, resulting in a brightly coloured, multi-layered, and exceptionally photogenic landscape that is perfect for fossil-spotting. The area also has a diverse ecosystem – it’s protected as a country park, marine park, a site of special scientific interest, and is also listed within UNESCO’s Global Geoparks network. 

Over 2,000 farmers and fishermen used to inhabit the island, but as time passed, many were lured away by job prospects in the city, and only 50 to 60 people live there full-time now. Some descendants of former residents return over the weekends or public holidays, operating restaurants and dormitories for visitors, who can explore abandoned houses of former residents, which have been rapidly reclaimed by nature, a Tin Hau temple, as well as a boarded-up colonial-era training camp.

How to get there: The only way to reach Tung Ping Chau is to onboard a ferry from Ma Liu Shui Ferry Pier. The route only operates on weekends.