Taking the ferry (Kaitou) from Ma Liu Shui Public Pier, enjoy the sea breeze on the ferry and about 1-1.5 hour we will reach to Tap Mun, also named as Green Island.
Tap Mun, is composed of rolling, grassy hillocks complete with wandering cows. It is also home to a few hundred Hakka and Tanka people. The first attraction will be a trio of temples that built in the 18th century. The first building is a Tin Hau Temple, built in 1737, to which an annex was later added, housing a Kwan Tai Temple. To its south, Shui Yuet Kung (水月宫; 'water moon temple'), built in 1788, is dedicated to Kwun Yam (Guan Yin) and the Earth God. The Tin Hau Temple is a Grade II historic building, while Shui Yuet Kung is listed as Grade III. Legend has it that it is connected by a hidden tunnel to Tap Mun Cave on the opposite shore of the Island.
Continue walking along the path will lead to the next attraction, where you will reach an extensive meadow. The island rises up from the sea and forms a plateau on the top, the plateau is covered with a meadow which gives Tap Mun the English name of Green Island. Have a rest at this popular spot, where you will see feral cattle grazing, or take in the magnificent crystal-blue sea from the pavilion at the top.
Continue on the path and find two neatly stacked rectangular rocks of around six-meter high in the shape of the Chinese character ‘吕’(lui). It is also said to resemble a stupa, and together with the nearby Tap Mun Cave that opens up to Mirs Bay like a door, the island was thus named ‘Fat Tap Mun’ (‘Stupa Door’), which was later simplified into Tap Mun.
The circular walk finishes by passing through two villages, where you can see a rustic way of life that seems worlds away from the fast pace of downtown Hong Kong. We will enjoy a fishermen lunch and people can shop for fishermen souvenirs at the villages.
After lunch, we will get onto the ferry (keitou) again and head to Tung Ping Chau. We use Three Flat and One Wonder to describe the island. Three flats are flat sea, flat island and flat rock. As for the wonder, it refers to the shale.
The famous attractions include:
A Ma Wan: Unlike the majority of Hong Kong, the rocks here are fine laminated sedimentary rocks, formed from cementation of silt and mud that deposited in a saline lake some 55 million years ago. The sandy beach is strewn with white coral skeletons of more than 60 species of coral found in the coastal waters. In the village of Sha Tau, the Tin Hau ‘Goddess of the Sea’ Temple dates from the mid-18th century.
Kang Lau Shek: At the easternmost tip of Tung Ping Chau, a pair of two-storey-high sea stacks majestically stand on a wave-cut platform, like the island’s watchtowers.
Cham Keng Chau: Continue on the trail in the woods until the view broadens. Descend the slope carefully, and you will be greeted by the boundless ocean and distinctively stratified shale bed, with Cham Keng Chau on your right. The spur, originally attached to the island, broke off from continuous erosion, and a natural corridor took shape. Walk along the passage between the sharp cliffs and enjoy the refreshing cool breeze.
After the visit get onto the ferry and transfer back to Ma Liu Shui Public Pier, the tour guides will walk the groups to the University station and the tour ends.
Highlights:
• One trip to visit both Tap Mun and Tung Ping Chau, only chartered ferry can do this because the public ferry schedule will only allow you to go to one island each time.
• Visit the Temples on Tap Mun which have over 400 years.
• The scenery in Tung Ping Chau is magnificent you will not be disappointed.
• Eco tour guides to walk you thru the trip to learn more the cultural history and the geographical knowledge.
