The Secret Islands to Explore in Hong Kong

Have you done everything there is to do on Lamma Island. Is Cheung Chau getting a little too hipster for you. Thankfully, Hong Kong is home to more than 250 islands, so there’s no need for you to keep revisiting the same old spots. And if you’re looking for gorgeous sandy beaches and picturesque hikes, these islands have it all, and then some. Let’s exploce The Secret Islands to Explore in Hong Kong below.

The Secret Islands to Explore in Hong Kong

Ap Chau: smallest inhabited island

Ap Chau – which directly translated to ‘Duck Island’ was named after its shape and form which somewhat resembles a duck laying on its belly when viewed from the north. Initially a place of anchorage for fishing families, the island began to populate during the 50s as fishermen built houses ashore and a fishing community grew slowly but surely. By the 60s, there were over a thousand residents living on the island. Sadly, Ap Chau was met with the same fate as many other small islands in Hong Kong, as residents gradually moved away due to better employment opportunities in the city and overseas.
In the late 1980s, approximately only 100 residents were left on the island. Ap Chau is now a Hong Kong UNESCO geosite, and in order to promote the island’s heritage, the Ap Chau Story Room opened its doors in 2018 for visitors to come by and learn about the Tanka culture and heritage. How to get there: From the University MTR station, take Exit B and walk to the Ma Liu Shui Landing No.3 pier. A ferry service operates on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, running from Ma Liu Sui to Kat O and Ap Chau.

Soko Islands: a private hideaway

Soko Islands are a group of islands located at the far southwest of Hong Kong’s territory. Once home to a small community of farmers and fishermen, now a remote destination where abandoned houses, ruins, and shrines remain. In the 90s, the islands became a refugee camp for Vietnamese boat people, these camps have since been demolished, but foundations of the campsites are still visible in the area.
Consisting of Tai A Chau, Siu A Chau, and several smaller nearby islets, the area is often visited by Chinese White Dolphins and porpoises making it an excellent site for rare sightings of these beautiful marine animals. Yacht owners often come to the area for quiet anchorages and during junk season, day trippers visit for BBQ and lounge around in the quiet, unspoilt beaches. There are no ferry or kaito services that come to the area, so you need to hire a private charter that sails from Central ferry piers. The charter will take approximately two hours to get to the islands.

Kat O: traditional fishing village

Lying close to China, in the northeast of Plover Cove Country Park, this far flung island is home to merely a few hundred people. Also known as Crooked Island, thanks to its irregular shape, Kat O was once a thriving fishing village with nearly 300 years of history. Stop by at Kat O Geoheritage Centre open every Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday which celebrates the island’s geology and cultural history.
You can also take a wander along the Kat O Nature Trail and make your way through the villages before heading upwards and finishing up at a pagoda. Look out for ancient temples, ancestral halls, and corroded cannons along your way. Same as reaching Ap Chau, get on the ferry from Ma Liu Shui Landing No.3 pier and hop off at Kat O. Or, just to be safe, you can always join a local tour.

Peng Chau: quaint and quiet

Peng Chau is one of the better known outlying islands, but it is still often overlooked in favour of its larger neighbours like Cheung Chau and Lantau. This sleepy spot makes a perfect family day trip as you can easily navigate through the whole place in just a few hours. In the 1970s, Peng Chau was once an industrial centre. That’s changed now, but you can check out a long-abandoned matchstick factory and lime kiln, as well as an old cinema along the Peng Chau Heritage Trail.
To explore further, you can head up to Finger Hill to take in views of the Tsing Ma Bridge and Disneyland. Another option is Peng Yu Path this recently created walk takes in the island’s northern coastline and rugged beaches. When you’re done, try the catch of the day at one of the seafood restaurants along Wing On Street, or nibble on tasty baked goods from A Noy Bakery. Take the ferry from Central Pier 6 it’s a 30 minute ride and leaves roughly every hour. There are also ferries from Discovery Bay, Mui Wo, Chi Ma Wan, Hei Ling Chau and Cheung Chau.