Visit Tai O Fishing Village to surround yourself with the local culture. From the moment you cross the manually operated pedestrian bridge into the tiny village you’ll begin seeing the traditional ways of life unfold before your eyes. Admire stilt homes that seem to float above the water at high tide and photograph their strange presence at low tide when they stand high above the dense mud below.
It might be just 15 kilometres (9 miles) southwest of Tung Chung but reaching Tai O will take you an hour by car, 2 hours by bus or 3 if you choose to hike. The journey through rural Hong Kong is half the fun and you’ll feel as though you’ve travelled back through many centuries.
More than 300 years ago the residents of Tai O Fishing Village lived on boats or houses built on tall stilts above the tidal flats of Lantau Island. Their perches allowed them to fish the water below that teemed with marine life. They were removed enough from the trade routes that led to the fast development of Hong Kong’s harbour and reaped the benefits of the quiet waters. The island of Tai O was separated from Lantau by two rivers.
The town has a rich history of salt production and fishing has always been at the heart of Tai O. A visit to the town reveals families mending nets, organising their catch and making a shrimp paste for which they have become renowned.
Tourism is vital to Tai O and the town police station has been converted into a hotel and restaurant. Call in at the Yeung Hau Temple, first built in 1699, to admire the beautifully preserved building. Board a boat to be shown the Chinese dolphins that live offshore. When you return, buy a jar of the famous shrimp paste and sit back to admire the sunset.
From central Hong Kong take the ferry to Mui Wo. A bus will take you from the ferry to Tai O. Trains also service the area. Many hiking trails lead to the town through Lantau North Country Park.
