Cheung Chau Island is a small island about 10 km southwest of Hong Kong. It's easily reached by ferry, departing roughly every 30 minutes from the Central Pier — about 50 minutes on the regular ferry or 30 minutes on the high-speed ferry.
The island has almost no cars (aside from a few with special permits), so the best way to get around is by bicycle. Visitors can rent bikes, rickshaws or tandem bikes against a deposit to explore the island, and small junks also run between different parts of the coast.
Beyond the island itself being worth a visit, there are a few notable sights:
Cheung Po Tsai Cave
Cheung Po Tsai was a famous pirate who terrorized Chinese waters in the early 19th century, during the Qing dynasty — at his peak reportedly commanding over 300 junks and a following of 40,000 people. He surrendered to the imperial fleet in 1810, after which he was made a captain in the imperial navy and later an imperial official.
The cave can be reached on foot from the harbor or by junk. It's fairly small, but it's worth renting a flashlight for HK$3 from the vendor at the entrance.
Pak Tai Temple
Built in 1783, this is one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong, guarded by four stone lions.
Beaches on Cheung Chau
The island has several beaches, the best known being Tung Wan Beach and Kwun Yam Beach, both offering swimming and water sports.
