Hong Kong is popular for its vibrant city life, boasting an iconic skyline, bustling streets, and well-loved attractions including Disneyland and Victoria Peak.
But Hong Kong is also home to serene and relaxed spots that offer noteworthy experiences away from the typical tourist paths.
Outside the city are reserved islands and small villages that showcase the country’s rich cultural tapestry and natural surroundings.
In this three-part series, GMA News Online will delve into underrated gems perfect for those seeking to uncover the more intimate side of Hong Kong, starting with the village of Tai O.
FIRST OF THREE PARTS
Tai O is a charming fishing village nestled at the far end of Lantau Island.
Characterized by narrow streets with stores offering local produce like dried seafood and homemade shrimp, Tai O feels incredibly removed from the modern trappings of the city; to think it only takes less than an hour from Central via the trusty MTR.
Tai O has a small population, who still keep to traditional customs and practices to this very day. In fact, tradition is still deeply ingrained in the residents’ day-to-day lives.
Here are five things to see and try when exploring the picturesque village and the peaceful retreat it offers.
1. Visit the Solo Cafe inside a stlit house
Tai O is inhabited by the Tanka people, a community known for their fishing lifestyle. They have built their houses on stilts — upright poles above the island’s tidal flats for generations.
The stilt houses are made from wood, metal sheets, and other materials that are intended to withstand shifting tides and occasional floods.
One of the stilt houses opened its doors to visitors by setting up a quaint cafe called Solo Cafe, which offers refreshments and snacks, perfect for a quick break from all the walking.
Among those who welcomed us at the cafe was a kababayan, Ate Carmen, who said that she has been working there for the longest time, but at least once a year, she gets to fly back to the Philippines for short vacations.
2. Enjoy a Tai O donut
What is a Tai O donut? It’s deep fried dough that been made light and airy and features a crispy outer part rolled in sugar and handed to customers hot.
At HKD 15 or P112, it’s the main offering at Tai O Bakery, which has been around since the 1980s.
Incidentally, the Tai O donut is among of the most popular snacks in the village. Do not leave the village without trying some.
3. Go on a sightseeing boat tour
Embarking on a sightseeing boat tour in Tai O (HKD 40 or around Php 300 per person) is another activity you shouldn’t pass up.
Boat rides take visitors on a 20-minute trip around Tai O’s waterways, and because they are facilitated by local fishermen, it’s certainly good way to get into sustainable travel, no? In between selfies, make sure to strike a conversation with your local fisherman and learn more about their community.
A bonus: These boat rides will give you a good vista at the stilt houses apart from seeing megasize Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the longest bridge-tunnel system sea-crossing in the world.
And if you get lucky, you might spot the rare Chinese white dolphins in the area!
4. Sleep in a police station
Well, on old police station. Welcome to the Tai O Heritage Hotel. Built in 1902 as a police station to combat pirates, it has now beenrevitalized into a nine-room boutique hotel by the Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation called Tai O Heritage Hotel.
With preserved details, including the searchlight and the small holding cells at the reception area, the Tai O Heritage Hotel was declared a heritage building by the Antiquities Advisory Board in 2010.
The UNESCO-awarded hotel also has a glass-roofed restaurant called Tai O Lookout, which was named after the guard tower where the marine police were stationed.
Some recommended delicacies to try at Tai O Lookout include the Tai O Lookout Fried Rice (HKD 128 or around Php 960) and the Mountain Begonia Cheesecake (HKD 108 or around Php 813).
5. Dragon Boat Festival
Time your visit to Tai O on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month each year — around late May or early June — to see the Dragon Boat Festival.
Traditional holiday makes the village extra vibrant with the exciting Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races and the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade.
The festival is done to honor Qu Yuan, a Chinese patriotic poet and a beloved state servant who gave his life for his country.
A traditional festive food called zongzi, or glutinous rice dumplings, is also served during the festival. Its savory version has tender pork belly, roasted duck, salted eggs, and mushrooms, while the sweet version is stuffed with red bean paste or sweet potatoes.
How to get to Tai O?
From Central, take the train to MTR Tung Chung Station. And then taken Bus 11, which takes 45-50 minutes to reach Tai O.
Feeling adventurous? Take the ferry from Central Pier to Mui Wo and then catch bus number 1 to Tai O.
This story was produced through a familiarization trip sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
— LA, GMA Integrated News
