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📍 Tai O
Hong Kong has developed rapidly and has become the center of international finance for decades. In a busy city full of high-rise buildings, Tai O, a small fishing port on Lantau Island, still preserves the quaint appearance of Hong Kong in the early days. Tai O developed a large-scale salt industry during the Song Dynasty, and was once the main supplier of marine fish in Hong Kong, so most people living here are fishermen. Known as the “Venice of Hong Kong”, this place not only preserves traditional huts, but also has several ancient temples, mangroves, and Chinese white dolphins to enjoy, making it a popular hiking and sightseeing destination.
💡 Location: Tai O, Lantau Island, Outlying Island (Map RequestClick here)
To get to Tai O, take exit B2 of Tung Chung MTR Station to the bus terminal, then transfer to bus No. 11. You will arrive at the Tai O bus stop in about 50 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the cable car from Tung Chung Cable Car Station to Ngong Ping Cable Car Station, then transfer to Bus No. 21 from Ngong Ping Bus Terminus. You can reach Tai O in about 20 minutes. While riding the bus, I was lucky enough to see bison!
As soon as we arrived, we were drawn to the sight of the mine opening and felt the simple atmosphere of a fishing village. Along the way, I passed a statue of Snow White and the seven dwarves. The notice on it indicates that these statues were gifted by a New Zealand lady. In addition, along the way, we also saw many kittens lying lazily on the ground, enjoying the warm sunshine. They aren't shy when they see the camera!
🍴 Tai O Cake Shop
We visited a cake shop that was visited by many people, and curiosity drove us to join the crowd. It turned out that the lady in the store was frying the shavon ($13/piece), and everyone on the sidelines was waiting for it to be freshly baked. Sauvons are made from a mixture of eggs, oil and flour. After frying, they are dipped in icing sugar, which is very appealing. Shawns have a golden yellow surface and a soft texture, and their silky sweetness is perfect for those who like sweets.
🍴 Strong Ice Chamber
There are many types of restaurants in Tai O, and you can already see several authentic Hong Kong ice houses on one street. We went through one of these and ordered a slice of ground beef ($38) and a cup of hot milk tea ($18). The cod beef goes perfectly with the side dish, adding flavor to the noodles, and the hot milk tea also has a rich flavor. If you want to enjoy the scenery of Tai O while eating, there are also plenty of riverside restaurants for visitors to choose from. They are relatively expensive (about $90).
Guandi Ancient Temple + Tianhou Temple
After lunch, we continued our walk. The ancient temple of Kwan Ti is side by side with the Tin Hau Temple. Among them, the ancient temple of Kwan Ti is the oldest temple in Tai O. It was built during the Qing dynasty. It was renovated four times, and it is still a place where villagers in Tai O worship Emperor Guan. In addition to this, villagers in Tai O will also worship the Tianhou Maiden, praying that they will be safe and secure when they go out to sea. Every time Emperor Guan Emperor or Tianhou is born, this place becomes very exciting.
Salted fish and shrimp paste are famous specialties of Tai O. The villagers dried the marinated salty fish and shrimp paste outdoors to make fishing-village-style cuisine. After air drying, the seasoned salty fish and shrimp paste is perfect for stir-frying or cooking rice, and has an excellent taste.
Tai O Heritage Hotel
The Tai O Heritage Hotel was originally the Tai O Police Station. After being converted into a hotel, it still preserves the architectural colors of the colony. From inside the hotel, you can overlook the sea in Tai O and enjoy a panoramic view of the fishing village. The hotel offers 3 guided tours every day. In addition to explaining the history of the Old Tai O Police Station, the staff also take visitors to the former inspection dormitory, caretaker tower, glass roof restaurant and cultural relics discovery center to let visitors know the stories of the past. Visitors interested in staying here can check out theirOfficial website.
🍴 Big Oh Tai Ohhh
No matter where we are, drinks are a necessity for us. We ordered a cup of caramel milk ($28). The ratio of caramel to fresh milk was just right, so it wasn't too sweet or too light. Compared to the chain stores in the city, I was quite surprised by this glass of fresh milk. At the end of the drink, only a light milk flavor remains after the ice has melted.
Tai O fishing village sightseeing boat
Before leaving, we boarded a sightseeing boat ($30/person) and enjoyed the scenery of Tai O. The whole journey took about 20 minutes. The boatman took us through the Shacks in Tai O to see the homes of the local residents up close. After a lap, we set out for Jiangjun Shi, where we planned to see Chinese white dolphins. Unfortunately, the boatman only made it to half of the ride, and he said that if you can see dolphins or not, you have to be lucky. Although it's a bit lacking in the US and China, when the waves are raging, it's like a roller coaster, which is very exciting. At this price, I think it's already a great deal.
The sheds are the symbol of Tai O fishing village. They are built on both sides of the river and are connected to each other. Tai O used to be the main fishing port in Hong Kong, and the fishermen who live here live along the river because they feel that the land is unsafe. The villagers in Tai O have a very good neighborhood relationship, and even though we have gone through, we can clearly see what their homes look like. Traditional sheds are specially designed for fishermen. The shed is a place where residents work and rest on a daily basis. Fishing boats are anchored at the doorstep of their homes, making it easy for them to go out to sea. Tanao, on the other hand, is a place where residents use salty fish, shrimp paste, etc.
🍴 Grilled mackerel
Before we left, we were fascinated by the smell of mackerel emanating from the street. The store listed various types of fish and mackerel of various sizes, and helped us cook them right away. We ordered a charcoal-grilled mackerel ($30). My uncle placed the dried mackerel in the grill and skillfully flipped it over several times. After cooking, carefully help us cut the mackerel into strips to make it easier for us to eat. The overall taste of mackerel is good and very tasty.
Finally, don't forget to take a photo with these iconic huts to commemorate this laid-back and comfortable day. I hope this place will always preserve its current appearance and not be affected by the development of time and times.
