If you enjoyed Lamma Island you may also be interested in checking out Cheung Chau, a small island with a traditional fishing village turned into a popular daytrip holiday destination.
Compared to Lamma, Cheung Chau has a more local atmosphere and a stronger Chinese identity, with the western-style coffee shops and wine bars found in Lamma replaced by traditional Chinese shops and local restaurants. Like Lamma, highlights of a daytrip here are strolling through the island, soaking up sun at the beach and eating fresh seafood at the seafront restaurants. I ate lunch at one of those crowded restaurants and found the food surprisingly good and reasonably priced. If you come here hungry you'd better like Chinese food since the only western restaurants I spot were a coffee shop and a McDonald's.
Of the two islands I liked Lamma better because of the international atmosphere. For a traditional Chinese experience you may want to come here though.
Cheung Chau is easily reached via ferry from Honk Kong's Central Piers in about the same time needed to get to Lamma (~30/60 minutes fast/regular ferry).
Updated Apr 9, 2011
Lamma Fun Day is a family-oriented festival that is held each fall. It is a great way to spend a day away from the hustle bustle of Hong Kong.
Activities include face painting, games for children, a volleyball tournament, live music and a market area where locals sell handmade crafts and secondhand goods. There are also food and drink vendors in case you get hungry. Proceeds from Lamma Fun Day benefit local charities.
Make sure your bring your suncreen... the sun can be intense even in November. It may even be warm enough for a swim, so consider bringing a swimsuit as well.
Check the Lamma Fun Day website for the date and location of this year's festival.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Lamma Island
You will see Tin Hau tepmle near pier in Sok Kwu Wan village, right after the restaurants (or before if you come from opposite direction). Its history dates back to 1826 when it was built and laters, in 2004 has been restored after fire. It is small building and it keeps rather modest facade with distingushed Chinese architecture and details.
Temple is dedicated to Tin Hau, the protector of fishermen as there used to be fishing village in Sok Kwu Wan before.
Written Jan 12, 2010
Address: Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma island
It looks idyllic here (at Hung Shing Yeh beach) - as long as your view is oriented toward Mount Tei Tong. And it does invite you to sit on the rock or lay on the sand... even if it's not too hot like it was those days in end of February. Then it was not too cool to get shoes off and soak feet in water.
But then you have this huge power plant on your right and it doesn't look so nice anymore. It makes you move and walk further, and yes... there are lot nicer views further along the path from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan. But it is interesting, indeed. So contrasty, right?
This beach is on one third of the sighteeing route at Lamma island.
Updated Jan 11, 2010
Address: Lamma Island
You enter or depart Lamma from this village in secluded bay, surrounded by rather steep slopes covered by forest. Its name in English means 'Picnic bay' and it is on the eastern side of the island. You can have very good view from the 'sightseeing' trail towards the village from the hill opposite to Sok Kwu Wan.
Here there are plenty of excellent fish and seafood restaurants, with picturesque views of live animals in aquarium. It is also large fish farming site in waters of this quiet bay here, said to be the largest one in Hong Kong.
If you just came from Yung Shue Wan by foot you'll pass small and nice Tin Hau temple from 1826 in the edge of village. Nearby there are also 'kamikaze caves' used by Japanese soldiers during the war, maybe worth to take a look - or not, I don't know since I didn't take a look myself as it was getting late already.
Lamma island is quiet and pleasant place, and as such has this beautiful laid back feel. It is no strange that many foreign people decided to stay here.
Regular ferry service will take you from Sok Kwu Wan to Central (Pier 4) in 30 minutes or so, but you can as well get from here to Aberdeen.
For more info on Lamma you can check this web site here:http://www.lamma.com.hk/ - there are also ferry schedules here.
Other good site on Lamma will be: http://www.hongkongextras.com/lamma_island.html
Written Jan 11, 2010
Address: Lamma Island
Website: http://www.lamma.com.hk/
Plenty of excellent fresh seafood here to find near both ferry stations on Lamma island - of course if you like that food, this will be heaven to you. Must try!
But other than that... fauna in aquaruim looks quite wild and colorful. Lobsters grow large here and there are plenty of different shells in variety of size and shape. There are both local and foreign seafood to display - and to eat.
Lots of restaurants are one next to another and they all seem to have more or less the same 'stuff' so it perhaps doesn't matter where you sit down. We let ourselves persuaded by one man from his restaurant, ordered grilled squid and enjoyed.
Actually, it's not bad idea to come hungry here then... you may eat at the begining of the sightseeing trail at Yung Shue Wan and then in the end at Sok Kwu Wan as well... after you have hiked through Lamma.
Make sure you allow yourself fair amount of time before you catch next ferry (if you're not staying at the island) as it would not be fair to hurry when eating this delicious and precious food.
Written Jan 11, 2010
Address: Lamma Island
From Yung Shue Wan Pier, we ate breakfast at sampan seafood restaurant and it was really good food. After breakfast me and my family went to Sok Kwu Wan Pier by walking/hiking (1 1/2 hrs walk), it was our first experience for my family and you will never get bored because of the better views of the island and good trails, you will never get lost. When we arrived at Sok Kwun Wan Pier, it was 1pm, again we ate our lunch at rainbow seafood restaturant and took the free ferry boat going back to central pier.
Written Feb 6, 2009
Address: lamma island, hk
I was quite surprised to have seen this windmill, the only one in Hong Kong I think. It reminds me of my VT Ilocos trip back in the Philippines. The view of Lamma winds from the Pavilion is great, including the sorrounding seas and the neigboring islands.
Updated Jan 11, 2009
From Central Pier 4, we took the ferry to Yung Shue Wan, 11Am schedule. I suggest you start early for this trip....
--->upon arrival, we had luch in a good inexpensive chinese restaurant (name written in chinese, sorry) in YSW...
--->continue walking by following trail, passing by Tai Yuen Village then turn left to reach Lamma Winds - the only one in Hong Kong...
---> reaching Lamma Winds, take a rest at the Pavilion, admire the views and take pictures...
---> retrace steps and turn left to go Hung Shing Yeh Beach...
---> from the beach, follow a coastal path (Family trail) on this peaceful traffic-free island going to Sok Kwu Wan...
---> reaching the top of the hill, you have time to admire the views over Lamma and other Outlying islands...
---> continue walking and pass by the tranquil Lo So Shing Village....visit Lo So Shing Gift Shop...
---> then drop by WWII Kamikaze tunnels built by the Japanese...
---> take a rest at the Pavilion and admire the views of SKW and the quiet Lamma Fisherfolk's Village...
---> continue walking till you reach the village...Tin Hau Temple greets you here...
You can take the ferry back to Hong Kong in SKW pier, but we opted to go back to YSW to have our dinner at a Turkish restaurant, as promised to one of its friendly owners. It was worth it because we were able to catch the beautiful sunset while hiking back to SKW, and the pizza we had was a reward after an all-day hike.
Written Jan 4, 2009
Address: Lamma Island, Hong Kong
What : Kamikaze Caves, Lamma Island
No guidebook writer would ever recommend that you visit the kamikaze caves on Lamma Island. Afterall, they are dark, dank and a little spooky. But these caves houses an enormity of sad secrets and history that even the locals have forgotten.
A quick check on the various websites showed superficial descriptions on the caves - while its existence is acknowledged, many believed that the caves were dug by the Japanese themselves and that the soldiers later took their own lives in the caves.
The truth was far more poignant - The caves were dug by the local Lamma residents themselves by orders from the Japanese troops. And after they hallowed out the caves from solid rock, they were later killed to ensure secrecy.
Updated Sep 19, 2007
Website: http://journeytoforever.org/midori_war.html
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