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District Highlights

Islands District Highlights

Big Buddha at Po Lin Monastery Big Buddha at Po Lin Monastery

The Islands District consists of more than twenty islands of various sizes. The larger ones are Lantau Island, Lamma Island, Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and Po Toi. The Islands District, with 17,600 hectares of land area, is the largest among the 18 administrative districts in Hong Kong. Its population is around 151 000 with the majority of which reside in the Tung Chung New Town, while the rest live in Cheung Chau, Peng Chau, Lamma Island, Tai O, Mui Wo, Tung Chung, South Lantau and Discovery Bay, etc.

Our District is renowned for its holiday resorts, as well as hiking trails, historical sites, beaches and seafood restaurants. The most well-known are Cheung Sha Beach, Giant Buddha in Po Lin Monastery, Tung Chung Fort, AsiaWorld-Expo, Ngong Ping Market, Tai O Fishing Village, Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping 360 and Hong Kong Olympic Trail, etc.

Historical Sites

The District is a treasure trove in terms of archaeological finds. Relics are found throughout Lantau, Lamma Island and Cheung Chau. The Tung Chung Fort and numerous temples located on various islands are favourites spots for local and overseas visitors.

Tourist attractions

Ngong Ping, with Po Lin Monastery as its main attraction, has become internationally renowned since the mid 1990s following the set-up of the world's largest seated outdoor bronze giant Buddha. Tai O, Cheung Chau and Lamma are known for their fishing villages and mariculture grounds. South Lantau, with its unparalleled coastline, natural scenery, beaches and woodlands, is a prime choice for holiday recreation. The development of Discovery Bay started in the late 1970s and it is now a well-planned suburb with fine recreational facilities including an artificial beach and a golf course.

Silver Mine Waterfall at Mui Wo
Silver Mine Waterfall at Mui Wo

Festivals

The Islands District is a land of festivals. Apart from the most commonly celebrated Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, its residents also mark the Tin Hau Festival on the twenty-third of the third month of the Lunar Calendar with great fanfare. The fishermen's communities at Cheung Chau, Tai O, Mui Wo, Lamma, Peng Chau and Po Toi regard Tin Hau as the goddess of the sea who will protect them, ensure fine weather and full nets. The festival is a colourful event and is characterized by floral paper offerings known as "fa pau".

The Hau Wong (Nobleman) Festival is marked by solemn ceremonies at various places in the district. There are different stories as to who Hau Wong was, but it is most commonly believed that he was a loyal court official of the late Sung Dynasty by the name of Yang Liangjie. Tai O celebrates this festival in the sixth month of the Lunar Calendar, while Tung Chung holds the celebrations in the eighth month.

The Jiao-festival of Cheung Chau is held in late March or early April of the Lunar Calendar. It is held for the dual purposes of appeasing the gods that guard the island, and placating the ghosts of those killed by pirates and were said to roam the island in search of food. In the procession that goes through the main streets of the island, child performers will dress in costumes resembling various gods and deities, and their tiny bodies are supported by rods and wires. The ceremony is fascinating and attractive to local and overseas visitors.

Cuisines

Fish farming is still one of the major economic activities in the Islands District. Restaurants, mainly located at Mui Wo, Lamma, Cheung Chau and Peng Chau, offer a variety of delicious fresh seafood dishes.

Pubs at Yung Shue Wan of Lamma and Cheung Chau are also hotspots for tourists. Delicacies of various styles are served at restaurants located mainly at Mui Wo, Pui O, Discovery Bay, Lamma, Cheung Chau and Tung Chung New Town.

Sports Facilities

Windsurfing at Kwun Yam Wan, Cheung Chau Windsurfing at Kwun Yam Wan, Cheung Chau

Kwun Yam Wan was the training ground of Hong Kong's first Olympic gold medallist, windsurfer Ms LEE Lai-shan. It has become a favourite tourist spot for local visitors since the 1996 Olympics. Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre, hiking trails on Lantau, Lamma, Po Toi and other islands attract many hikers, whereas Lo Tik Wan of Lamma and Po Toi are favourite spots for angling.