Hong Kong · Island Guide

Beyond the
Skyline

Hong Kong's harbour is famous worldwide but venture beyond the city lights and you'll find seven extraordinary islands, each with its own soul.

Island № 01 — Lantau

Hong Kong's largest island is a world of extremes. In a single day you can ride the Ngong Ping 360 cable car through dramatic mountain mist, stand before the colossal Tian Tan Buddha, then descend into Tai O a village of stilt houses suspended above a winding estuary, little changed in a century.

Lantau also hosts Disneyland and the international airport, yet its forested hills and ancient monasteries remain surprisingly serene.

Island № 02 — Lamma

Lamma moves at a different rhythm no cars, no rush. The island's famous Family Trail links the two villages of Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan through a gentle hill walk of about an hour, ending with a reward of fresh seafood straight off the boats.

Expats, artists, and weekending Hongkongers flock here for the low-rise charm, open-air restaurants, and an atmosphere that feels genuinely unhurried.

Island № 03 — Cheung Chau

Dumbbell-shaped and entirely car-free, Cheung Chau is one of Hong Kong's most densely populated islands and one of its most characterful. Rent a bicycle and explore the coastal paths that wrap the island's narrow waist, or hunt for the legendary Cheung Po Tsai Cave, said to be a pirate's treasure trove.

The waterfront promenade brims with stalls selling the island's iconic fish balls and mango ice cream. During the Bun Festival each spring, the island erupts in extraordinary tradition.

Island № 04 — Peng Chau

Peng Chau is Hong Kong's well-kept secret. Tiny and navigable on foot within an afternoon, the island rewards slow wandering through narrow lanes lined with ancestral halls, past old craftsmen's workshops, and up to the hilltop Finger Hill for sweeping coastal views.

The creative community here is small but genuine: local potters, painters, and musicians have chosen Peng Chau precisely because the world hasn't caught up with it yet.

Island № 05 — Tung Ping Chau

The furthest-flung of the accessible islands, Tung Ping Chau sits in the northeast of Mirs Bay near the mainland. Its extraordinary sedimentary rock formations flat, layered shelves of shale in ochre and grey have earned it UNESCO Geopark designation and a reputation as one of Asia's most unique geological landscapes.

The crystal-clear waters around the island offer excellent snorkelling, and the absence of permanent residents gives the whole place an eerie, beautiful stillness.

Island № 06 — Po Toi

Raw, rugged, and romantically remote, Po Toi is Hong Kong stripped of all pretension. The southernmost island in the territory, it's accessible only on a limited ferry schedule which means those who make it here are rewarded with near-solitude.

The coastal trails weave past dramatic sea cliffs and extraordinary rock sculptures carved by millennia of wind and waves the "Monk Rock" being the most celebrated. A single family-run seafood restaurant at the pier completes the perfect day.

Island № 07 — Sharp Island

Tucked into the jewel-coloured waters of Sai Kung, Sharp Island (Kiu Tsui) is one of Hong Kong's most photogenic natural secrets. At low tide, a golden tombolo a natural sand bridge emerges from the sea, connecting the island to the smaller islet of Kiu Tau in a scene that seems to belong in Southeast Asia rather than a metropolis.

Two beautiful beaches, clear turquoise water, and hiking trails make it an effortlessly rewarding day trip from the Sai Kung waterfront.

Quick Reference

Islands at a Glance