Hong Kong has many wonderful getaway islands, offering good day-trip hike getaways from the hustle bustle of Hong Kong urban life. The longer I stayed in Hong Kong, the harder it became to find new escapes, so it was wonderful when I discovered a few new ones up in the north-eastern region of Hong Kong, easily approachable by a long 1.5 hours ferry from the Ma Liu Shui ferry pier near Chinese University of Hong Kong (University MTR station).
It is a very chill island, even more so when I visited during the pandemic. Quiet local life, maybe a couple of laid back street restaurants/kiosks, the mandatory Tin Hau temple (dating back to 18th century!), some pagodas high on mountain peaks for panoramic views of the area, geopark formation trails and a surprising lovely local museum about the local history and traditions.
Kat O is very close to mainland China. Close means one could swim their way there, if they wanted to, which long ago I guess some people did. Given it’s location, it was a thriving fishing village, mostly Hakka people, but then with the rise of urban life, many of the locals migrated and left. And now it seems like a ghost island for bored hikers looking for adventures, like me. Can spend 2-3 hours there exploring the area, going up to the pavilions and catching the views. Many visitors combine this with the tiny Ap Chau island, given that the ferry makes a short stop there.
So, here are my walks around the island…
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