Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [209]
Central–Peng Chau (ordinary ferry) Adult $12 ($18.50 on Sunday and public holidays); 38 minutes; departures from 7am to 12.30am (7am and 7pm on Sunday and public holidays). The last ferry from Peng Chau to Central departs at 11.30pm (11.35pm on Sunday).
Central–Peng Chau (fast ferry) Adult $24.80 ($36 on Sunday and public holidays); 25 to 30 minutes.
An ordinary interisland ferry ($11.10) run by NWFF links Peng Chau with Mui Wo and (frequently) Chi Ma Wan on Lantau, as well as Cheung Chau, up to 10 times a day. The first ferry leaves Peng Chau at 5.40am for all three destinations; the last ferry to Mui Wo is at 11.40pm. Boats take 20 to 30 minutes to reach Mui Wo, 35 to 50 minutes to Chi Ma Wan and 45 to 75 minutes to Cheung Chau.
Peng Chau is the main springboard for the Trappist Monastery, with up to 10 sailings a day. Peng Chau Kaito ( 9033 8102, 2983 8617) sails sampans to Tai Shui Hang pier from the auxiliary pier southeast of the main Peng Chau ferry pier daily between 7.45am and 5pm. They return from the monastery between 8.10am and 5.10pm. The same company links Peng Chau with Discovery Bay every 30 minutes to 90 minutes, with up to 20 sailings a day between 6.30am and 10pm, from the pier southeast of the main Peng Chau ferry. The last boat from Discovery Bay sails at 10.15pm.
TUNG LUNG CHAU
On the weekend only, ferries run by Lam Kee Kaido ( 2560 9929) heading for Joss House Bay on the Clearwater Bay Peninsula from Sai Wan Ho, east of Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island, stop at Tung Lung Chau en route. On Saturday boats sail from Sai Wan Ho at 9am, 10.30am, 3.30pm and 4.45pm, departing from Tung Lung Island a half-hour later. On Sunday and public holidays there are boats from Sai Wan Ho at 8.30am, 9.45am, 11am, 2.15pm, 3.30pm and 4.45pm; they return from Tung Lung Island at 9am, 10.20am, 1.45pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5.30pm. The trip takes a half-hour, and the round-trip fare is $28/14 for adults/children under 12.
To catch the ferry, take the MTR’s Island line to Sai Wan Ho and then use exit A. Follow Tai On St north until you reach the quayside. The ride to Joss House Bay from Tung Lung Island is significantly shorter than the one from Sai Wan Ho. If you’re in a hurry coming back, get off there and catch bus 91 to the Choi Hung MTR station.
PO TOI ISLAND
A ferry run by Tsui Wah Ferry Service ( 2527 2513, 2272 2022; www.traway.com.hk) leaves Aberdeen for Po Toi on Tuesday and Thursday at 10am, returning from the island at 2pm. On Saturday boats sail from Aberdeen at 10am and 3pm, and return from 2pm and 4pm; there is a boat departing from Po Toi at 12.40pm to Stanley Blake Pier. On Sunday a single boat leaves Aberdeen at 8.15am, but there are also departures at 10am, 11.30am, 3.30pm and 5pm from Blake Pier (off Map; near Murray House, Stanley Plaza) in Stanley. Boats return from Po Toi at 3pm, 4.30pm to Stanley and at 6pm to Aberdeen. A same-day return fare is $40 and the journey takes about 30 to 50 minutes.
Return to beginning of chapter
Other Boats
Sea and harbour transport is not limited to scheduled ferries in Hong Kong. You may encounter several other types of boats as you travel further afield.
Kaido(small- to medium-sized ‘ferries’) are able to make short runs on the open sea. Only a few kaido routes operate on regular schedules (eg from Peng Chau to the Trappist Monastery and Discovery Bay, and from Aberdeen to Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma); most simply adjust supply to demand. Kaido run most frequently on weekends and public holidays.
Sampans are motorised launches that can only accommodate a few (usually four) people. Sampans are generally too small to be considered seaworthy, but they can safely zip you around typhoon shelters like the ones at Aberdeen and Cheung Chau.
Bigger than a sampan but smaller than a kaido, walla wallas (water taxis that operate in Victoria Harbour) are a dying breed. Most of the customers are sailors stationed on ships anchored in the harbour. On Hong Kong