Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [80]
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TRANSPORT – CLEARWATER BAY PENINSULA
Bus Bus 91 runs between Diamond Hill and Choi Hung MTR stations to Tai Au Mun.
Green Minibus Bus 103M runs between Tseung Kwan O MTR station and Clearwater Bay. Bus 103 runs to Kwun Tong ferry pier, and bus 16 to Po Lam MTR station.
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CLEARWATER BAY COUNTRY PARK Map
The heart of the country park is Tai Au Mun, from where trails go in various directions, through the Clearwater Bay Country Park Visitor Centre ( 2719 0032; 9.30am-4.30pm Wed-Mon) to the southeast in Tai Hang Tun. Take Lung Ha Wan Rd north from Tai Au Mun to the beach at Lung Ha Wan (Lobster Bay) and return via the 2.3km Lung Ha Wan Country Trail.
TAI MIU TEMPLE Map
2519 9155; 8am-5pm
Further south along Tai Au Mun Rd is this temple dedicated to Tin Hau. It is said to have been first built in the 13th century by two brothers from Fujian in gratitude to the goddess for having spared their lives during a storm at sea. It is particularly busy during the Tin Hau birthday festival (Click here).
Just behind the temple is a Song-dynasty rock carving dating from 1274 and recording both the visit of a superintendent of the Salt Administration and the history of two temples in Joss House Bay. It is the oldest inscription extant in Hong Kong.
From Tai Miu, hikers can follow the 6.6km-long High Junk Peak Country Trail up to Tin Ha Shan (273m) and then continue on to High Junk Peak (Tiu Yu Yung; 344m) before heading eastward back to Tai Au Mun.
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OUTLYING ISLANDS
Hong Kong’s mosaic of islands number in the hundreds, although only a handful is inhabited. The largest ‘Outlying Islands’, which are usually sparsely populated, make handy boltholes for weekenders escaping the city or commuters who prefer a home close to space and greenery.
The attractions include country parks, with hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails, fresh(er) air and examples of some of the last remnants of traditional village life in Hong Kong. Explore them on a weekday and you’re likely to have great expanses of these islands all to yourself.
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top picks
OUTLYING ISLANDS
Tian Tan Buddha via cable car ( Click here)
Cheung Chau’s temples, harbour and street scenes ( Click here)
Tai O’s old-world atmosphere ( Click here)
Lamma Family Trail (below)
Pink dolphin-spotting ( Click here)
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Hong Kong’s islands vary greatly in size, appearance and character. Many are little more than uninhabited rocks poking out of the South China Sea, while Lantau is almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island.
From the old-world streetscapes of Cheung Chau and Peng Chau to the monasteries of Lantau and the waterfront seafood restaurants of Lamma, Hong Kong’s islands offer colour, variety and interest, along with a host of sights and activities. The islands are also an encyclopaedia of animal and plant life – a boon for nature lovers. What’s more, some of Hong Kong’s best beaches punctuate their rocky coasts.
Poisonous snakes are a rare but significant hazard to be aware of on Lamma and Lantau. See Click here for more details.
The islands listed here are all easily accessible from Hong Kong Island daily, and Cheung Chau and Lantau can be reached from Kowloon on the weekend as well. For details on routes, schedule and fares, see Click here.
Because the tiny islands of Tap Mun Chau and Tung Ping Chau are best reached from the New Territories, they are covered on Click here and Click here.
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LAMMA
Eating Click here; Drinking Click here; Sleeping Click here
With no roads or cars, leafy, low-rise Lamma ( Map) makes a perfect place to find some space, peace and quiet. Gentle walks, lounging on the beach and browsing in the seafood restaurants and bars is the thing to do here (all the while studiously ignoring the socking great coal-powered