We spent a good part of our day at Sai Kung District on Day 2.
In contrast to the highly urbanised areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, Sai Kung District has a more laid-back air around it. Known as the ‘back garden of Hong Kong’, Sai Kung is famed for its beautiful hiking trails, pristine beaches and the seafood restaurants in Sai Kung Town. Sai Kung is also home to a geological region of Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark with its widely distributed hexagonal rock columns and Volcanic Rock Region.
As we walked towards Sai Kung Pier, we saw fishermen selling both fresh and dried seafood from their boats:
Look at the variety of dried seafood in this one! There’s dried seaweed, scallops, octopuses, shrimps, anchovies and salted fish available for purchase.
We passed rows of boat tour operators and understood from some of them that the tidal conditions were not conducive for a trip too far out into the Geopark. Ended up choosing this tour:
For a fee of HK$60/pax, the tour included viewing of sea corals, rock formation around and near Kiu Tsui Island and a stop there for some free and easy time. There was one boat stopping at the island every half an hour to drop off passengers and pick up any one returning to Sai Kung Pier.
Boarded this excursion boat bound for Sai Kung Geopark, one half of Hong Kong’s UNESCO Global Geopark.
As we moved away from Sai Kung Pier, we saw some sea corals in the waters. But unfortunately don’t have any decent photo to show.
Views around the Geopark from the excursion boat
We alighted the boat at Kiu Tsui Chau (Sharp Island), which is just 2,000 metres off from Sai Kung Pier. The island is a relic of an ancient supervolcano that erupted more than 140 million years ago. Different kind of volcanic rocks from different geological periods can be found around the island.
Information boards around the island with explanations on the geological heritage:
Spent some time at Kiu Tsui Beach. Being the layman, we ain’t able to fully appreciate the volcanic rocks and wave erosion landscape on the island but we did know how to appreciate the clean beach with fine sand for what it was.
The small island of Kiu Tau is connected to Sharp Island by a tombolo (a ridge of pebbles and sand) but we were unable to cross over as the tombolo was submerged during the time of our visit by high tide.
Therapeutic view of the sea from Kiu Tsui Island, while waiting for the boat to pick us up.
Had an early dinner at Chuen Kee Seafood Restaurant along Sai Kung Seafood Street, which was listed in The Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2015.
Instead of choosing our dinner from the tanks,
We went for their set menu for 4 pax. For HK$956, the set menu included five dishes, which we chose out of 14, a plate of greens and dessert. Rice and drinks were to be ordered separately.
We tried one of their recommended dishes: Baked lobster with cheese sauce and e-fu noodles. The combination was surprisingly tasty.
The seafood was value for money but don’t expect too much service-wise.
Left the place with memories of this lovely sunset over Sai Kung:
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Read more about our trip itinerary and the other places we visited during the trip in Hong Kong 2015 – Family Trip Itinerary.
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To get to Sai Kung Town:
1. MTR Choi Hung Station Exit C2, then take the minibus route 1A.
2. MTR Hang Hau Station, then take the minibus route 101M.
