Guide to Peng Chau Island

Peng Chau is perhaps the least commercial, inhabited outlying island in Hong Kong. Unlike Lamma Island or the neighbouring Cheung Chau, Peng Chau remains relatively tourist-free even on weekends.

But it’s this lack of crowds and attention that makes this island a perfect getaway. And thanks to its relatively small size (0.99 square kilometres or 0.38 square miles), exploring the island is not only easy, but also fun!

Getting To Peng Chau By Ferry

Ferries run from multiple locations in Hong Kong to Peng Chau.

From Central

Fast and slow ferries run from Central Ferry Pier No. 6 to Peng Chau. The ferry timetable can be accessed on the HKKF website.

Fast ferries usually take around 30-35 minutes one-way.

From Discovery Bay

Discovery Bay is quite literally right next to Peng Chau. Frequent ferries run between the two and the timetable can be found on the Around DB website.

From Mui Wo or Cheung Chau

There’s also the inter-islands ferry service that runs between Cheung Chau – Chi Ma Wan – Mui Wo – Peng Chau.

The ferry timetable is accessible on the NWFF website.

Things to do in Peng Chau

Although Peng Chau is a small, non-commercial island, there is still plenty to do and discover. Here are some of our top recommendations.

Visit the Leather Factory

We discovered this by chance. So, we were walking along the main Wing On Street when we saw this colourful sign above a doorway for a Leather Factory. The moment we walked through the door, it felt like we had been transported to a different world.

The narrow colourful alley, laden with graffiti and artwork, takes you to a street that is equally vivid. This is the site of an old leather factory that is now been brought to life with artwork and bright colours.

Other than the graffiti on the walls, there is a small artsy junkyard with with odd installations, which I believe change frequently. Maybe every couple of months. Step inside this junkyard and admire the eccentric art made up of old, discarded items.

Next to the junkyard, there’s a small cafe/boutique store. It’s a really interesting spot to grab a coffee and admire the art around. Or you can simply browse inside the store, where you’ll find a selection of curios and local craft for sale.

Stop by the Sun Sat Store

If the boutique next to the leather factory caught your fancy, a visit to the Sun Sat Store is highly recommended.

Named after the days on which it is open (Saturday and Sunday), the store sells local handicrafts, antiques and vintage items. Browse around, or grab a cup of coffee as you check out the store because they happen to be a cafe too.

Sun Sat Store is located at 27 Wing Hing Street, next to the main promenade.

Hike up Finger Hill

At 95 metres, Finger Hill is the highest point on the island. From up here, you’ll be treated with views of the bay and beach, and also the stunning hills of Lantau Island in the background. And on a very clear day, you can see the Hong Kong skyline too. The lookout point is also a popular sunset spot.

The hike is relatively very easy. It took me about 15 minutes to get to Finger Hill from the Peng Chau Playground (next to the beach). There is only one, long flight of steps before the top.

You can also approach the hike from the Nam Shan Road side.

Peng Yu Path Hike

If you’re looking for a slightly more challenging and rewarding hike, then the Peng Yu Path Hike is the one for you.

The trail is essentially a circular hike that goes around the northern-half of the island. How you start and finish the hike is up to you. We started the hike from the beach and finished at the ferry pier.

The Peng Yu Path gets interesting once you reach the northern coastline of Peng Chau. This scenic coastal hike has a spattering of small beaches along the way, which are almost always empty. From these beaches you can catch a glimpse of Hong Kong’s Disneyland. Or simply relax here and admire the ferries as they pass by.

There’s also the Old Fisherman’s Rock that makes for a really nice photo spot.

The Peng Yu Path Hike is best done at a leisurely pace, with frequent breaks to enjoy the peace of Peng Chau.

Visit Temples

If you enjoy visiting old temples, Peng Chau will certainly keep you occupied.

There are three main temples on the island, not including the Tin Hau Temple that is visible the moment you step off the ferry pier. Fortunately, all temples are in close vicinity of each other.

The Tin Hau Temple is a short, straight walk from the ferry pier. But right behind it is the Golden Flower Shrine, dedicated to Lady Golden Flower and celebrates not only her festival but also the popular Bodhisattva Festival.

On the south side of the beach is the Lung Mo Temple. This 40 year old temple is the largest temple on the island. And finally, there’s the Seven Sister’s Temple, close to Tai Lei Island.

Restaurants

A trip to Peng Chau wouldn’t be complete without visiting any of the local restaurants.

If you’re in the mood for some dumplings, head over to Hoi King Seafood Restaurant for a truly authentic feel. Pick your dumplings from their baskets outside and bring it over to your table. No cart service here.

There’s also the famous Kee Sum Cafe on the island that is known for making delicious shrimp toast. Chi Mei Restaurant that is also known for it’s dumplings and wontons, but it’s only open for dinner. And Hoho Kitchen for some afternoon tea and snacks.

Our Guide to Peng Chau

Apart from the activities listed above, Peng Chau is also home to abandoned lime kiln factories, which were once quite prominent back in the day. And a beach that isn’t very inviting, but which is a great place for a barbecue.

As I said earlier, Peng Chau may be tiny, but it sure does pack plenty to do for a day. The island is small enough to easy get around on foot. But if you want, there are a couple of cycle rental shops on the Wing On Street.

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