Peng Chau (not to be confused with Ping Chau in Mirs Bay) is a small, rustic island across Discovery Bay in Hong Kong. Unlike Lamma Island or the neighbouring Cheung Chau, Peng Chau remains relatively peaceful and crowd-free even on weekends.
And it’s this lack of crowds that makes this island a perfect getaway. 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! But don’t let its tiny size fool you. Peng Chau offers plenty of things to do and explore to keep you busy and coming back!
Getting To Peng Chau By Ferry
Ferries run from multiple locations in Hong Kong to Peng Chau.
Central to Peng Chau Ferry
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.
Discovery Bay to Peng Chau Ferry
Discovery Bay is quite literally right next to Peng Chau. Frequent ferries run between the two and the timetable can be found on the Transport Department’s website.
Mui Wo or Cheung Chau to Peng Chau Ferry
There’s also the interisland ferry service that runs between Cheung Chau — Chi Ma Wan — Mui Wo — Peng Chau.
The ferry timetable is accessible on the Sun Ferry website.
Things To Do on Peng Chau
If you’re wondering what’s there to do in Peng Chau, you’d be surprised. From easy hikes, to hidden beaches, temples, and shopping, this island offers plenty to keep you busy.
And best of all, its small size makes it easy to explore multiple attractions in a single day-trip.
So, here are some of our top recommendations to things to do on Peng Chau.
Visit the Leather Factory
A visit to Peng Chau isn’t complete without stepping into the former leather factory, which has been converted in a vibrant art space. While walking on Wing On Street, look for a doorway covered in colourful graffiti marked ‘Leather Factory’.
- Watch out for this sign to the leather factory alley
- The colourful entrance to the leather factory lane
Step inside to be transported into another world.
The narrow colourful alley, laden with graffiti and artwork, takes you to an equally vivid street. This is the site of two old leather factories that have now been brought to life with local art.
It’s no surprise that this is such a hot Instagram spot!
- Colourful graffiti on the outside of the leather factory
- The outside of the leather factory, Peng Chau
- Display pieces at the Leather Factory
Other than graffiti and street art, there is a scrapyard that serves as an area for alfresco art exhibitions.
Step inside to admire eccentric artwork usually created with old, discarded junk!
- Graffiti inside the Leather Factory
- An art installation made using discarded children’s cycles at the Leather Factory in Peng Chau
- The most colourful and fascinating junkyard – Leather Factory, Peng Chau
- The artsy junkyard near the leather factory
- A curious looking art installation
- The junkyard art installation on Peng Chau
- The colourful Leather Factory in Peng Chau
Shopping on Peng Chau
Peng Chau also offers visitors a chance to visit boutique and unique shops on the island.
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 café too.
Sun-Sat Store is located at 27 Wing Hing Street, along the promenade on the ferry pier side.
House of Craft
Located in the heart of Wing On Street, is House of Craft, a handicraft shop run by local artist.
The store offers a variety of handmade gifts and souvenirs inspired by seashells and the ocean. You can also get your photographs painted on seashells. How unique!
To Tsu Kok
If you’re looking for antiques, Chinese furniture or household items, or even bespoke furniture, step inside this little gem of a shop called To Tsu Kok.
Beaches on Peng Chau
Unlike some other outlying islands, Peng Chau isn’t gifted with big, beautiful beaches. It is home to many smaller and quainter beaches that are almost always empty.
The main beach in Peng Chau is located at the end of the large bay, on the west of the island. The beach doesn’t have any facilities nearby, so come prepared. But from the mouth of the bay, swimmers can enjoy views of the Hong Kong skyline on a clear day.
- The Peng Chau main beach
- The main bay at Peng Chau
Apart from the main beach, there are numerous other smaller beaches located along the Peng Yu Path and next to the Ngan Chau Tsai Pavilion, that honestly are quite pretty. More information, and pictures, about these beaches, can be found below.
Discover Restaurants and Cafés on Peng Chau
A trip to Peng Chau wouldn’t be complete without visiting any of the restaurants located on the island. Listed below are some of the restaurants that we’ve tried or have read good reviews about.
Island Table Grocer Cafe
Address: G/F, 9C Peng Chau Wing Hing Street, Peng Chau
Island Table Grocer Cafe is a cosy little café, with outdoor seating, run by three sisters.
The café offers a limited but delightful selection of homemade sandwiches, pizzas, and pastries, as well as drinks.
- The outdoor seating at Island Table Grocer Cafe, Peng Chau
- Inside Island Table Grocer Cafe, Peng Chau
The pizzas are perfect for a single person, and you must try their lemonade and cheesecake!
- Pizza at Island Table Grocer Cafe, Peng Chau
- The fresh lemonade is amazing at Island Table Grocer Cafe
The Edible Project
Address: G/F, 1K Peng Chau Wing On Street, Peng Chau
Situated close to Island Table Grocer Cafe is The Edible Project.
Another quaint café that offers a limited but delicious assortment of sandwiches, pastas, and anything that qualifies as brunch.
Second Serve
Address: Shop 10, G/F, Monterey Villas, 12 Po Peng Street, Peng Chau
Speaking of coffee, Second Serve is a delightful little café located right next to Wellcome (near the ferry pier).
The café offers a wide variety of coffees, desserts, and savoury snacks. Perfect if you’re not too hungry.
Nostomania Speciality Coffee
Address: G/F, 38 Wing On Street, Peng Chau, Hong Kong
Here’s a simple recommendation. If you’re searching for excellent, speciality coffee on Peng Chau, you probably want to Nostomania to get your fix.
Hoho Kitchen
Address: G/F, 29 Peng Chau Wing On Street, Peng Chau
Searching for some afternoon tea and snacks? Well, head on down to Hoho Kitchen.
Hoi King Seafood Restaurant
Address: G/F 13-15 Wing On Side Street, Peng Chau
If you’re in the mood for dumplings, head over to Hoi King Seafood Restaurant for a truly authentic feel. Pick your dumplings from their baskets outside and bring them over to your table. No cart service here.
- Hoi King Seafood Restaurant, Peng Chau
- Hoi King Seafood Restaurant
Kee Sum Cafe
Address: Shop B, G/F, 3 Peng Chau Wing On Street, Peng Chau
Peng Chau is known for its delicious shrimp toast, and there’s no place more famous than Kee Sum Cafe.
Express Restaurant
Address: G/F., 53 Peng Chau Wing On Street, Peng Chau
A relatively popular restaurant that serves good seafood and other Hong Kong-style dishes.
Hikes on Peng Chau
If you’re looking for an outdoor excursion, there are few short hikes and walks that you can explore while on Peng Chau.
Finger Hill Hike (Fung Ping Pavilion)
At 95 metres, Finger Hill is the highest point on the island. From up here, you’ll be treated to 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.
How to get to Finger Hill?
The Finger Hill hike is very easy and very short. It’s roughly between 1 km and 800 metres depending on the route you take. 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.
However, the easiest route to follow to Finger Hill (Fung Ping Pavilion) is as follows:
- Just after the Ferry Pier, turn right onto Wing On Side Street towards the Peng Chau Market.
- After the market, turn left and walk down the alley to Wing On Street and Shing Ka Road.
- Turn right for Shing Ka Road and walk almost to the end.
- Just before the end of the road, turn left onto Nam Shan Road.
- At the end of Nam Shan Road, go up the steps and follow the signs to Finger Hill.
- The toughest section while hiking up to Finger Hill
- Finger Hill with Hong Kong island in the background
You can also open the route of the Finger Hill Hike on Google Maps.
Ngai Chau Tsai Walk
Another interesting mini-hike on Peng Chau is the one to Ngan Chau Tsai. Located on the south-east edge of Peng Chau island, Ngan Chau Tsai is often referred to as the ‘edge of the sky and corner of the sea’.
There are two lookout points located Ngan Chau Tsai and to reach them, you need to first follow the signs to Finger Hill.
At the base of Finger Hill, right before the final climb, the path splits into two. Take the path on the right. Follow the signs for Ngan Chau Tsai.
Keep walking until the path splits again. This time, choose the dirt trail going straight ahead.
- Walk down this path
- Go straight, don’t turn right
The trail then exits onto a paved road, at which point turn left and walk uphill for a short distance.
- The dirt trail ends at a paved road
- Exit the trail and turn left
- Walk this short uphill section
At the end of the climb, turn right to continue following the signs for Ngan Chau Tsai Pavilion. The trail descends through a new, reforested area and ends at the Ngan Chau Tsai Pavilion.
- Turn right at the top of the road
- Follow the signs for Ngan Chau Tsai Pavilion
- Walk down this reforested path
- The Ngan Chau Tsai Pavilion
From the pavilion, you get incredible views. You can see Lamma Island, the west of Hong Kong Island, and even the Tsing Ma Bridge and Hong Kong Disneyland!
- Aerial view of Ngan Chau Tsai Pavilion
- Views of Hong Kong from Ngan Chau Tsai Pavilion
- Views of Tai Mo Shan and Tsing Ma Bridge from Ngan Chau Tsai Pavilion
Don’t end here. There’s another lookout platform located below the pavilion. To reach it, simply follow the trail downhill from the Ngan Chau Tsai Pavilion.
- Take this path downhill
- The lower viewing platform at Ngan Chau Tsai
The platform offers similar views to the Ngan Chau Tsai Pavilion. But it also offers access to a small hidden beach.
To reach the beach, you’ll need to scramble down a few rocks from the platform.
Peng Yu Path Walk
The Peng Yu Path Walk is on the opposite side of the island from Finger Hill. It’s a relaxing 2 km circular loop of the northern side of the island that involves minimal climbing and four small beaches. Not including breaks, it can easily be completed in under 40 minutes.
The highlight of the walk is the Old Fisherman’s Rock and its Lookout Pavilion which offers amazing views of Hong Kong’s skyline.
Starting point
I prefer starting the Peng Yu Path Walk from the north end of the main beach, next to Paloma Cove.
Walk to the end of the promenade till you see a sign for the Old Fisherman’s Rock. Turn left and follow the path.
- Follow the sign for the Old Fisherman’s Rock Lookout Pavilion to start the Peng Yu Path walk
- Follow the signs for the transmitting station or the Old Fisherman’s Rock Lookout Pavilion
The path cuts between numerous small organic farms and village homes. Soon, after the small organic farms, the path curves to the right. And just as it begins to curve, there is another path that diverges to the left.
- Walk past all this farm area
- Small organic farms along the way
- Take this left turn when you see the sign
- Walk up these steps from the path (look for the red arrows)
Turn left on this path and follow the steps, with the red arrows, uphill. After a very short uphill climb, turn right.
To the Transmitting Station
Once you turn right, simply follow Peng Yu Path.
There are a couple of flights of steps on the way, but most of the path is flat and shaded. The trees form a natural tunnel on the path.
- The most amount of steps you’ll see on the Peng Yu Path walk
- A natural tunnel on Peng Yu Path
Just past the halfway point on this section of the path is a pavilion. Unfortunately, the views from this pavilion are covered by trees. So, walk past it till you arrive at the next left turn, with a sign for the Transmitting Station.
- Walk past this pavilion as the views are obscured
- Turn left and follow the signs for the transmitting station
Walk down this path to arrive at the boundary of the transmitting station.
Old Fisherman’s Rock Lookout Pavilion
Peng Yu Path wraps itself around the boundary wall of the transmitting station before arriving at the steps at the back.
Walk down the steps to arrive at the Old Fisherman’s Rock Lookout Pavilion.
- You’ve reached the Old Fisherman’s Rock Lookout Pavilion
- View of Hong Kong from Old Fisherman’s Rock Lookout Pavilion
On a clear day, the views from this pavilion are quite amazing! Towards the east, you can see the Hong Kong skyline in the distance! To the north, Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel are visible.
- Hong Kong skyline as seen from Peng Chau
- View of Hong Kong Disneyland from Peng Chau
Although the Peng Yu Path continues to the north, it’s worth taking a quick detour to the hidden beach under the pavilion to the east.
The hidden beach
There’s a small, hidden beach if you walk down the steps behind the Old Fisherman’s Rock Lookout Pavilion, towards the Hong Kong Skyline.
I personally really like this beach because it’s very peaceful and also has nice views of the city.
You can sit on the beach, or the rocks on either side and enjoy the peace. You can also see the Old Fisherman’s Rock from the rocks on the left.
- The hidden beach below the Old Fisherman’s Rock Lookout Pavilion
- Aerial view of the hidden beach below the lookout pavilion
- This strange-looking rock at the edge of Peng Chau
- Enjoying some peace and quiet with the Old Fisherman’s Rock in the background
After that, you can return to the Old Fisherman’s Rock Lookout Pavilion to continue on the Peng Yu Path walk.
Old Fisherman’s Rock
From the Old Fisherman’s Rock Lookout Pavilion, walk down the steps facing Disneyland.
At the end of the steps, there is another lookout point. And to the right of this lookout point are the steps that go down to the Old Fisherman’s Rock.
There are two rocks in this area. But as I couldn’t find many details on them, I believe the large rock is the Old Fisherman’s Rock (釣魚翁石), whereas the smaller more prominent rock is called 坪洲史諾比石 (Snoopy Stone according to translate).
- Aerial view of Old Fisherman’s Rock (or the other balancing rock)
- Old Fisherman’s Rock, Peng Chau (or the other balancing rock)
- The Old Fisherman’s Rock (I believe)
The beaches on the north side
The next section of the Peng Yu Path, in my opinion, is the most scenic. From the Old Fisherman’s Rock, the path continues along the northern coastline of Peng Chau.
- The start of the scenic section of Peng Yu Path
- The first beach on the Peng Yu Path with a view of Lantau Island
Along the path, three quaint beaches are facing Lantau Island. The first beach is immediately after the steps from the Old Fisherman’s Rock. This beach feels a little barren but has the best views of Disneyland. The fireworks from Disney are easily visible from this beach (when they happen).
Klook.com
The second beach is my favourite beach as it’s the biggest and always feels inviting. It also feels like it’s the least crowded of the three.
- The second beach on Peng Yu Path
- There’s minimal climbing on the walk
The third beach is like the second beach, but smaller.
Feel free to take your time to relax at the beaches. To complete the loop, continue on Peng Yu Path till you finally arrive at Peng Lei Road.
- Views of Lo Fu Tau and Discovery Bay from Peng Yu Path
- The end of the Peng Yu Path walk
The Peng Yu Path Hike is best done at a leisurely pace, with frequent breaks to enjoy the beauty of the island.
Temples on Peng Chau
If you enjoy visiting old temples, Peng Chau has a lot to offer.
There are three main temples on the island, not including the Tin Hau Temple. Fortunately, all temples are in very close vicinity of each other.
Tin Hau Temple
The Tin Hau Temple is a short and straightforward walk from the ferry pier on Wing On Side Road. Once you exit the ferry pier, walk to the end of Wing On Side Street to reach the Tin Hau Temple.
- The main street as you arrive at Peng Chau
- The Tin Hau Temple in Peng Chau
Golden Flower Shrine (Kam Fa Temple)
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. I love the location of this temple and the beautiful tree behind it.
Lung Mo Temple
- Lung Mo Temple, Peng Chau
- At the Lung Mo Temple
On the south side of the main beach is the Lung Mo Temple. This 40-year-old temple is the largest temple on the island and easily the most impressive.
Seven Sister’s Temple
And finally, there’s the Seven Sisters Temple, close to the entrance of the Peng Yu Path.
A Complete Guide to Peng Chau, Hong Kong
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.
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 easily get around on foot. But if you want, there are a couple of cycle rental shops on Wing On Street.
As always, if you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it on the social media channel of your choice or leave a comment below.
3 Comments
Phil and Serena, this place looks like worth visiting….at least i like to do so. Nice hikes, beautiful parks and beach and and can be
reached from pier 6. worth a day trip. love mum
A literal pictorial walk-in Peng Chau Island ..that is the effect created by Drone & DSLR ..Awesome ..I thoroughly enjoyed the write up & the accompanying pictures ..I spent 6 months on this Island recently and it was a blisss staying on this Island ….Peng Chau is the pristine Island in Hong Kong , a must visit for All to enjoy and cherish this wonderful slice of nature …
Thank you, Ravi! Wow, that does sound so peaceful and amazing. It really is a laidback island.