Features

China - Peng Chau

by Mike Levy

If your image of Hong Kong is overcrowded bustle and Manhattan-style skyscrapers, you'd be right about one thing: you are describing only one of 200+ islands. Hong Kong Central and the Kowloon mainland are what we think of as Hong Kong -but it is easy to get away by fast ferry to another world.

That world includes Peng Chau - a curious figure-of-eight-shaped island out in the South China Sea. It is a haven of peace - motor traffic is forbidden here and the bike is king. The island boasts many gorgeous sandy beaches and there are lots of fine meandering footpaths to take. The pace of life in this bit of rural China is slow, measured and very Cantonese - though 40 minutes from Kowloon, few seem to speak English and good old-fashioned sign language goes a long way.

The island is famous for its fabulous sea food, lazy market streets and a sense you have gone back 200 years. It makes for a great day trip from Hong Kong 'proper' and there's even a very fine temple to explore. We went for the day so i can't tell you places to stay (can anyone help?) but I do know that Peng Chau is the nearest thing to chill-out paradise.