One day in Lai Chi Wo One day in Lai Chi Wo One day in Lai Chi Wo

Located in the northeast New Territories, Lai Chi Wo sits next to Plover Cove Country Park and Yan Chau Tong Marine Park, and has been listed as Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. It houses one of the oldest and largest Hakka villages, which has been maintaining its customs and culture for over 300 years since settlement. It is regarded as one of the few existing cultural heritages.

Traditional Hakka Village: Lai Chi Wo Village

It’s time for us to set off! The journey commences the moment you hop onto the ferry. Looking out from the windows, you can have an overview of the coast of Ma On Shan and Wu Kai Shan. In about an hour, the sailing will be halted midway so that you can have a glimpse of the renowned landmarks, the Devil’s Fist (鬼手岩), resting on the seashore. This aged, weathered, and eroded rock will put you in awe of how mesmerising nature’s craft is. Shortly after, you will reach the Lai Chi Wo pier.

In the Lai Chi Wo village square, sometimes there are hawkers selling traditional Hakka treats, such as crunchy rice crackers and chewy tea cakes (which are, surprisingly, made from rice)!

A Diversified Natural Habitat

At the end of the Nature Trail, if you walk through the West Gate, you will arrive at Bride’s Pool Road. Colourful and distinctive butterflies and dragonflies are all visible on the way you pass by the lotus pond and paddy fields. Depending on the season, you may see a sea of blossoming rice crops or cosmos flowers. Rumour has it from January to May, you may also catch a glimpse of mayflies which is rare. There are also plenty of fields growing ginger, curry tree, chamomile, all kinds of edible flowers and fruits.

If you want to bring your kids into the wild, be sure to check out the mangroves. Along the boardwalk, take a close look at the wetland and its micro-ecosystem. If you stop by the mangroves, you may also detect mudskippers and fiddler crabs and see a massive, extensive red rock along the coast.

Suggested Route

The Pier ➔ Hip Tin Kung (協天宮)➔ the Hollow Tree ➔ the West Gate ➔ Brides’ Pool Road ➔Bi Teu Tam ➔ Farmland ➔ White-flowered Derris➔ Mangroves➔ The Pier

(With some time to spare, you might also visit Mui Tsz Lam and the village of Kop Tong in close proximity. This extra walk takes another 30 minutes.)

＊Friendly reminders
．What to Wear? light-coloured sportswear, bring along a hand towel
．What to Bring? some snacks, energy bites and water supply
．What to Prepare? apply some sunscreen and mosquito repellents before kicking off the tour

With ample natural resources, the ecological environment in Lai Chi Wo gives birth to its rich biodiversity. As if Pokémon Go in real life, you can take pictures of the species you encounter along the Lai Chi Wo River and add those to your collection of discovery.

Why not ditching that monotonous window-shopping plan and explore Lai Chi Wo’s living history and its beauty?

Article: Zachary Pink Yung

Translation: Chloe Li