Cheung Chau

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Location of Cheung Chau within HKSAR

A street on Cheung Chau

Cheung Chau (Chinese: 長洲/长洲, Pinyin: Chángzhōu; lit. "Long Island") is a small island 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island. It has been inhabited for longer than most other places in the territory of Hong Kong, with a population of about 30,000 up to 2006. Administratively, it is part of the Islands District.

1 Geography
2 Economy
3 Sights
- 3.1 Temples
- 3.2 Others
4 Miscellaneous
5 Transportation
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Geography

St. John Hospital

Geographically the island is formed from two mostly granite lumps joined by what was presumably once a tombolo, a kind of sandbar. With an area of 2.45 km², the island is therefore "long", hence the name as translated from Cantonese is Long Island. Thus, it is redundant to say "Cheung Chau Island". The island is dumbbell-shaped, with hills at the northern and southern ends and the settlements concentrated in between.

[edit] Economy

The central part of the island is well developed with shops and houses. The laneways are so narrow that normal motor traffic is impossible. Instead, there are small motorized trucks officially term "Village vehicles". For example, there are small specially designed mini-fire engines, ambulances and police cars. Residential areas also exist on the hills of the north and south.

Traditionally the island was a fishing village and there are still fishing fleets working from the harbour. However in recent years the island has become a major tourist attraction, offering a mixture of sandy swimming beaches, seafood cafes, and traditional Chinese culture.

The number of suicide cases in Cheung Chau is one of the highest in Hong Kong due to people traveling to the island from elsewhere in Hong Kong specifically to commit suicide. The most common method of suicide is to suffocate by burning off oxygen with charcoal indoors with all doors and windows sealed. One would typically do this just before going to bed so that one would die while asleep. Many believe it to be the most painless way of suicide.

[edit] Sights

Rock Carving on Cheung Chau. This 3000-year-old rock carving, reported by the geologists in 1970, is located on the east of the island, immediately below the Warwick Hotel. It consists of two groups of similar carved lines surrounding small depressions.

[edit] Temples

Pak Tai Temple - one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong. The temple was built in 1783 and completely repainted in 1989. In front of the temple, there are 4 pairs of guarding lions. Before the altar are statues of two generals, Thousand Miles Eye and Favourable Wind Ear, who together are traditionally said to be able to hear and see anything
Four temples dedicated to Tin Hau, including the Pak She Tin Hau Temple
Kwan Kung Chung Yi Ting, a traditional temple built in 1973, dedicated to the god of justice Kwan Tai

[edit] Others

Alleged hiding place of Cheung Po Tsai (張保仔), a famous 19th century pirate
Rock carvings located near Tung Wan Beach are declared monuments of Hong Kong
Tung Wan and Kwun Yam Wan beaches

[edit] Miscellaneous

The yearly Cheung Chau Bun Festival - is a festival which includes a parade of floats, most famously including young children dressed as famous characters doing impossible balancing acts. It last seven days and attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the island.

Cheung Chau was the birthplace of Lee Lai Shan (born 1970), a windsurfer who won the first Olympic gold for Hong Kong in 1996.

After 2000, a number of cases of suicide (most of them by "burning charcoal") have taken place inside holiday houses on the island. As a consequence, for some time holiday resorts were not rented to individuals. Stories concerning apparition have resulted from the news of suicides. In 2005 a local councillor Lam Kit-sing proposed a theme-park to be built in order to capitalise on the macabre reputation. Plans were subsequently rejected.

There are five primary schools and two secondary schools in Cheung Chau.

[edit] Transportation

First Ferry operates ferries service between Central pier and Cheung Chau. The ferries run approximately every 30 minutes depending upon time of day. Schedules on Sundays and public holidays differ from weekdays. The trip of about 16 miles takes 55 minutes or 35 minutes for ordinary ferries and high speed ferries respectively.