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Guarding the eastern approaches to Victoria Harbour, this sparsely populated isle sees a tiny fraction of the weekend crowds that regularly swamp Cheung Chau and Lamma Island. It’s well worth a half-day excursion for some light hiking and glimpses of lesser-known local heritage. After the 40-minute passage on a kaito ferry from Hong Kong Island’s Shau Kei Wan neighborhood, make sure you disembark at the first stop, the hamlet of Nam Tong, and turn south for a detour to view the biggest Bronze Age rock carving in the territory. Accessed via 460 steps from a circular lookout just off the main trail, the petroglyph is believed to depict a dragon descending to the sea. Meanwhile, the ruins of an 18th-century Qing fortress sit atop a rocky headland on the more rugged side of the island, whose granite walls draw sports climbers of all levels. A tiny information center details the structure’s history, and past the nearby campsite, informal eateries line the pathway down to a small but beautiful crescent of cream-colored sand and the newer pier—the main departure point for ferries back to town. —James Louie
<a href="https://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/ferries/kaito_services_map/service_details/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">td.gov.hk</a> 
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/LpvDsQooffswod9V7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shau Kei Wan ferry pier location</a> (Nearest MTR station: Sai Wan Ho) 
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/fUeLmWTnKbhzYrweA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tung Lung Chau, Sai Kung District, Hong Kong</a>

Tung Lung Chau: Hidden Heritage

Hong Kong Attractions

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