Hong Kong Outlying Islands Series ~ Kat O

#JanuaryGoodPlaces2025 Ji'ao: "In our eyes, the countryside must have a glorious history" Kat O is located in the northeast of Hong Kong's "New Territories" and is the largest of the coastal islands in the New Territories. It is said that Kat O was inhabited in the Neolithic Age. The first accurate records and historical transmissions began in 300 years ago, it was divided into the "Hakka Village" on the right side of the pier and the "Fishermen's Village" on the left side of the pier. It was an outlying island village where "land and water are one family". The 1950s and 1960s were the heyday of the population (now there are less than 50 residents) and it was also a safe haven for many passing ships. 📕Geographical introduction: Kat O, also known as the "Auspicious Bay", is not as geographically rich as Ap Chau, but it is also part of the "UNESCO World Geopark". After the "Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Park" was included in the "World Geopark" in 2011, the "Geological Education Center", "Kat O Story House" and "Kat O Cultural Trail" were established here. ✨Must-see attractions: ~Ji'ao Story House~ Just like the Yazhou Story House, it tells the history of the island’s past fishing village life and how to get along with the Hakka people. Although the space is not large, the content it displays can bring you closer to the real life style of this remote island! ~Jiao Street~ When you hike around the island, you will definitely pass by this place, which is also the island’s shop and restaurant! It is a concentrated area that sells local specialties such as "Po Zai Gao", "Chicken Shit Vine", "Tea", "Glutinous Rice Cake", etc. You must go and try them! ~Ji'ao Tianhou Temple~ The island has a history of more than 300 years. Like Taiwan, the deity worshipped here is Mazu. It is a small place but an important place of faith for local residents! ~Ji'ao Cultural Trail~ With "Ji'ao Street" as the center, it connects the cultural and historical attractions on the island. It is divided into two branch routes: "Gaodi Peak" and "Gaopeng Peak". The former allows you to enjoy the "Shenzhen Yantian Port", while the latter allows you to enjoy the "Yinzhou Pond" known as the "Little Guilin of Hong Kong"~ ～Yinzhoutang～ Known as the "Little Guilin of Hong Kong", it was once a mountainous area. The valley in the mountains was flooded by the rising sea level during an ice age. The land was formed into the bay and islands we see today. From certain angles, some places look like stationery, so they are also called "Yintang Six Treasures". ~ Marriage Tree ~ The open space in front of the Tianhou Temple is a great place to take a break and relax. According to legend, if you happen to see 99 leaves falling under the tree, then congratulations! There will be a good marriage~! ! Religious Culture: If you have some knowledge of religion, you should be familiar with the activity of "Jianjiao". The island residents believe in "Mazu", which belongs to Taoism. Therefore, there is a ceremony of Jianjiao, which means "offering sacrifices to the dead". The island follows the custom of "a big festival every ten years and a pressure festival every five years" "Ya Jiao": There will be many traditional performances and thanksgiving ceremonies "Da Jiao": Based on the principle of "suppressing Jiao", other neighboring islands are united to form "Tap Mun Lianxiang Jian Jiao", expanding the scope to all islands ⚠️There are restaurants on the island for dining, but if you want to travel around the island, it is recommended Bring some food and water with you. ⚠️The ferry to Cat O only runs on weekends and public holidays: The journey takes about 2 hours, please prepare your own seasickness medicine 🚴Transportation: MTR "University" - walk or take bus "272K" to "Ma Liu Shui" - walk to Platform 3 and take the ferry (exactly the same route and direction as to Ap Chau!) 🎟️Per capita consumption: HKD 45 for adults and children ❗️You can use Octopus or cash to pay, but cash does not provide change. The fare is purchased once for "round trip", and "one-way" is not sold❗️ 🗓️Itinerary: Ap Chau - Kat O (The journey time between the two islands is about 15 minutes) 💞Recommendation reason: It belongs to the category of "UNESCO Geopark" On the island, you can learn about different ethnic groups, such as fishermen and Hakka people. How they prosper and coexist? By visiting the island, you can get a deeper understanding of the simple cultural customs! ! #JiaoaoHeightsTop #Yinzhoutang #Kiao Tianhou Temple #100 Ways to Travel #Ji'ao Story House #Hong Kong Outlying Islands