Sai Kung - The Back Garden of Hong Kong
- charlene929
- Jul 27, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 25, 2020
Sai Kung offers a wonderful mix of history and nature. Famous for its sweeping coast with sea arches, caves and sea stacks, the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark in Sai Kung was listed in 2011. The name "Sai Kung" was first recorded in the Ming Dynasty during the voyages of Zheng He (Cheng Ho), meaning “Tributes from the West".
Sai Kung Old Town still has narrow alleyways and historic buildings like the finely preserved Hung Chin Temple from 1889, built to worship the God of the South Sea. Restored in 2000, it was awarded an "Outstanding Project" by UNESCO. You can also visit Sheung Yiu, a 19th century Hakka village with a watchtower and eight houses. Now the Sheung Yiu Folk Museum after a full restoration, it’s furnished with period furniture and tools, recreating the atmosphere of a small Hakka village.
While many have heard of The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, most people don’t know that there’s a similar rock formation in Sai Kung’s Geopark. The spectacular hexagonal formations are a result of volcanic eruptions 140 million years ago.
You can hike through lush hills, swim off beautiful sandy beaches, take boat trips or embark on a Stand-up paddle (SUP) or Sea Kayaking adventure in the Geopark, home to at least 60 types of coral and 120 species of fish. With dramatic sea arches and caves, an itinerary can be tailored to the group’s ability. The best times are from March through to October when seas are generally calmer.
After a day of exploring, it’s good that Sai Kung has some of the tastiest seafood with restaurants showcasing tanks of freshly caught seafood from the floating fish market. It even has two Michelin-starred restaurants to its name!
Come with 8th Wave to explore the wonderful nature of Hong Kong and Sai Kung. Check us out or get in touch with our team!
