ALAN P.
in
HONG KONG

Cheung Chau is an Island west of the main Hong Kong Island near the Southeast of Lantau. What’s different about this community is its isolation from the city. 

The Island is just 2.45 km², you can walk from the far ends to another in just an afternoon. The terrain is hilly, you could imagine how homes were built (like in Rio, Brazil), very densely built. There’s no skyscrapers on the island, mostly no more than 5 story tall. The tallest building I could find is a hotel.

 

No vehicles are allowed on the island except the emergency branches (ambulance, fire dept and police), making it a car/pollution free environment. There’s no surprise to see bicycles everywhere. That’s precisely what I like about Cheung Chau. There’s more human interaction this way and shops on the ground are just walking distance, so welcoming. The island has a population of 30,000 and is driven by travel and resort. It’s got everything you need to get through a day, weeks or even months. 

 

I became addicted to this island after my first visit at the end of June 2013. It’s the scourging sun, the sandy beach, the crowded ferry, the energy saving bicycles, the glittering reflection from the sea water, the reasonable isolation and the happy people shaped this island. I decided to photo document my visits the following 7 weeks.