Cheung Chau Island

One of the great things about Hong Kong is that there are plenty of neighboring islands to visit on weekends when you feel like getting away from the intense hustle-bustle.  A new favorite of mine is Cheung Chau.

This quaint fishing village is a 30 minute ferry ride from Hong Kong Island.  Once you arrive, you can walk along the colorful boardwalk filled with vendors and food stands, rent bikes or hike to a hilltop that offers stunning views with the teal green sea below.

Charming alleyways, with private entrances to apartments and beautiful flower pots, surprise you at various spots along the pathways.

When you are hungry, the choices are numerous.  Dumplings, noodles, seafood, baked goods, and yes, even the token McDonald's and Subway are discreetly placed for those needing a fast food hit.  Many of the restaurants have their seafood menu items swimming in tanks at the entrances.

For the kids, the snow cones at Cheung Chau rival any I've ever seen.  The sizes are enormous and the flavors are intense with real fruit pieces in the syrup:  lychee, green apple, pineapple and strawberry seemed to be the most popular.

The cost of this day's excursion is very reasonable.  Ferry tickets are only about $10 US and lunch can easily be found for around $12/ per person.  That is a fantastic bargain for a day of exploring!

Cheung Chau island:  just another thing to love about Hong Kong.