The Ping Chau island is also known as Tung Ping Chau. Tung is added to the name to avoid possible confusion with Peng Chau, another island in Hong Kong. Administratively, the island is part of the Tai Po District in the New Territories.
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Tung Ping Chau is the only place in Hong Kong where visitors can see shale beaches and various
fascinating rock formations.
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| Ping Chau |
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Ping Chau island is well known for its magnificent coastal landform and beautiful underwater hard coral communities.
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| Ping Chau |
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Tung Ping Chau was once the home of a busy island community, with a population of over 2000. In the 1950's, there were about 1500 people living in the ten villages on the island. They have even developed a local dialect, i.e. Ping Chau Wa.
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Villagers here were either farmers or fishermen.
Tung Ping Chau has no potable water and electricity supply.
Villagers had dug wells and cisterns, and also built a small reservoir.
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| Old house |
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Villagers, police and park staff station on the island rely on free-standing generators for their power supply.
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After five years or more, the dead body is exhumed. The bones are cleaned by
the family and be placed either in a funerary urn or in a formal masonry
grave shaped like a horseshoe.
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| Funerary urn |
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Seeking a better life, many villagers left Tung Ping Chau for urban Hong Kong. By the early 1970's, only a few old people remained on the island.
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Ping Chau island is made up of unique sedimentary rock formations and geological features, which are of high scientific and educational value.
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| Ping Chau |
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Only few houses are still maintained on Ping Chau, mainly in hamlets just north and south of the ferry pier. Most residents moved out some years ago but during the week-ends some people return to open their old homes as guest houses and restaurants that cater to tourists.
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| Ping Chau |
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In 1950 during the Korean War, the United Nations placed an embargo on all essential imports to Mainland China. Tung Ping Chau, being very close to the Chinese border, was a favorite base for smugglers.
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There are several trails that are leading in small woods that are partly hiding
ruined hamlets.
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| Ruined hamlet |
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Ping Chau is one of Hong Kong's premier sites for coral.
Coral heads grow in the shallow waters. Those kids are looking for shellfish
along the ferry pier.
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| Ping Chau |
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On week-ends, when the only ferry service operates, hundreds of day trippers visit the island to enjoy its geological, cultural and biological richness.
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Improvement works are targeted on Tung Ping Chau Public Pier as
the island attracts many visitors every year. The pier was constructed in 1960s.
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| Ping Chau ferry |
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