Sai Kung Town is a former fishing port on the Sai Kung Peninsula in Hong Kong's New Territories, where a waterfront promenade of sampans, junks and live-tank seafood restaurants replaces the city's usual high-rise density. Nicknamed Hong Kong's 'back garden', it is the gateway to islands of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark — many just 15 to 30 minutes away by boat from the public pier — and to the start of the MacLehose Trail and the Sai Kung country parks. As of 2026 there is still no MTR station in Sai Kung, so access is by bus, minibus or taxi only, and weekends and public holidays bring heavy local crowds and long minibus queues. It works best as a full-day trip: islands and water in the morning, the seafood promenade in the late afternoon.
Seafood Street and the waterfront promenade — restaurant tanks of live fish, crab and shellfish, plus the 'floating fish market' where fishermen sell their catch straight from sampans
Sharp Island (Kiu Tsui Chau) — a Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark site, with a tombolo sandbar that emerges at low tide and lets you walk out to a small islet, plus Hap Mun Wan and Kiu Tsui beaches
Yim Tin Tsai — a Hakka Catholic village island with restored salt pans, St Joseph's Chapel and a heritage trail; boat service runs mainly on weekends and public holidays
High Island Reservoir East Dam — world-class hexagonal volcanic rock columns and sea caves formed roughly 140 million years ago, the geological highlight of the peninsula
The pier area — kayak, paddleboard and snorkel rentals, a Tin Hau temple over a century old, and the evening return of the fishing fleet
Good to know
CautionSeafood billing disputes are the most common complaint here. Prices are often quoted as 'market price', and a cooking/processing fee plus a 10% service charge may be added separately. Before ordering, confirm the price per catty (about 605g), watch the weighing, and ask explicitly whether the processing fee and service charge are included. Buying from the fish market inside Sai Kung Market is generally closer to true local prices.
RulesHong Kong operates a separate immigration, payment and internet system from mainland China. Most visitors, including Korean passport holders, enter visa-free for up to 90 days, and Google, Instagram and messaging apps work normally — no VPN is needed. Alipay/WeChat Pay and passport registration are not required in Hong Kong; those only matter if you add a day trip across the border to Shenzhen, which needs its own visa and mainland payment setup.
RulesCarry an Octopus card. Green minibuses to Sai Kung and the kaito ferries and sampans at the pier frequently take only cash or Octopus, and some minibuses give no change. Green minibuses are 19-seaters where standing is not allowed, so if seats are full you wait for the next one. Fares and deposit/refund terms should be checked for the latest details.
SeasonJuly to September is typhoon and rainstorm season. When Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8 or a Red/Black rainstorm warning is hoisted, island boat services stop immediately and bus services are suspended. Check Hong Kong Observatory warnings before setting out, and in summer expect 30°C-plus heat and humidity with long unshaded stretches — bring water, a hat and sun protection.
SafetyIsland trails and the MacLehose Trail have sparse signage and patchy mobile coverage, and rescues for exhaustion and lost hikers are frequent. Download an offline map, turn back at least two hours before sunset, and check the last boat time before you set off. The emergency number is 999. Swim only at gazetted beaches within lifeguard hours, and watch for jellyfish and currents in summer.
MannersYim Tin Tsai is a living village and its chapel is an active place of worship — keep noise down and ask before photographing homes or interiors. Removing rocks or shells from geopark areas is prohibited, and littering and smoking outside designated areas carry fixed penalties (in the region of HK$3,000); confirm current amounts before you travel.
SafetyIf you use a private boat or sampan touted at the pier, agree in advance whether the fare is one-way or return, fix the pickup time and the total price, and get a ticket if one is offered. Many islands have few or no shops or drinking water, so buy supplies in town first.
Practical info
There is no MTR station: take bus 92 from Diamond Hill MTR (about 45–60 minutes), green minibus 1A from Choi Hung MTR Exit C2 (about 20–25 minutes), or minibus 101M / bus 792M from the Tseung Kwan O line side, all ending at the transport interchange beside Sai Kung Pier. The promenade and Seafood Street are open and free at all times with restaurants typically running from midday to around 10pm, while sampans to Sharp Island (roughly 9am–6pm, return fare around HK$30–40) and kaito ferries to Yim Tin Tsai (mainly weekends and public holidays, around HK$60 return including site entry) vary with season and weather — always check current fares, timetables and the last departure before you go.
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