Poi Toi Island: Great Place to Be (part 1)

Strangely, for such an enchanting island, I did not visit it until recently. It captured my heart when I began to climb its hill. I started from Tin Hau temple which you can reach turning left after leaving the pier.

Near the temple, there is a rugged trail going up with a metal chain as handrail along the way. The climb was extremely interesting with spectacular view meeting your eyes. Along the way, there are peculiar rock formations for which Po Toi is famous and signposts ensuring that you will not get lost.After about 1.5 hours of walk, you will come to an intersection with a pavilion at not far distance. You can either go up to the pavilion and walk a longer distance before heading back to the pier, or go the easier route which will take you to the pier in half an hour.

I was so smitten by the scenery and had spent longer time than expected on the route taking photos and resting that I decided to go the easier route – I did not want to miss the return kai to (private ferry) scheduled for 4pm. It took me two hours to reach the pier again when it normally takes 1.5 hours. If you go the longer route, it will be about 2.5 hours.

Po Toi Island, a fishing village in the old days, now inhabits a very small population. So the Kai To (private ferry) service is infrequent. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, there is only one Kai To service to (10am) /from (2pm) Po Toi. I went there on a Saturday. The Kai To departs Aberdeen for Po Toi at 10am and 3am , and leaves Po Toi at 2pm and 4pm on Saturdays. Sundays have more service. Please view the timetable below:

The Kai To service to Po Toi Island is provided by Tsui Wah Ferry (tel: 2272 2022).

I spent leisurely time in a small dessert restaurant near the pier after 2-hr walk.  The restaurant was run by an old lady who cooked really delicious bean soup and who lived on the island for most of her life. Must not miss her green bean soup and purple rice soup. She made the dessert using wood fire. “The gas is so expensive. I cannot afford it. I just use the wood collected from the hill.” She said. She said she had been making bean soup for twenty years and saw the spike in bean price in recent years. “For all these years, I did not raise the price until very recently. I really put in a lot ingredients into the dessert soup. ” she said.

For the delicious bean soup packed with ingredients, she charged HK$11 only. You won’t find such delicious sweet with such price anywhere else in Hong Kong. In fact, I noticed that all the dessert restaurants on the island have similar price. I must say, the prices on the island are very reasonable, compared to other outlying islands in Hong Kong. This island’s people have a touch of simplicity and sincerity.

The island is known to produce the best seaweed in Hong Kong.  Green bean soup with seaweed is a common and traditional Chinese dessert and it explains why Po Toi Island has quite a few dessert restaurants with green bean soup being the must-have option.