View source for Ninepin Group

{{Short description|Group of 29 small islands in Hong Kong}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2023}}
{{Chinese
|order=ts
|t=九針群島
|s=九针群岛
|j=gau2 zam1 kwan4 dou2
|p=Jiǔ Zhēn Qúndǎo
|altname=Kwo Chau Islands
|t2=果洲群島
|s2=果洲群岛
|j2=gwo2 zau1 kwan4 dou2
|p2=Guǒ Zhōu Qúndǎo
}}
[[File:Ninepingroup.png|thumb|Location of the Ninepin Group within Hong Kong]]
[[File:Ninepin Group Aerial (sharper colors).jpg|thumb|Aerial View of North and South Ninepin Island]]
[[File:South Ninepin Island.JPG|thumb|South Ninepin Island. A small [[Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong|Tin Hau temple]] is located at the top of the hill at the centre of the picture.]]
[[File:North Ninepin Island.JPG|thumb|upright|North Ninepin Island]]
The '''Ninepin Group''' ({{zh|t=九針群島}}) or '''Kwo Chau Islands''' ({{zh|t=果洲群島|labels=no}}) is a group of 29 [[island]]s in the easternmost waters of [[Hong Kong]]. The Ninepin Group falls under the jurisdiction of [[Sai Kung District]] of Hong Kong.

==Islands==
The islands of the group include:

* East Ninepin Island (Tung Kwo Chau; 東果洲)
** Lung Shuen Pai ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|龍船排}}) or Fo Siu Pai ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|火燒排}})
** Tuen Chau Chai ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|短洲仔}})
** Tuen Chau Mei ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|短洲尾}})
** Shue Long Chau ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|蕃莨洲}}) or Kong Tau Pai ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|光頭排}})
* North Ninepin Island (Pak Kwo Chau; 北果洲)
** Hok Tsai Pai ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|殼仔排}})
** Ngan Peng Keng
** Ngan Peng Tau
** North Ninepin Island ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|北果洲}}) 
** Sai Chau Mei ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|細洲尾}}) 
** Tuen Keng
* South Ninepin Island (Nam Kwo Chau; 南果洲)
** Tai Chau ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|大洲}}) - where the Kwo Chau Wan ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|果洲灣}}) [[Beaches of Hong Kong|beach]] is located
** Tai Chau Mei ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|大洲尾}})
** Ta Long Pai ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|打浪排}})
** Lai Chi Pai ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|荔枝排}})

== Geography ==
The [[Conservation in Hong Kong|Ninepin Group]] features hexagonal vertical [[rhyolite]] columns, the volcanic rock resulting from a volcanic eruption near [[Sai Kung Town|Sai Kung]] about 140 million years ago. Ninepin Group is extremely eroded due to the heavy tides that wash against the islands every day. It features several sea caves as a result of erosion. For a long time, the Ninepin Group was devoid of human presence. However, there is a [[Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong|temple dedicated to Tin Hau]], located on South Ninepin Island for any fishermen who landed on the island.

==Conservation==
The Ninepin Group Special Area ({{zh|t=果洲群島特別地區|labels=no}}) covers 53.1 hectares and was designated in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_lea/cp_sa.html| publisher=[[Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department]] |title=Country Parks & Special Areas}}</ref> It consists of the islands that make up the Ninepin Group.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr10-11/english/subleg/brief/137_brf.pdf |title=Double Haven and Others (Special Areas) Order 2010 |last= |first= |date=20 October 2010 |website= |publisher=[[Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> The geology of the area is characterised by [[volcanic rock]]s of the [[Cretaceous]] period.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201012/31/P201012310121.htm |title=Five geologically important sites designated as special areas |last= |first= |date=31 December 2010 |website= |publisher=[[Government of Hong Kong]] |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

== Transportation ==

Because no one lives on Ninepin Group, there is no public transportation to the islands. One must rent a boat in order to reach the Ninepin Group.

==See also==
{{portal|Islands}}
* [[Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ninepin Islands|Ninepin Group}}
* [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=hong+kong&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=14&ll=22.263204,114.355145&spn=0.0224,0.067291&t=k&iwloc=A    Satellite view on Google Maps]
{{Sai Kung District}}
{{Islands of Hong Kong}}
{{Conservation designations in Hong Kong}}

{{Coord|22|15|51|N|114|21|29|E|display=title|type:isle}}

[[Category:Uninhabited islands of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Sai Kung District]]
[[Category:Volcanism of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark]]
[[Category:Underwater diving sites in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Rhyolite groups]]


{{SaiKung-geo-stub}}