View source for Tung Ping Chau

{{Short description|Island in Hong Kong}}
{{distinguish|Peng Chau}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Tung Ping Chau
| local_name       = {{lang|zh-HK|東平洲}}
| image_name       = Tung_Ping_Chau_NE_Tip.jpg
| image_size       = 
| image_caption    = Aerial view from Northeastern tip
| map_image        = Tung Ping Chau - Hong Kong.svg
| map_size         = 
| map_caption      = Location of Ping Chau in the Northeast corner of the territory.
| coordinates      = {{coord|22|32|36|N|114|25|50|E|type:Isle|display=inline,title}}
| etymology        = 
| location         = [[Mirs Bay]]
| waterbody        = 
| area_km2         = 1.16
| length_km        = 
| width_km         = 
| coastline_km     = 
| elevation_m      = 48
| highest_mount    = 
| country          = {{HKG}}
| country_admin_divisions_title      = Region
| country_admin_divisions            = [[New Territories]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1    = District
| country_admin_divisions_1          = [[Tai Po District]]
| population       = Uninhabited
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
|order=ts
|showflag=j
|t=東平洲
|s=东平洲
|j=Dung<sup>1</sup> ping<sup>4</sup> zau<sup>1</sup> 
|y=Dūng pìhng jāu
|p=Dōngpíng Zhōu
}}

[[File:Ping Chau2.JPG|thumb|View of the village of Sha Tau, on Ping Chau.]]
[[File:Ping Chau5.JPG|thumb|Ping Chau]]
[[File:Tung Ping Chau 4.jpg|thumb|A [[wave-cut platform]] on Ping Chau.]]
[[File:Tung Ping Chau 6.jpg|thumb|Lung Lok Shui ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|龍落水}})]]
[[File:Ping Chau7.JPG|thumb|Tam Kung Temple in Sha Tau]]
'''Tung Ping Chau''' ({{zh|t=東平洲}}) is an island in [[Hong Kong]], part of [[Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark]]. It is also known as '''Ping Chau''' ({{zh|t=平洲|labels=no}}). ''Tung'' ({{zh|t=東|labels=no}}, meaning ''east'') is prepended to the name at times so as to avoid possible confusion with ''[[Peng Chau]]'', another island in Hong Kong with an identically pronounced name in [[Cantonese]]. Administratively, the island is part of the [[Tai Po District]] in the [[New Territories]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eac.hk/pdf/distco/2019dc/final/dc2019p2.pdf|title=District Council Constituency Boundaries – Tai Po District (Sheet 2)|publisher=[[Electoral Affairs Commission]]|accessdate=2021-09-17}}</ref>

==Geography==
Geographically, Ping Chau is an offshore island located in the northeast corner of Hong Kong in [[Mirs Bay]],<ref name="Marine Park"/> close to the border with [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]] in [[mainland China]]. The island has an area of 1.16&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref>Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department: [https://www.landsd.gov.hk/mapping/en/publications/hk_geographic_data_sheet.pdf Hong Kong geographic data sheet]</ref> and consists of [[shale]] rock. The island is the most easterly point of the Hong Kong territory and is much closer to mainland China (4&nbsp;km) than to the main landmass of Hong Kong. It is close to [[Nan'ao Subdistrict|Nan'ao]] of [[Dapeng Peninsula|Dapeng]].

The island has the shape of a [[kidney bean]] with its concave side facing northeast. Its name "Ping Chau" means "flat island" in Chinese.<ref name="Plover Cove (Ext.)"/> The highest points on the island are {{convert|48|m|ft|abbr=off}} in the south and {{convert|37|m|ft|abbr=off}} in the north. The eastern inner shore of the crescent hugs Ping Chau Hoi ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|平洲海}}) with [[Beaches of Hong Kong|a few beaches]], including Cheung Sha Wan ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|長沙灣}}) in the northeast. In contrast, the western coast of the island is fairly rocky as a result of the greater wave action taking its toll on the inclined [[siltstone]] there.

The island's largest village, Sha Tau ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|沙頭}}), is something of a ghost town, with many cottages boarded up. A large part of the island is [[Conservation in Hong Kong#Country parks|country parkland]],<ref name="showing"/> with footpaths overgrown with orchids, wild mint<!--needs link to one of 'Mentha arvensis' or 'Mentha longifolia' - but which is it?--> and [[morning glory]].<ref name="island_hopping"/>

==History==
Ping Chau has a checkered history. Guns and opium were once smuggled from here, and during the [[Cultural Revolution]] many mainlanders swam in hopes of reaching Ping Chau and the freedom of Hong Kong.<ref name="island_hopping"/><ref>Film Services Office: [http://www.fso-createhk.gov.hk/en/locations_search_details.php?File_No=00089&search_type=3 Tung Ping Chau (Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park)]</ref>

The now virtually deserted island was once home to a thriving fishing and farm community of 3,000 people,<ref name="Out of sight" /> with over 100 fishing [[Junk (ship)|junks]].<ref name="Item 935">[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_III_Items.pdf Brief Information on proposed Grade III Items] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922201512/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_III_Items.pdf |date=22 September 2013 }}. Item #935.</ref> Historical villages of Ping Chau included the five oldest: Chau Mei ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|洲尾}}), Chau Tau ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|洲頭}}), Nai Tau ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|奶頭}}), Sha Tau ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|沙頭}}) and Tai Tong ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|大塘}}), as well as five other smaller family villages, which were subsequently developed: Chan Uk ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|陳屋}}), Lam Uk ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|林屋}}), Lei Uk ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|李屋}}), Tsau Uk ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|鄒屋}}) and Tsoi Uk ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|蔡屋}}).<ref name="item 800">[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_III_Items.pdf Brief Information on proposed Grade III Items] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922201512/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_III_Items.pdf |date=22 September 2013 }}. Item #800.</ref> The village of Chau Mei was settled by fishermen who sold their catch at [[Tai Po Market]] and at Shayuchong ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|沙魚涌}}), a coastal village now part of the [[Longgang District, Shenzhen|Longgang District]] of [[Shenzhen]].<ref name="Item 935" />

During the [[Japanese occupation of Hong Kong]] (1941–1945), Ping Chau was used as a logistics base for the supply of military resources, including petrol, to the [[Second Sino-Japanese War|Chinese army]]. Several allied military leaders were transported to the mainland via the island.<ref name="Item 935" />

In the 1950s, there were about 1,500 people living in the ten villages on the island.<ref name="Out of sight" /> Two primary schools were built: Kwan Ying School ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|群英學校}}) in Tai Tong and Wai Sun School ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|維新學校}}) in Chau Tau.<ref name="item 1022">[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_III_Items.pdf Brief Information on proposed Grade III Items] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922201512/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_III_Items.pdf |date=22 September 2013 }}. Item #1022.</ref> At that time, the economy of the island deteriorated due to the depletion of fishery resources and the termination of trade with the mainland as a consequence of the [[Korean War]] (1950–1953).<ref name="Item 935" /> During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), political turmoil cut off commerce with the mainland and most villagers moved away.<ref name="Out of sight">{{Cite news |date=27 October 2006 |title=Out of sight |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/node/569161}}</ref> By the early 1970s, only a few elderly people remained on the island.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 October 2009 |title=Bygone Day Tung Ping Chau was once the home of a bustling island community |url=http://hk.geocities.com/aspecialgift2001/bygone_day.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027005745/http://hk.geocities.com/aspecialgift2001/bygone_day.htm |archive-date=27 October 2009 }}</ref> In 2004, the last permanent resident moved out of Tung Ping Chau.{{Citation needed|date=September 2014}} Some may return on weekends.<ref name="Out of sight" /> In 2013, the [[Districts of Hong Kong|District Offices]] estimated that Tung Ping Chau had a population of 8.<ref>[[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]]: [https://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201310/30/P201310300274_0274_119557.pdf "Remote villages without treated water supply and their estimated population in 2013"]</ref>

==Villages==
The villages of Ping Chau Chau Mei ({{zh|t=平洲洲尾|labels=no}}), Ping Chau Chau Tau ({{zh|t=平洲洲頭|labels=no}}), Ping Chau Nai Tau ({{zh|t=平洲奶頭|labels=no}}), Ping Chau Sha Tau ({{zh|t=平洲沙頭|labels=no}}) and Ping Chau Tai Tong ({{zh|t=平洲大塘|labels=no}}) are recognized villages under the [[New Territories]] [[Small House Policy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.landsd.gov.hk/doc/en/small-house/rv0909.pdf |title=List of Recognized Villages under the New Territories Small House Policy |last= |first= |date=September 2009 |website= |publisher=[[Lands Department]] |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

==Geology==
Ping Chau is unique in the fact that it is the only sizeable island in Hong Kong made up of sedimentary rock. Hong Kong is mostly formed of extrusive [[igneous rock]]s, after a series of major [[volcano]]es erupted during the [[Jurassic Period]]. Following the volcanic activity, a basin formed in the northeast, with deposition in a brackish lake—producing the [[siltstone]]s and [[chert]] of Tung Ping Chau, which have been dated from the early [[Paleogene]] period. It is also home to some spectacular cliffs and [[wave-cut platform]]s. Landforms such as these are very rarely found in the rest of Hong Kong.

Cham Keng Chau (斬頸洲, "Chop Neck Islet"), in the northwest, is a chunk of land that has broken away from the island;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/travelhaha/5153422594/|title=Corridor of Cham Keng Chau (Chopped Head Island) and Tung Ping Chau 斬頸洲和主島東平洲通道|date=31 October 2010|via=Flickr}}</ref> the Chinese say it represents the head of a dragon.<ref name="island_hopping">{{cite web|url=http://www.fodors.com/world/asia/china/hong-kong/feature_30004.html |title=Hong Kong Island Hopping |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206122550/http://www.fodors.com/world/asia/china/hong-kong/feature_30004.html |archive-date=6 February 2009 }}</ref> Another notable rock formation is Lung Lok Shui (龍落水, "Dragon Descend into Water"), on the southwestern coast, thus named because it resembles the spine of a dragon entering the sea.<ref name="Plover Cove (Ext.)"/> At the island's southeastern end are two large rocks known as the Drum Rocks, or Kang Lau Shek (更樓石, "Watchman's Tower Rocks").<ref name="island_hopping"/> They are {{convert|7|to|8|m|ft|adj=mid|abbr=off}} [[Stack (geology)|sea stacks]] on a wave-cut platform.<ref name="Plover Cove (Ext.)"/> Lan Kwo Shui (難過水, "Difficult-to-cross Waters") features a long vertical cliff located along the southern coast, where several caves were formed there as a result of long term wave actions. Lan Kwo Shui can be reached by foot from Kang Lau Shek, at low tide and in calm sea conditions.<ref name="Marine Park"/>

== Demographics ==
In the 1950s and 1960s, about 2000 were estimated to live on the island. Over the years the number of residents has dwindled to a mostly elderly population of about 50–60 total people.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3043838/villagers-hong-kongs-remote-tung-ping-chau-island-set|title=Villagers on Hong Kong's remote Tung Ping Chau island set to finally get drinking water ... from the sea|work=South China Morning Post|publication-date=5 Jan 2020}}</ref> Many early residents of Ping Chau were from [[Shantou]] (Swatow) and they kept the tradition of worshiping Tam Kung after they settled on the island.<ref>[http://hk-magazine.com/feature/island-time Island Time], ''[[HK Magazine]]'' {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The island even had its own dialect, the Ping Chao dialect. Nowadays no longer spoken by many, you may still hear this dialect in the conversations between the villagers inside the restaurants.

==Tourism==
The island has a temple dedicated to [[Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong|Tin Hau]], built in 1765,<ref name="item 1022"/> and a temple dedicated to [[Tam Kung]]: the Tam Tai Sin Temple ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|譚大仙廟}}), built before 1877.<ref name="item 800"/> Both temples are located in the village of Sha Tau. Several other old buildings can be found on the island. On one side of the island there are steep cliffs, below which is an amazing [[wave-cut platform]], with jagged rocks, set at a 30-degree angle, like a staircase. Here there are many rock pools containing all manner of marine life, such as [[sea urchin]]s and crabs. On the island's coastline at the pier side, there are over 60 different species of [[coral]], and 35 species of [[algae]].

During the weekends, many people visit the island. These include those who have come to dive<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohmycourse.net/news/tungpingchaudiving|title=Tung Ping Chau – Scuba Diver's Paradise in Hong Kong|website=www.ohmycourse.net}}</ref> and those who have come to see the cliffs and wave-cut platforms. Some people also use it as a weekend home. 57,000 people visited Ping Chau in 2005.<ref name="Out of sight"/>

There is a camping site as well as picnic and barbecue sites on the island, managed by the [[Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department]].<ref>[[Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department|AFCD]]: [http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cam/cou_vis_cam_cam/cou_vis_cam_cam_5.html Tung Ping Chau Campsite] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231163440/http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cam/cou_vis_cam_cam/cou_vis_cam_cam_5.html |date=31 December 2015 }}</ref> A few basic restaurants can be found at Tai Tong, a short distance north of Tung Ping Chau Public Pier. Basic dorms are available at Tai Tong Wan ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|大塘灣}}) and A Ma Wan ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|亞媽灣}}).<ref name="saikung.com">{{cite news|last= Griffiths|first= Nigel|date= 21 August 2014|title= Tung Ping Chau|url= http://saikung.com/historic-beauty-shines-through-rocks-of-tung-ping-chau/|newspaper= [[Sai Kung & Clearwater Bay Magazine]]|access-date= 7 September 2014|archive-date= 8 September 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140908065815/http://saikung.com/historic-beauty-shines-through-rocks-of-tung-ping-chau/|url-status= dead}}</ref>

==Conservation==
[[File:Ping Chau1.JPG|thumb|Tung Ping Chau Public Pier viewed from Tai Tong Wan.]]
Three buildings of Ping Chau are listed as [[List of Grade III historic buildings in Hong Kong|Grade III Historic Buildings]]: the Tin Hau Temple, the Tam Tai Sin Temple, both in the village of Sha Tau, and the Old House, built in the 1940s in Chau Mei by Lee 
Mou-you ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|李戊有}}).<ref>[http://www.aab.gov.hk/form/AAB-SM-chi.pdf List of the 1,444 Historic Buildings in Building Assessment (as of 27 December 2013)]</ref>

Ping Chau has been designated as a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest (Hong Kong)|Site of Special Scientific Interest]] since 1979.<ref>[[Environmental Protection Department|EPD]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027031339/http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/eia_planning/sea/annex_b.html Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Hong Kong]</ref>

With the exception of an area of old villages along its east coast,<ref name="showing">[[Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department|AFCD]]: [https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cam/cou_vis_cam_cam/files/m5.pdf Map of Ping Chau showing the area covered by the Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park]</ref><ref name="Out of sight"/> Ping Chau is part of the [[Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park]], designated in 1979.<ref name="Plover Cove (Ext.)">[[Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department|AFCD]]: [https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_pce/cou_vis_cou_pce.html Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park]</ref>

The '''Tung Ping Chau Marine Park''' was designated in 2001 as the fourth [[Marine parks in Hong Kong|Marine Park in Hong Kong]]. It occupies a sea area of about 270 hectares which encloses the island of Ping Chau.<ref name="Marine Park">[[Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department|AFCD]]: [https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_mar/cou_vis_mar_des/cou_vis_mar_des_tun.html Tung Ping Chau Marine Park]</ref>

Ping Chau is one of the eight Geo-Areas of the [[Hong Kong Global Geopark]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_geopark2.html|title=Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark|website=www.geopark.gov.hk}}</ref> which was inaugurated in November 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200911/03/P200911030124.htm|title=Chief Executive opens Hong Kong National Geopark (with photos)|website=www.info.gov.hk}}</ref>

==Transportation==
The island is reachable by ferry from [[Ma Liu Shui]] ferry pier, near the [[Chinese University of Hong Kong]]. The landing point is the Tung Ping Chau Public Pier ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|東平洲公眾碼頭}}), the only public pier on Ping Chau, located near the centre of the island at Wong Ye Kok ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|王爺角}}). Improvement works on the pier were completed in 2007.<ref>Film Services Office: [http://www.fso-createhk.gov.hk/en/locations_search_details.php?File_No=01482&search_type=3 Tung Ping Chau Public Pier]</ref> The ferry service is operated by [[Tsui Wah Ferry]] on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only.<ref>[[Transport Department (Hong Kong)|Transport Department]]: [https://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/ferries/service_details Kaito Ferry Services]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.traway.com.hk/ferryline.html |title=Tsui Wah Ferry Service (H.K.) Ltd. |access-date=8 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907234908/http://www.traway.com.hk/ferryline.html |archive-date=7 September 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The journey takes 1 hour 40 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://traveloncloud9.wordpress.com/2007/11/03/tung-ping-chau-%e6%9d%b1%e5%b9%b3%e6%b4%b2-the-rocky-island-in-hong-kong/|title=Tung Ping Chau (東平洲) – The Rocky Island in Hong Kong|date=3 November 2007}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Islands}}
* [[List of islands and peninsulas of Hong Kong]]
* ''[[Magic Cop]]'', a 1990 Hong Kong film partially set in Ping Chau

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title= Settlement, Life, and Politics – Understanding the Traditional New Territories|last= Hase|first= P. H.|author-link= Patrick Hase|chapter=Chapter 6. Tung Ping Chau: Settlement and Society |year= 2020|publisher= [[City University of Hong Kong Press]]|series= [[Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|Royal Asiatic Society]] Hong Kong studies series|isbn= 9789629374419}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ping Chau}}
*[https://www.hkoutdoors.com/outlying-islands/tung-ping-chau.html Tung Ping Chau, Hong Kong's wild eastern island]
*[http://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_s4f6.htm Youngest sedimentary rock in Hong Kong － Tung Ping Chau]
*[http://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_s2b2a.htm Ping Chau Country Trail]
*[https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=22.542367,114.432220&spn=0.045336,0.078278&t=k&hl=en Satellite image of Ping Chau by Google Maps]
*[https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cam/cou_vis_cam_cam/files/m5.pdf Map of Ping Chau] (.pdf document)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101128141509/http://www.cis.edu.hk/sec/ss/tpc_heritage/physical/Physicalgeo.doc Physical Geography of Ping Chau] (.doc document)
*[http://www.hkwalkers.net/eng/trail/064/info.htm Ping Chau Country Trail]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.trazzler.com/trips/tung-ping-chau-in-hong-kong It's the perfect antidote to the stress of city life.]
* [https://www.had.gov.hk/rre/images/village_map1922/P/p-skn-20.pdf Delineation of area of existing village Ping Chau Chau Mei (Sai Kung North) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)]
* [https://www.had.gov.hk/rre/images/village_map1922/P/p-skn-21.pdf Delineation of area of existing village Ping Chau Chau Tau (Sai Kung North) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)]
* [https://www.had.gov.hk/rre/images/village_map1922/P/p-skn-22.pdf Delineation of area of existing village Ping Chau Nai Tau (Sai Kung North) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)]
* [https://www.had.gov.hk/rre/images/village_map1922/P/p-skn-23.pdf Delineation of area of existing village Ping Chau Sha Tau (Sai Kung North) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)]
* [https://www.had.gov.hk/rre/images/village_map1922/P/p-skn-24.pdf Delineation of area of existing village Ping Chau Tai Tong (Sai Kung North) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)]
{{Tai Po District}}
{{Islands of Hong Kong}}
{{Piers in Hong Kong}}
{{Conservation designations in Hong Kong}}

[[Category:Islands of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Natural history of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Tai Po District]]
[[Category:Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark]]
[[Category:Marine parks of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Underwater diving sites in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Populated places in Hong Kong]]