Tai O

Tai O is a small fishing village on Lantau Island, the same as Big Buddha (see another post). There isn't much recorded history here, but Tai O is rumored to have been the base for piracy and smuggling. This is a river delta with many branching waterways in which to hide. There are verified encounters here between navies and pirates. Do it seems likely to me. Possibly related to this history and maybe even attesting to it's history of smuggling, Tai O became one of the main points of illegal entry to HK from the mainland after the communist government took over after the civil war.
The 1st picture looks into the Tai O harbor from a ferry arriving from Tung Chung. The 2nd picture is along the quay at the port. The 3rd picture is a short chain stayed bridge over one of the channels through the village that replaced a small cable driven ferry.
The next 2 pictures are of a couple streets in the market area of town. Tourism has become a significant part of the local economy.
Tai O is also known for its stilt houses shown in the 6th picture. Pang uk, as they are known, were once common in fishing villages around HK islands, but these in Tai O are the only significant group of stilt houses that remain.
The 7th picture is one of several temples in Tai O, this one dedicated to Kwan Tai. It is the oldest temple here, dating to the 16th century.
The last picture looks from behind some stilt houses across the harbor at low tide. The main village is in the background.Read more