Hong Kong Campsites

Island Escape: A Complete Guide to Camping on Tung Lung Chau

Discovery 7 min read

Ancient rock carvings, dramatic cliff faces, and a peaceful island atmosphere—Tung Lung Chau offers one of Hong Kong's most unique camping experiences.

A Different Kind of Hong Kong

It is difficult to believe, standing on the ferry deck as Tung Lung Chau comes into view, that you are less than an hour from one of the world's most densely populated cities. The island's combination of ancient history, dramatic cliff-top scenery, and almost complete absence of modern infrastructure makes it feel genuinely remote—an impression that is only strengthened as the ferry pulls away and you watch the urban skyline recede into the haze.

Tung Lung Chau Campsite sits in the Tung Lung Fort Special Area, a protected zone on this small island off the southeastern tip of the Clearwater Bay Peninsula. Camping here is unlike anywhere else in Hong Kong.

About the Island

Tung Lung Chau (東龍洲), sometimes transliterated as Tung Lung Island or East Dragon Island, covers just over 2 square kilometres. The island is home to:

  • A small fishing village at the northern ferry pier, with a handful of weekend seafood restaurants
  • The ruins of Tung Lung Fort (東龍炮台), a Qing Dynasty coastal defence fort built in the late 17th century to guard the eastern approaches to Victoria Harbour
  • One of East Asia's largest Bronze Age rock carvings, estimated to be 3,000 years old
  • Dramatic sea cliffs on the southern and eastern coasts, dropping vertically into the South China Sea
  • Seasonal wildflowers, including cheerful yellow cosmos flowers that bloom across the hillsides in autumn

Despite its modest size, Tung Lung Chau packs in an extraordinary amount of history, geology, and natural beauty. It is a favourite with experienced Hong Kong hikers and is increasingly popular with campers seeking something beyond the standard Sai Kung beach experience.

Getting There: The Ferry

The ferry to Tung Lung Chau departs from Sam Ka Tsuen Pier (三家村碼頭), also known as Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier, located near Sai Wan Ho MTR Station on Hong Kong Island.

Getting to Sam Ka Tsuen Pier

  1. Take the MTR to Sai Wan Ho Station (Island Line)
  2. Take Exit A, and walk approximately 5–10 minutes to the ferry pier at Sam Ka Tsuen
  3. Alternatively, take Bus 14C from Shau Kei Wan to Sam Ka Tsuen

Ferry Schedule

Important: The ferry to Tung Lung Chau operates on weekends and public holidays only. There is generally no weekday service.

  • Ferries are operated by Hong Kong Kowloon Ferry (HKKF) or local operators—check the current schedule at the pier or via the AFCD website as timetables change seasonally
  • The crossing takes approximately 30–40 minutes
  • Buy your ticket at the pier; payment is in cash
  • Check the return ferry schedule before you board—the last ferry back can be early afternoon, and missing it means an unplanned extra night on the island

During the Week

If you wish to camp mid-week, be aware that returning to the mainland may require arranging a private boat or waiting until the next weekend service. This makes mid-week camping on Tung Lung Chau a more adventurous (and logistically demanding) proposition.

The Ancient Rock Carvings

The most remarkable feature of Tung Lung Chau—and the reason it appears in archaeological textbooks and heritage lists—is the Bronze Age rock carving on the northeastern shore.

Estimated to date from approximately 1,200 BCE, this is one of the largest prehistoric rock carvings in East Asia. The carving depicts an intricate, swirling pattern of geometric shapes and stylised animals (possibly a dragon), incised deeply into a large flat rock face above the shoreline. The scale is impressive—the carving measures several metres across—and the craftsmanship, achieved without metal tools, is extraordinary.

How to reach the carvings:

  • From the northern ferry pier, follow the well-marked path along the northeastern coastline
  • The walk takes approximately 15–20 minutes on a mostly flat path
  • Look for the AFCD information board and the protective fencing around the site

Important: The rock carving is a Grade I listed historic monument. Do not touch the surface, do not climb on the rock, and do not attempt to take rubbings. The oils from human hands accelerate deterioration of the carving.

Tung Lung Fort

A short walk from the campsite, Tung Lung Fort (東龍炮台) is one of Hong Kong's most evocative historic ruins. Built by the Qing Dynasty government in the late 17th century, the fort was designed to guard the eastern sea approaches against piracy and foreign naval incursions.

Today, the walls and gun emplacements are partially intact, with several cannon mounts still visible. The fort sits on a bluff with commanding views over the East Lamma Channel—exactly the views that made it strategically important three centuries ago. The AFCD has installed informational plaques describing the fort's history and construction.

A visit to the fort takes approximately 30–45 minutes and should be a priority for any camper on the island.

The Campsite

The Tung Lung Chau Campsite is small and relatively basic by Hong Kong standards, but that simplicity is part of its charm.

Facilities:

  • Tap water supply
  • Basic toilet facilities
  • Limited flat tent space—this is not a large site, and it fills quickly on weekends
  • Proximity to Tung Lung Fort and the rock carving trail

Site character: The campsite has a peaceful, end-of-the-world atmosphere. Once the day-trippers leave on the last afternoon ferry, the island becomes genuinely quiet. The only sounds are the sea, the wind, and occasionally the distant call of seabirds. On clear nights, the absence of nearby light pollution and the low horizon over the sea make for excellent stargazing.

Cliff-Side Hiking

Tung Lung Chau's greatest physical feature is its southern sea cliffs—sheer drops of 50–100 metres directly into the South China Sea. A walking path along the cliff-top offers spectacular and vertiginous views, particularly in the late afternoon when the light catches the spray and the distant islands glow in the haze.

Cliff path highlights:

  • Views of Po Toi Island (the southernmost island of Hong Kong) to the west
  • The dramatic Devil's Fist rock formation on the cliff face
  • The old lighthouse on the southern tip (note: the lighthouse building itself is not accessible, but the path near it offers the finest viewpoint on the island)

Safety note: The cliff-top paths are unfenced in places. Do not approach the cliff edge, especially in windy conditions or after rain when the rock can be extremely slippery. Keep children and dogs under close control.

Practical Tips

Bring Everything You Need

This is the single most important rule for Tung Lung Chau camping: there are no shops on the island. The ferry pier area has a small seafood restaurant that opens on weekends, but they may not sell supplies. Bring:

  • All food and water for your entire stay (minimum 2 litres per person per day, plus cooking water)
  • Charcoal and firelighters for the BBQ pits
  • Full first aid kit
  • Cash only (no ATMs or card payment on the island)
  • A torch/headlamp with spare batteries

Pack Out All Rubbish

There is limited waste collection infrastructure on the island. Every piece of rubbish you bring, you take home. Use zip-lock bags and a large rubbish sack, and leave the campsite cleaner than you found it.

Check the Ferry Schedule

Before departure from the mainland, screenshot or write down:

  • The return ferry time(s)
  • Any weather-related suspension announcements (rough seas can cancel ferries)
  • The pier location on Sam Ka Tsuen

Tung Lung Chau has no mobile reception dead spots per se, but if your phone battery dies, you will be glad to have the ferry times written down.

Best Time to Visit

  • October to March: Cooler, lower humidity, clearer skies for stargazing and photography—ideal conditions
  • Spring (March–April): Wildflowers are at their peak across the hillsides
  • Avoid summer (June–September): High heat, humidity, typhoon risk, and the ferry service may be suspended during adverse weather

What to Wear

  • Sturdy hiking shoes (the cliff paths are uneven)
  • Sun hat and sun protection
  • Light rain jacket (conditions can change quickly over the channel)

Why Tung Lung Chau is Worth the Effort

For experienced campers who have already worked through the classic Sai Kung beach sites, Tung Lung Chau offers something genuinely different: a piece of Hong Kong's deep history, extraordinary geology, dramatic coastal scenery, and an authentic sense of island isolation. Watching the sun set over the South China Sea from the cliff path, with the fort ruins behind you and your tent pitched nearby, is one of the most memorable outdoor experiences Hong Kong has to offer.