Tai O, Hong Kong
The fishing village of tai O is located on the northwestern coast of Lantau Island, the largest island in Hong Kong which is also home to one of the busiest airports in the world. The village is a stark contrast to the modern architecture of the airport and the city metropolis normally associated with Hong Kong.
Tai O is home to the Tanka, or boat people, a nomadic southern Chinese ethnic group, who traditionally lived on junks. Their houses are built on stilts above the tidal flats. These structures are interconnected, forming a tightly-knit community that lives on the water. The stilt houses, or ‘pang uks’ were once common across Hong Kong – Tai O is the last remaining community of any scale. Although Tai O’s fishing industry has shrunk considerably in recent years, fish is still a central part of village life, and one can catch a waft of the shrimp paste (a speciality of the village) and salted fish and
“Their Houses Are
scallops can be seen drying on verandas.
Built on Stilts
The village is unique in a city like Hong Kong and when observing village life,
Above the Tidal
one feels a sense of stepping back in
Flats. These
time. Getting there can be a bit of a trek,
Structures Are
but well worth it – not only is the village a glimpse of Hong Kong’s past but the
Interconnected, Forming a Tightly-
journey there also offers a different view
Knit Community
of Hong Kong that will surprise many who only know the skyscrapers and modern
That Lives on
metropolis.
