Cheung Chau, up close

Cheung Chau is small enough to walk end to end in under an hour, and its dumbbell shape — two headlands joined by a narrow, densely built middle — packs a working fishing harbour, a beach, and a maze of car-free lanes into a very compact space.

The Bun Festival

Cheung Chau's best-known event, held annually and built around towering scaffolds covered in buns, a bun-scrambling competition, and a parade featuring children dressed as historical and mythological figures, appearing to float above the crowd on hidden supports.

Getting around

No cars are allowed on the island — bicycles and small utility vehicles are the only wheeled transport, giving it a noticeably slower pace than almost anywhere else in Hong Kong.

Beaches and the Mini Great Wall

Tung Wan Beach sits a short walk from the ferry pier, while a coastal path on the island's southern headland, nicknamed the "Mini Great Wall" for its winding stone walkway, gives a good short walk with sea views.