Tap Mun
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Coordinates: 22°28′35″N 114°21′45″E / 22.47639°N 114.3625°E
Tap Mun (Chinese: 塔門) or Grass Island is an island in Hong Kong, located in the northeastern part of the territory between Mirs Bay and the North Channel. Its area is 1.69km². Administratively, it is part of the Tai Po District. It lies north of the Sai Kung East Country Park on the Sai Kung Peninsula. To the east is Kung Chau, to the south is the South Channel, to the west is Wan Tsai and to the southwest is Long Harbour.
The Environmental Protection Department has an Air Pollution Index monitoring station on the island.
There are about 100 people living on the island.
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[edit] Demographics
At its peak, Tap Mun had 2,000 residents. However, many moved to the city centre to live. Now many residents run stores or restaurants for local tourists to the island.
The villagers are mostly farmers, merchants or fishermen. The last category has recently diminished as many youths from fishing families have chosen to work in the city instead. Due to the population outflow, the last school on the island has closed down.
[edit] Attractions
There is one seafood restaurant and a number of small tea restaurants on the Tap Mun island, many of which are well known for 'ice-less' ice-cold milk tea and boiled squid dishes.
Some fishermen of Tap Mun make a living by selling their sun-dried catch. Sun-dried fish and shrimp are popular amongst local tourists.
[edit] Camping
The hilltop of Tap Mun is a popular camping site, renowned for the contrast in temperature and wind conditions between day and night. Temperatures drop and winds soar during the nighttime but die down as the day approaches, when the dawn marks the beginning of a temperature rise. It is also well-known for providing panoramic views of the surrounding seas, and so provides a brief escape away from the busy city life.
The very gentle slopes of the hilltops are a favourite amongst campers, although there is the danger of the bordering cliffs. Adventurous campers enjoy precarious hikes along the dirt paths very close the cliff edges.
However, hygiene-conscious campers tend to stay away from Tap Mun as the island is home to cattle, resulting in hilltops dotted with many piles of faeces.
[edit] Guan Yin temple
The island has a temple dedicated to Guan Yin. On festival days (such as Guan Yin's birthday), many fishermen will arrive at Tap Mun to pray for peace and calm.
[edit] Tin Hau temples
There are 2 temple dedicated to Tin Hau (one was graded as Grade I historic building; the other was graded as a Grade III historic building).
[edit] Other attractions
- Tap Mun Cave (塔門洞)
- Layered Rock
- Ngau See Dong, the grave site of a resident buffalo. The skeletal remains of the decomposed buffalo was a spooky sight as it was situated right next to a frequently walked stone path. Although now removed by local officials, the site can still be identified as an unnatural depression into the border of surrounding shrubs.
[edit] Transportation
Tap Mun is served by Tsui Wah Ferry Service. The ferry/kai-to services are available from:
- Wong Shek Pier in Sai Kung; about once every two hours, with higher frequency on holidays
- Ma Liu Shui Pier near Chinese University in Tai Po; about once every two hours, with higher frequency on holidays[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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