Why Po Toi
Po Toi is the main landmass of the Po Toi Islands group and represents the southernmost island in Hong Kong, covering an area of 3.69 square kilometers. Administered as a recognized village, the island's name is derived from local dialect origins, referring either to dried seaweed shaped like a monk's sitting cushion or to the island's distant resemblance to a floating sea platform.
Historically, Po Toi supported a population that peaked at around 1,000 inhabitants. These early residents relied on agriculture, fishing, and seaweed harvesting for their livelihoods, residing primarily in the villages of Chang Shek Pai and Shan Liu. In recent decades, the resident population experienced a steep decline as younger generations moved away to urban centers.
As a natural habitat, the island is a prominent birdwatching area where over 350 bird species have been documented, though local environmental degradation around the village area has affected bird numbers. The landscape is widely recognized for its distinctive natural rock formations, including prominent features known as Buddha's Palm Cliff, Tortoise Rock, Monk Rock, and Coffin Rock.
Historical features on Po Toi include ancient rock carvings believed to date from the Bronze Age, between 1500 and 700 BC. Discovered during the 1960s and designated as declared monuments in 1979, these carvings are accessible via a trail running between the primary harbor at Tai Wan and the Nam Kok Tsui Lighthouse. Nearby stands a Tin Hau Temple overlooking Tai Wan bay, which recorded a major renovation in 1893. Visitors also explore Mo's Old House, a ruined 1930s residence in Chang Shek Pai known locally as the Deserted Mansion of Family Mo.
Local cultural life revolves around the Tin Hau Temple. On the 23rd day of the third lunar month, the island hosts the annual Tin Hau Festival, while a Jiao festival takes place every three years between the 15th and 19th days of the first lunar month. These events feature Cantonese Opera staged inside a temporary bamboo and sheet metal venue erected near the temple. Access to Po Toi is available via water taxi or scheduled kai-to ferry routes operated by Tsui Wah Ferry from Stanley and Aberdeen. The island is also featured as the setting for the climax of the novel The Honourable Schoolboy.
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