Introduction: The other side of the folding city
If you want to describe Hong Kong with a color, the first reaction of most people is “gray” in Central or “neon” in Mong Kok. The city is folded so deeply that it is often overlooked that beyond the gaps in the reinforced concrete, there is a vast expanse of azure.
As a long-term travel recorder in the Greater Bay Area, my fascination with Hong Kong began with an accidental “going to sea”. As the yacht leaves the bustling Victoria Harbour and sails east into Sai Kung waters, you will find a sudden change in style. There is no signal, no traffic, only hexagonal rock pillars left after the eruption of a supervolcano 140 million years ago, and glass water that is almost transparent. This is an in-depth voyage memoir about Hong Kong’s “wild ocean”, written for travelers who long to be away from the crowds and find solitude at sea.
Chapter 1: Sai Kung, Hong Kong’s Back Garden and Starting Point
Sai Kung is the spiritual totem of Hong Kong’s maritime culture. On weekends, Sai Kung Public Pier is filled with a variety of boats – from hundreds of millions of dollars to traditional Chinese wooden boats (Junk Boats) full of traces of time.
For novices, choosing a route is the first threshold. Hong Kong’s waters can be broadly divided into “inner bay” and “open sea”. the inner bay is like the Cow Tail Sea, with calm winds and waves, suitable for water sports; The open sea, such as the Weng Tong Islands and the Kwo Chau Islands, face the wind and waves of the Pacific Ocean, where Hong Kong’s most magnificent geological wonders are hidden.
My most recent voyage was aimed at “Liangchuan Bay” and “Pobian Chau”. This route is known as the “Geopark Line”. When the ship sailed past the east dam of the Wanyi Reservoir and went out to sea, the sight in front of them was enough to take people’s breath away. The huge hexagonal volcanic rock columns (Hexagonal Volcanic Rock Columns) are like natural organs, neatly arranged along the coastline, reaching tens of meters high. These rocks were formed in the Cretaceous period and have been weathered and eroded by sea for hundreds of millions of years, presenting a desolate and magnificent beauty.
In this position, the captain usually slows down the boat. If you’re renting a speedboat with a shallow draft, you can even try to get up close and personal with the “sea caves”. The feeling of insignificance under the oppression of boulders can never be experienced on land.
Chapter 2: Thinking about the technical flow of “ship selection”
To travel to these remote outer islands, the choice of boat is crucial. It’s not just about comfort, it’s about safety and efficiency.
In the past, we used to find a boatman at the pier to ask for a price, but the long-distance route to the geopark was too random. The old boats are slow and can take 4-5 hours to go back and forth, leaving little time to play in the water. Moreover, the stability of the ship is also a factor in the wind and waves in the open sea.
When planning such deep routes, I tend to do a little homework first. Nowadays, there are some integrated platforms on the market, such as Holimood or other yacht charter networks, and I sometimes use their filter functions, not to place an order immediately, but to check the specific parameters of the boat。 For example, I pay special attention to the “cruising speed” and “number of passengers carryed” of the ship. When I go to Po Bian Chau, I usually lock in Western-style yachts with a speed of more than 20 knots, which can shorten the journey in half. After confirming the approximate ship type and average market price, you can communicate with the boatman or book directly online, which will be much more efficient. After all, accurate equipment is the prerequisite for a perfect adventure.
Chapter 3: Afternoon on glass water and uninhabited beach
Arrive at your destination – usually Half Moon Bay or further afield to Tai Long Wan. The sand here is white and fine, and the sea water is rich in layers of Tiffany blue.
Anchor and turn off. The world instantly fell silent, leaving only the sound of waves crashing against the hull.
At this time, it is the best time to go into the water. Unlike the crowded beaches in the city, here you can enjoy a piece of the sea all to yourself. Put on your snorkeling mask and jump into the water, and you’ll be amazed by the ecological diversity of Hong Kong’s seabed. Although it is not as good as the coral reefs of Southeast Asia, under the refraction of sunlight, schools of small fish shuttle between the rock crevices, still full of life.
If you prefer a more dynamic way to play, many yachts are now equipped with upright boards (SUPs) or transparent canoes. Paddle a dinghy and slowly approach the reef area on the shore to explore those hidden corners that are inaccessible to large boats. I even found wild sea urchins and barnacles attached to the reef by the rocks once, and the joy of discovery was pure and primitive.
Chapter 4: The sea dining table, a feast for the taste buds
At sea, time passes quickly and physical exertion is great, so “eating” is particularly important.
Traditional boatman lunches are mostly in the form of “catering”. More than ten years ago, we mostly ate pineapple sausages, fried noodles and curry fish balls. It has a lot of flavor, but eating too much always makes it feel monotonous.
Today’s yacht dining culture has evolved a lot. Many veteran players will choose the “Thai Seafood” theme. Fresh prawns, hot and sour tom yum soup, charcoal-grilled pork neck, these heavy dishes are particularly appetizing in the salty sea breeze.
If you’re looking for the ultimate in comfort, try BBQ on board. However, this requires booking a boat with a professional barbecue. As the sun sets, the crew helps light a charcoal fire, the sizzling aroma of steak fills the deck, and a chilled bottle of Craft Beer in hand, watching the fishing fire gradually light up in the distance, which is perhaps the most fascinating moment of sailing life.
By the way, if you’re an event organizer and have a headache about budgeting for catering, you can usually see “all-inclusive package” prices on websites like Holimood . Referring to the per capita pricing of these packages will be very helpful in planning your overall budget and avoid the embarrassment of buying too much and wasting or buying less than enough.
Conclusion: The last glimpse before returning to land
When the ship sets sail back, it is often dusk. The sea surface of Saigon is dyed golden red. Ships shuttled between the dotted islands, and the East Dam of Wanyi Reservoir in the distance gradually drifted away.
It was a brief escape. During the 8-hour voyage, we severed our connection to the city, banishing ourselves into the endless waves of geological wonders and endless waves for eons. This kind of “loneliness at sea” is an expensive and precious luxury in Hong Kong, which has a very high population density.
When the ship docks, the mobile phone signal is restored, and various message prompts sound again, you will feel as if you are in another world. But you know, that blue secret realm is always there, waiting for your next sail.
