Everyone knows Lamma and Cheung Chau. Far fewer make the short hop to Peng Chau — and that is exactly its charm. This tiny, car-free island off the coast of Lantau is one of the best day trips from Hong Kong: a slow, low-rise huddle of village lanes, old temples, a hilltop viewpoint and a scruffy art-filled factory ruin, all walkable in an afternoon. Here is how to do Peng Chau in a day, from the ferry to the best things to see.
In This Guide
How do you get to Peng Chau?
Ferries to Peng Chau leave from Central Pier 6, run by Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry. There are two types: the ordinary ferry (about 40 minutes) and the faster boat (about 30 minutes). Sailings run from roughly 5:30am to 10:45pm, so it is easy to go for a few hours or stay past dinner.
Fares are cheap: tap in with your Octopus card, or drop the exact change, as you leave the boat. The fast ferry and weekend sailings cost a little more; check HKKF for the current timetable and fare before you set off. Peng Chau is car-free, so everything below is on foot.
The best things to do on Peng Chau
1. Finger Hill (手指山)
Start here while your legs are fresh. A stepped path climbs to a small pavilion at the summit, where the whole island spreads out below you and the view stretches across the water to Lantau and the city skyline. It is short but genuinely steep — take water on a hot day.
2. The Family Walk & Peng Yu Path
The easiest way to see the whole island. The looping Family Walk and scenic Peng Yu Path link the beaches, coastline and countryside, passing the Lung Mo Temple and the wave-carved Old Fisherman's Rock. It is flat enough for young children and grandparents alike.
3. Tung Wan Beach (東灣)
Small, unfussy and rarely crowded, Tung Wan is the spot for a cooling swim with a view straight across the water to Hong Kong Island. It will not win beauty contests against Cheung Chau's beaches, but you will often have plenty of room to yourself.
4. The old leather factory (art ruin)
Peng Chau was once a little industrial hub, making leather, lime and matches. The most atmospheric relic is a former leather factory, now colonised by plants and covered in colourful murals — a photogenic slice of urban decay that tells the story of the island's working past.
Where can you eat on Peng Chau?
Be realistic: Peng Chau does not have the wall-to-wall seafood restaurants of Lamma or Cheung Chau. What it does have is a handful of easygoing cafes, cha chaan teng and dai pai dong clustered around the ferry pier and along Wing On Street.
Grab a cold drink and a bowl of noodles, a local tofu pudding or an ice-cream, and eat it looking out at the boats. It is the kind of place where the pace is the point — so slow down and enjoy it.
Plan your Peng Chau day trip
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Ferry from | Central Pier 6 (HKKF) |
| Journey | ~30 min (fast) / ~40 min (ordinary) |
| First & last | Roughly 5:30am–10:45pm; check HKKF |
| Pay | Octopus or exact cash, as you leave the boat |
| Bring | Water, sun cover, swimmers, cash for small shops |
| Time needed | Half a day is plenty; a full day is relaxed |
*Ferry times and fares are set by HKKF and change; confirmed as indicative, July 2026. Always check the current timetable before travelling.
Peng Chau is one of a whole string of easy escapes on Hong Kong's doorstep. Compare it with our guides to Cheung Chau and Lamma Island, plan a bigger island-hop with the best islands in Hong Kong, or lace up for the best hikes in Hong Kong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Catch the ferry
Pack water and swimmers, and jump on a boat from Central Pier 6. Peng Chau is the quiet island escape that proves the best day trips are hiding in plain sight.