"Tai O oozes with Rustic Charm" Top 5 Page for this destination Tai O by bpacker

Tai O Travel Guide: 33 reviews and 55 photos

In between helping my friend plan for a glitzy wedding in Hong Kong, my friends and I had little pockets of time for a breather. Well, one day, we decided to make our breather a little greener than usual and set out to the rural outpost of Tai O. While it's been dubbed the Venice of Hong Kong by hopeful tourist literature, it's certainly no more than a motley of slum-like houses built on top of wooden stilts. In place of gondolas are rickety wooden fishing boats, tanned descendants from China in place of singing boatsmen and glorious seafood restaurants instead of gelato stands. There's nothing remotely Venetian about this place except for the briny waterways and the raised houses. Still, Tai O has its charms.

Set against an impressive green backdrop of mountains, Tai O floats above the brown briny waters on stilts and is connected to the world via by a short bridge. Cross the bridge and you'll meander through narrow walkways where children play on tricycles, elders walk slowly on canes and locals hang out the day's catch to dry.

Little Egret, Tai O

Ever frequently, you'll see boats chugging out to the sea, fishermen hoping to catch a boatload of fish and birds descending down on Tai O, doing the same. Little egrets are common visitors here, they stand by the mudbanks, greeting the local tourist on boat rides and catching small meals of fish at the same time.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Oozing with Rustic Charm
Cons:Not as Venetian as Literature Makes it up to Be

Last visit to Tai O: Jul 2006
Intro Updated Oct 19, 2006
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Reviews (24)

Step by Step to Eating the Best Seafood... Restaurants (10)

Now if you're a true foodie in Hong Kong, you'll know that that the best seafood to be had over here is in Tai O.... more travel advice

Step One:Buying the Fish Restaurants (10)

Now if you're a true foodie in Hong Kong, you'll know that that the best seafood to be had over here is in Tai O not in... more travel advice

Clams Restaurants (10)

more travel advice

Mantis Prawn Restaurants (10)

more travel advice

Things to Do (9)
See All Small Sea channel
Off The Beaten Path (3)
See All The Flying Shark in Tai O

Transportation (2)
See All From HK to Tai O
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Comments (7)

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katalin Nov 25, 2010 at 4:36 AM

beautiful pictures, lots of info!
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calcaf38 Aug 30, 2009 at 1:35 PM

I loved this page. Thank you for being such an entertaining reporter.
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THLIN Jul 4, 2008 at 7:52 AM

Maybe I should have spent more time discovering the tranquille side of HKG, instead of touristic sopts!!!
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Jim_Eliason Jun 26, 2008 at 9:10 PM

Great tips Glen! I hope your enjoying your new home as much as I am mine! How's life old friend? Any travel plans?
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nomorewars Mar 22, 2007 at 10:36 PM

I love the way you captured the common worker doing his thing. The day to day activities of the people is something I rather enjoy experiencing when traveling abroad.
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Nemorino Dec 31, 2006 at 1:17 AM

Happy birthday, Glen, and all best wishes for 2007.
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robertgaz Nov 26, 2006 at 11:10 PM

Flying flensed shark fins G... what a dastardly decoction!