Top Five Things To Do in Yau Tong
Yau Tong sits on the south eastern end of Kowloon, to the west of Tseung Kwan O. Traditionally an industrial area with a stone quarry, Yau Tong is now famous for its neighbouring fishing village and its old Hong Kong vibe. Hikers will also enjoy this district for Devil's Peak, a 222-metre-tall peak that used to be garrisoned by the British Army—as well as pirates, some will tell you—as Lei Yue Mun is an important nautical passage in South China. Four sections of military structures still remain and make for good places of interest along hikes. A section of the Wilson Trail also begins in Yau Tong, near Devil's Peak.
Enjoy some seafood at Lei Yue Mun
The fishing village of Lei Yue Mun is a must visit for fans of seafood. Take your pick from the fresh offerings in the market (don't forget to haggle fiercely!), then bring it to one of the nearby restaurants to be prepared any way you request. If you have enough quantity, you can even request for a type of seafood to be split in two batches and cooked different ways. Interestingly, some tanks outside these restaurants also sell exotic fish for home aquariums so alongside the lobsters and groupers, you might also spot some pufferfish or even a small shark or two. The waterfront at Lei Yue Mun is also a great place to look across the harbour for views of Hong Kong Island. During low tide, walk out to the small rock island where the Lei Yue Mun Lighthouse is situated for some beautiful views of the sparkling sea.
Explore Sam Ka Tsuen
A much more scenic way to get to Lei Yue Mun is via ferry. Hop on at Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier, and an old-school ferry will take you to Sam Ka Tsuen, a precinct dominated by seafood restaurants next to its more famous neighbour, Lei Yue Mun. If you're feeling adventurous and wish to walk off the seafood feast, visit the stone quarry at the end of Sam Ka Tsuen, abandoned since the stone carving industry died after the 80s. Go past the village, the concrete waterfront and the Tin Hau Temple (where you can get some good photos of Sam Ka Tsuen and the opposite harbour) to get to the quarry where you might find locals fishing off of the old stone structures over weekends.
Do a spot of shopping at Domain
Tired of walking around Hong Kong's malls and feeling like you might well be in London's Westfield with the sheer number of foreigners and tourists around? Go instead to Domain Shopping Mall, a four-storey destination serving the Yau Tong area that's nice to walk around, with a good range of popular local shops and restaurants, and often has live music on. If the free live entertainment still doesn't pique your interest, perhaps the fact that there aren't hoards of mainland tourists running around the place with suitcases will.
Walk around a gem of a market
Town markets are definitely places which are exceedingly Hong Kong, where signage are all in Chinese, the people are unapologetic about not speaking a word of English, and near everything is permeated with that distinctive Chinese market smell of fresh meats, earthy produce and sizzling cooking—“real Hong Kong” if you will. The best way to experience Yau Tong Market is to simply try bits of everything that catches your fancy as you stroll among the stalls. Prices are not inflated at all as they cater to locals so food is cheap and hearty; keep an eye open for bargains as well.
Get initiated with the local indie music scene
Hidden Agenda, the live house venue that has long faced shutdown issues, has been rebranded This Town Needs and set up shop in Yau Tong. Hailed as champions of the Hong Kong underground music scene, TTN now hosts live gigs of all genres, and sometimes even farmers' markets. It also collaborates with local craft breweries to supply its bevvy of fans with exclusive beers for refreshers. Sons of an Illustrious Father, actor Ezra Miller's musical outlet, will be playing at TTN on April 23, so keep an eye out!