Island Getaway, Life is better at the beach - Lamma Island

Hong Kong is home to more than seven million people. It is renowned for its frenzied pace of life and perennial hustle-bustle. However, there are areas of the city where the tempo is more laid back and restful. The best real estate agents in Hong Kong To can find these serene spots you need to travel away from the crowd and head out to the inhabited outlying islands.

Two hundred and sixty-three outlying islands are included within the boundaries of Hong Kong. While most of these islands are rural and sparsely populated, some of the larger ones like Lantau and Lamma are home to vibrant residential properties.

Bright and lush Lamma Island or Pok Liu Chau in Chinese is known as the third-largest of Hong Kong’s island cluster. Archaeological findings indicate that Island has been inhabited since the Middle Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

Today, the island is home to a lively multi-national population. The main residential communities are concentrated around the villages of Yung Shue Wan (Banyan Tree Bay) on the northern end of the island and Sok Kwu Wan (Rainbow Bay) on its eastern half. There are other smaller sparsely populated villages such as Mo Tat, Yung Shue Ha, Tung O, and more. Lamma Island is a superb real estate investment because it’s easily accessible via a quick twenty-five-minute fast ferry ride from the piers of Central or Aberdeen.

Lamma Island 101

The island is a vehicle-free zone and is thus devoid of any auto or noise pollution. All commutes are on foot or by bicycle and this adds to the charm of living on the island. This feature accounts for the concentration of inhabitation around the villages of Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan as ferries, private yachts, and even Kaito boats from Hong Kong Island dock at these points.

Stunning Beaches

Lamma Island includes several pristine beaches, secluded coves, and bays. Hung Shing Yeh Beach located in the shadow of the Lamma Power Station is the island’s largest beach and is a favorite with day-trippers. The beach has a variety of features ranging from changing rooms, volleyball nets, a restaurant, and refreshment kiosks all the way to shark nets.

Sham Wan is a beautiful sandy bay located on the south side of Lamma Island. This secluded beach is off-limits to the public from June 1st to October 31st, it serves as the nesting place for the endangered Green Sea turtles. The site is one of the few remaining in Southern China and is under the conservative umbrella of the AFCD.

Hiking Trails

Lamma Island, like much of Hong Kong, offers opportunities for hiking. The most popular trail on the island is the Family Trail. A 3 km walk that links the villages, Yung Shue Wan and Sok Ku Wan. Most hikers kick off the hike at Yung Shue Wan Main Street as they disembark from the ferry from Central. The path leads hikers through the village of Long Tsai Tsuen as it continues past the Lamma Police Post to arrive at Hung Shing Yeh Beach.

The trail then approaches an old-world Chinese Pavilion offering panoramic views of the lush island scenery, including its highest point Mount Stenhouse and the islands of Cheng Chau and Lantau.

After soaking in the views, hikers carry on walking to arrive at Lamma’s pretty Lo So Sing Beach. They then walk on to take in some of the island’s famous sites like the Kamikaze Cave, a relic from the Second World War, and a beautifully restored Tin Hau Temple which stands at the entrance of the village of Sok Ku Wan. Once they arrive at Sok Ku Wan, the hungry hikers indulge in a scrumptious seafood meal at one of the many restaurants that line the village’s famous seafood street.

Everyday Life

According to recent estimates, Lamma Island is not only popular for day trips but also as a year-round home to approximately seven thousand people. Bars, cafes, and restaurants such as Lala Mama, BookWorm Café, Green Cottage, the Banyan Bay Café, and Lung Kong populate the main street at Yung Shue Wan while a plethora of seafood eateries dominate the culinary landscape at Sok Ku Kwan. Lamma Island proves to be a great investment in the search for residential properties.

Stores such as Herboland (a store and a café selling nature-based herbal remedies), Brothers Store, Just Green (organic grocery) are some of the popular shopping haunts on the island. Residents usually supplement the island’s offerings with purchases from the mainland. The island offers an assortment of goods that add to the unique allure of the place.

Medical and School Facilities

Medical and school facilities are rather limited on Lamma Island though there is a government-run outpatient clinic on Main Street. Patients are transported to hospitals on Hong Kong Island in the case of medical emergencies.

The only school on the island is the Chinese instruction North Lamma School.

Life on Lamma Island may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, if you wish to escape the city life and raise a family in a clean, green environment where children and pets have a chance to run around then Lamma Island may be an ideal choice for you. Take a look into homes for sale on the island.

Engel and Volkers currently have stunning stand-alone family homes for sale on the island. Do get in touch with our sales and leasing advisor Heather Clarke for more information and further details. Engel and Volkers Hong Kong have recently completed a transaction in Lamma Island. 

Heather is available by email at Heather.Clarke@engelvoelkers.com  or on +852 25613616.