Enchanting Frontier Tour

There is an area near the boundary with the Mainland that many people have never been to.

It is part of the last remaining major settlement in the Frontier Closed Area of Hong Kong, Sha Tau Kok.

Sha Tau Kok town was designated as part of the frontier closed area in the 1960s. Since then, the place has been only accessible to individuals with closed area permits. Visitors can only make an application for the permits with an endorsement by a local resident.

Beginning in June 2022, the Sha Tau Kok Pier opened to the public on a trial basis for six months to tie in with the direction of the Northern Metroplis Development Strategy and at the same time to promote tourism development and the local culture of Sha Tau Kok and the North East New Territories. People can join local tours on Saturday, Sunday or public holidays to see for themselves the history and culture of Sha Tau Kok.

Hong Kong’s longest pier

The pier is 280m in length and it is the longest in Hong Kong.

It extends from the shallow waters to the deeper part of the sea, so that vessels can berth without any trouble. Visitors can also find some Instagram-worthy murals nearby and can also collect memorial stamps at the pier.

Standing at the water’s edge, one can view the nearby city of Shenzhen and the blue barrels that separate the Mainland from Hong Kong.

People will also see a sign stating the longitude and latitude of the cape of Sha Tau Kok, a 1:1 replica of a boundary monument, which happens to be the most suitable spot to take a group photo.

Cultural attractions

An outdoor bazaar is also located in the area, allowing people to buy souvenirs such as Hakka food cooked by firewood and postcards.

Apart from the Sha Tau Kok Pier, tours also visit nearby attractions.  

Lai Chi Wo Village was established more than 300 years ago and is one of Hong Kong’s oldest and best-preserved Hakka settlements.

Rocks to admire

Additionally, visitors can also explore Ap Chau, a tiny island that has some of the most unique and distinguished sets of rocks in all of Hong Kong.

A school principal who joined the tour said students learn about local history and culture not only from the classroom and through textbooks but also by talking to people living in Sha Tau Kok or Lai Chi Wo.

He feels the tour is an excellent way for them to know more about Hakka culture and Sha Tau Kok’s history.