At the end of the line: Hong Kong villages

In this series of photo essays, CNNGo village-hops along the East Rail line to explore Hong Kong's more fascinating escapes. First stop: Tai Mei Tuk

By Christopher DeWolf 7 October, 2009

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The relaxed village of Tai Mei Tuk is a less-crowded alternative to Sai Kung and Cheung Chau.

Located on Tolo Harbour at the edge of Plover Cove Country Park, Tai Mei Tuk feels wild, not manic.

When a paved bicycle path linking Tai Mei Tuk to Plover Cove Country Park opened in the 1980s, the quiet hillside village became a hub for recreational cycling. There's now an entire street lined with bike rental shops.

Weekends draw crowds of happy cyclers, some who prove that cycling doesn't have to be exercise.

The village is filled with restaurants with large outdoor terraces, including several popular Thai places and the Italian-inspired Luca.

A colorful corner of Tai Mei Tuk.

The rough, rocky beach is sadly, too polluted for swimming.

But the beach is safe for wading at low tide. Visitors collect oysters, clams and starfish that sometimes turn up in abundance.

Sunset bike trips show off Tai Mei Tuk's scenic side. Ride along the water toward the Bradbury Jockey Club Youth Hostel, then up a small hill to the left of the hostel.

For a great view, follow the aforementioned path for about 100 meters to the Plover Cove Dam, which separates Tolo Harbour from the freshwater Plover Cove Reservoir. Take a break on top of the dam. On one side of the harbor, glittering headlights stream down the Tolo Highway. On the other, nothing but an expanse of placid water and dark hills silhouetted against the evening sky.

Everything is silent but for the sloshing of the sea against the dam wall. Take a deep breath: you've escaped the city while remaining in plain sight of it.

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Though it's sometimes easy to forget, there is more to Hong Kong than struggling to get a seat on the MTR and staring into our neighbor's kitchen when we finally make it home.

Located along the East Rail line, which stretches from Tsim Sha Tsui to the Shenzhen border, Hong Kong's centuries-old villages inspire us to explore beyond our comfort zone.

This week's stop: Tai Mei Tuk, a less-crowded alternative to Sai Kung and Cheung Chau.