Duration: Approximately 4 hours
Suggested Route: 11 SKIES > Tung Chung Battery > Ma Wan Chung Village > Aircraft Maintenance Area
Highlights: Recent community revitalisation has given Ma Wan Chung Village new life as a village of mural art. Through these large-scale artworks, visitors can learn about its rich history and culture, and discover the many stories of this fishing village. Step inside this evolving community, explore its unique charm and pose for some memorable photos with the family.
If you are looking for an easy day trip surrounded by art and culture, consider heading to the North Lantau area. Along the way, you will find countless photo opportunities that are unique to Lantau Island, showcasing both new and traditional elements. Start your journey by visiting 11 SKIES, an architectural marvel inspired by aviation. Then venture into Ma Wan Chung Village for a glimpse of the artistic and cultural charm of this community. Before heading home, you might also want to visit the Aircraft Maintenance Area, loved by families and aviation enthusiasts for the stunning imagery of aircraft taking off and landing during sunset. This itinerary allows you to see North Lantau through an artistic lens as you learn the stories, history, and development of Lantau Island. Here, the new effortlessly blends with the old, offering a multi-faceted and enriching experience.
11 SKIES – A New Landmark in SKYCITY
11 SKIES is an iconic landmark situated in SKYCITY. Its architectural design is inspired by aviation elements, beginning with the eye-catching purple façade adorned with geometric patterns that form the paper airplane motif. Its design thoughtfully extends inward to the retail complex. At the Ocean Atrium on the first floor, you’ll find a stunning glass canopy reaching up to the ceiling, with lines seamlessly integrated with the paper airplane motif.
Tips: 11 SKIES is situated in SKYCITY of the Hong Kong International Airport. The SKYCITY Transport Terminal, located on its ground floor, covers a number of bus routes that conveniently connect Hong Kong’s downtown area with the airport and AsiaWorld-Expo.
Tung Chung Battery – Off We Go!
Captured your beautiful shots of 11 SKIES? Head outside 11 SKIES and catch bus S1. Hop off at the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal, then take a 10-minute walk towards Tung Chung Battery. Once you reach an expansive lawn, you’ll find Tung Chung Battery right in front of you.
While the artillery cannons are no longer there, you can still step onto the stone wall—the remains of this historic battery—for a memorable shot while you take in the beautiful view of Tung Chung and the horizon beyond.
Tung Chung Battery was declared a monument in 1983. Historically, it was constructed to overlook the water, but today all that remains is an L-shaped granite wall.
Enter the Old-Meets-New Ma Wan Chung Village
Walk down the slope and in just a few minutes you’ll find the Ma Wan Chung Pier, also known as Tung Chung Public Pier. From here, you will start to feel the artistic ambiance that oozes from the village. The first thing you’ll notice is a 3D painting that depicts the catches of local fishery products. You’ll also come across many decorative pendants hanging from building to building, adding a unique artistic touch to Ma Wan Chung Village.
On the other end are Scenic Hill and Chek Lap Kok South Road. On a clear day, you may even spot the line of cable cars from here.
If this is your first time visiting Ma Wan Chung Village, you’ll definitely be captivated by the old-meets-new tapestry of the community. For starters, there are many stilt houses along the coast, and several traditional-style seafood restaurants near the pier. Further out, you’ll see some traditional fishing boats, large and small, docked at sea. Towering high-rise buildings stand behind these, creating a stark visual contrast that marks the changes over the decades.
Ma Wan Chung Village, also known as “Little Tai O”, is one of the few remaining fishing villages in Tung Chung. Its landscape is a charming blend of new and old, with buildings of all sizes, making your visit all the more memorable.
Storytelling Through the Power of Art
Walk in the direction of Wah Tao Restaurant and you’ll come to the road that leads to Ma Wan Chung Village. On your right is a bright red pavilion that proudly displays “Ma Wan Chung Station” on a metal sheet. In the future, Tung Chung West Station will be extended to the area of Ma Wan Chung Village and become the new terminus of the MTR Tung Chung Line. And this 3D painting on the pavilion? It’s an interesting imitation of the future MTR station.
The unique “Ma Wan Chung Station” creates the perfect backdrop for a family photo.
Follow the path and cross a small wooden bridge, and you will officially arrive at Ma Wan Chung Village. It’s said that this tiny hidden fishing village has been inhabited for thousands of years! The village’s fishing industry flourished in the 1970s and 1980s, supplying literally tons of seafood to the nearby restaurants every day. Today, a small number of fishermen from the village still brave the sea daily and sell their catches to nearby restaurants, drawing in tourists and residents for a taste of local seafood.
Fung Kin-fai is an indigenous inhabitant of Ma Wan Chung Village and he currently serves as the village representative. He has witnessed the development of the village over the years: “The recent community revialisation of Ma Wan Chung Village has welcomingly introduced vibrant touches like the many murals and colourful lanterns.” In his eyes, the lively ambiance of Ma Wan Chung Village reflects the unique charm of this small fishing village.
Mr. Fung, who grew up in the village, believes that the murals in the village show the historical development of Ma Wan Chung Village. Take the mural at The Federation of Vegetable Marketing Cooperative Societies, which is not far from the village entrance. It shows the scene of vegetable cooperatives and farmers collecting vegetables in the past. Mr Fung recalled that Ma Wan Chung Village was always buzzing in the morning. “Back in the day Tung Chung’s transportation was limited to just motorised ferries, Ma Wan Chung Village was the only market in Tung Chung, so a lot of crops would be brought here and then distributed to Cheung Sha Wan Market by different co-ops.”
Today, Ma Wan Chung Village is gradually transforming into an art-activated community, popular among visitors who love a good Instagrammable moment or two. Mr. Fung points out that the mural artworks were in fact created by Yuen Wing-keung, an artist born and raised in Ma Wan Chung Village. Mr. Yuen returned to the village many years ago, with the hope of contributing to the development of Ma Wan Chung Village. He began by painting the life and stories found in the village, and eventually filled the village with mural art creations. It’s said that Mr. Yuen has skilfully depicted the past, present and future of Tung Chung in the murals, and hopes that people can fully appreciate the minute details in the paintings for a better understanding of the development of Ma Wan Chung Village.
Mural art has injected vitality into Ma Wan Chung Village. The community is once again thriving with visitors and those on guided tours.
More Than Just Art: Bask in the Picturesque Scenery
Although Ma Wan Chung Village is a small community, with just one main street that traverses the entire village, this short journey beautifully encapsulates the unique, artistic allure that continues to captivate visitors.
After exiting the village, walk for about 7 minutes to the North Lantau Hospital Bus Stop and take bus S52 to the Aircraft Maintenance Area. It’s approximately a 23-minute journey. If you arrive just before sunset, then you’re in for a real treat.
From the bus stop, walk in the opposite direction for about 15 minutes to the end of the road to arrive at one of the most popular photo ops.
The beauty of the Aircraft Maintenance Area lies in its openness and unobstructed views, perfect for capturing aircrafts crossing the sky. In addition to photography, it is also an ideal hangout spot for dog walking, cycling, and a relaxing picnic.
Stand next to the stone embankment, and time your shot so that the whole family, the beautiful scenery, and, most importantly, the plane, are all perfectly in frame.
Tips: This is also a famous spot to watch the sunset. To capture the magic hour, be sure to check the sunset time in advance and prepare for the magical but elusive moment.
Look up and you’ll be mesmerised by the aircrafts majestically gliding through the sky.
This half-day Lantau art tour begins with the unique architectural design of 11 SKIES, then proceeds to Ma Wan Chung Village where we explore the fishing village enchanted by mural art. At the final stop, we head to the famous Aircraft Maintenance Area for a picturesque end. Hopefully, you’ll return home with tons of great family photos and a better understanding of the old-meets-new Ma Wan Chung Village and the development of SKYCITY.
How to get to Ma Wan Chung Village
1.
From 11 SKIES, hop on bus S1 and alight at Tung Chung station, or take bus S56 and alight at Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal. From there, you’re just 12 minutes and 20 minutes from Ma Wan Chung Village on foot, respectively; or
2.
From MTR Tung Chung Station, take the Lantau Bus route 38 and alight at Yat Tung Estate, then it is just 6 minutes to Ma Wan Chung Village on foot; or
3.
From MTR Tung Chung Station, take a breezy walk for about 18 minutes to Ma Wan Chung Village.
