Mui Wo

Mui Wo

Mui Wo (English: Mui Wo), formerly known as Mui Wai or Mui Wo (in Cantonese, “wo” and “wo” are pronounced the same), is located in the southeastern part of Lantau Island in the Islands District of the New Territories, Hong Kong. With its beautiful environment, Mui Wo is a great destination for outings and holidays in Hong Kong. Before the completion of the Lantau Link and the MTR Tung Chung Line, Mui Wo was, apart from Discovery Bay, the only route for Lantau residents to travel to and from Hong Kong Island. In the past, visitors from Hong Kong’s urban areas to the Po Lin Monastery would typically first arrive at the Outlying Islands Ferry Pier, take a ferry to Mui Wo, and then transfer to a bus to reach the temple.

Near the Mui Wo Ferry Pier and around Heung Sze Wui Road, there are shops that rent out bicycles. The cycling paths in Mui Wo are extensive, mostly flat trails, and the village signposts are also very clear — you might want to try a bicycle tour here. Walking along Heung Sze Wui Road in Mui Wo, you’ll find a network of crisscrossing paths and lush green scenery. This is Mui Wo’s countryside, where villages such as Luk Tei Tong, Tai Tei Tong, Wang Tong, and Pak Ngan Heung are located. Newly built village houses are interspersed with old ancestral homes, creating a beautiful scene together with the farmland. In the distance, the tallest buildings are the public housing complex “Ngan Wan Estate” in Mui Wo. This is a village-style development, and its low-density living environment is something you won’t find in the city.

As early as the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty, farmers had already settled in the Mui Wo Valley. By the 19th century, it had developed into six villages. Mui Wo once had a silver mine, which is why it is also called “Silver Mine Bay.” Many villagers used to make a living from mining, which lasted for decades, and the mine tunnels can still be clearly seen today. Several watchtowers in the village were built by the villagers at the time to defend against pirate attacks and monitor the coming and going of ships in the bay, leaving behind countless traces of travelers wandering through. By the 1930s, Mui Wo gradually became a paradise for surfers, and hotels and small markets were built along the bay. On weekends, it was bustling with visitors.

Transportation Guide

Location: 14 Tung Wan Tau Road, Mui Wo, Lantau Island, Islands District, Hong Kong

Getting There: Take a ferry from the Hong Kong Island Outlying Islands Ferry Pier. The fast ferry takes about half an hour, while the slow ferry takes about one hour. After arriving at the pier, it’s a 10-minute walk.