Duration: Approximately 4.5 hours
Suggested Route: Tai O Bus Terminus＞Shaolin Wushu Culture Centre＞Fu Shan Viewing Point＞Kat Hing Street＞Tai O Bus Terminus
Highlights: At the Shaolin Wushu Culture Centre nestled in Tai O, you and your family will become martial arts students, learning the basic techniques and culture while exercising both body and mind.

Tai O, affectionately known as the “Venice of Hong Kong”, offers more than the charm of a fishing village. It is also full of unique experiences that are worth exploring. For example, you can learn the basic Shaolin martial arts skills and train at the Shaolin Wushu Culture Centre, or hike up to the Fu Shan Viewing Point for a moment of tranquillity and enjoy the stunning scenery. Additionally, explore Kat Hing Street to sample Tai O's authentic flavours and bring home some local specialties.

Practicing Shaolin Techniques to Promote Virtues of Martial Arts
From the Tai O Bus Terminus, walk along Shek Tsai Po Street for roughly 15 minutes and you'll arrive at the Hong Kong Shaolin Wushu Culture Centre. This is an official branch of the original Shaolin Temple built in Songshan Mountain, Henan Province, China that dates back over 1,500 years ago to the

Northern Wei Dynasty. The skills you'll learn in its classes have been passed down through generations from the original Songshan Shaolin Temple, with the simple purpose of "promoting Shaolin martial arts culture and strengthening the body and mind." It also integrates Zen philosophy to promote "Zen and martial arts" in its core training, perfect for fans of martial arts who wish to learn authentic Shaolin techniques and train both body and mind.

The plaque at the centre’s main entrance is clearly marked with the Chinese characters of "Shaolin".

Master Martial Arts and Energise Your Body
The Shaolin Wushu Culture Centre houses a wide range of facilities, including an outdoor training area that can accommodate over 100 people, an indoor training ground, and camp facilities. During the class, you will learn the basic Shaolin footwork, and kicking and grappling techniques. There are a lot of variations to Shaolin punches and footwork, and they require strength and good body coordination. Through repeated practice, you will enhance the flexibility of your waist, legs, and arms, while also building muscle. Your instructor will also correct your postures so that afterward, you can combine your punches, kicks, hand movements, and footwork to test your Shaolin martial arts skills and work towards becoming a true Shaolin kung fu master!

Under the guidance of the instructor, children can quickly learn the techniques, making it a truly rare experience outside the classroom.

Strengthening the Body and Mind
The virtue of martial arts is another "basic skill" of Shaolin martial arts, and it must be strictly followed by all practitioners. This includes respecting your teachers and honouring the principle. For example, before practising martial arts, students must perform a "hold fist" salute to show their respect for the master; they must also exchange pleasantries before a sparring session. Additionally, there are strict rules against using concealed weapons or making any sneak attacks. All these elements create an esteemed atmosphere during practice, greatly benefiting one's ethics and moral standards.

In addition to developing a personal code of ethics, martial arts also trains one’s concentration. You may notice that the instructor often makes specific sounds while practising martial arts. These shouts are not chants, but they are parts of the moves. They also help adjust the breathing and sharpen the focus as you complete the entire sequence of moves.

In martial arts, it is important to develop both stability and fluidity of movements.

Tips: You are advised to wear loose-fitting but not bulky clothing to ensure freedom of movement during your practice.

Hike Up Fu Shan to Spot the Chinese White Dolphins
After the class, you will definitely feel fully energised. Maximise this energy and walk up to the Fu Shan Viewing Point, where you'll get an unobstructed view of Hong Kong International Airport and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. To get to the Fu Shan Viewing Point, simply follow the signage in front of the Centre and walk along the Tai O Country Trail for about 15 minutes.

Fu Shan is located in the west of Tai O and is lined with red fences that create the "Mini Great Wall." You can catch the perfect sunset view from here!

Return to the Taste of Tai O
After hiking up for the spellbinding views, it is time to reward yourself with some Tai O delicacies including Chinese sugar egg puffs, charcoal-grilled egg waffles, Cheung Choi Kee's famous shrimp paste and pork roll, and grilled squid. Follow the signage on your descent and walk for about 18 minutes to get to Kat Hing Street via the Tin Hau Temple on Kat Hing Back Street, where you can sample all sorts of Tai O flavours and traditional fishing village cuisine.

Kat Hing Street is the main street of Tai O lined by traditional village houses. On the street level, you will find many stores selling authentic Tai O delicacies and produce.

When it comes to food, Tai O is most famous for its salted fish, shrimp paste, fish maw, and dried shrimp. Walk down Kat Hing Street and you will be enveloped in a symphony of subtly savoury scents.

Most of the Tai O street food you'll gobble up here is freshly made.

Bring Home a Slice of Tai O’s Flavours
While in Tai O, many visitors pick up shrimp paste and shrimp sauce as souvenirs. These products are not only authentically Tai O, but their production techniques have also been recognised as intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong.

Cheung Choi Kee has been in operation in Tai O for over 60 years. Its current owner, Mr. Cheung Chi-ming, says that his ancestors were all fishermen, and when recent generations moved ashore, the family pivoted and started producing shrimp paste and shrimp sauce on land. He explains, "The brackish water of Tai O gives our seafood just that extra sweetness."

The mangrove in Tai O used to be salt fields where seawater was channelled in and dried to produce sea salt. Fishermen would catch tiny silver shrimps nearby, cure them in salt, sun-dry and eventually process them to make shrimp paste and shrimp sauce. The entire process, from catching the shrimp to grinding and blending them, and finally drying them in bamboo baskets, takes about two to three months. In addition to these traditional foods, many shops now offer products with a modern twist, such as shrimp paste sauce and plaice powder. Local residents hope that more visitors will incorporate Tai O flavors into their cooking, helping to promote their unique food culture.

Before leaving Tai O, why not pick up a few Tai O specialities on Kat Hing Street as souvenirs?

This Tai O Shaolin martial arts experience offers visitors a glimpse into the philosophy of Shaolin while training their body and mind. As city dwellers, we rarely have these learning opportunities, so practice what you have learned to strengthen your body and boost your health.

 

How to get to Tai O:
1.
From Tung Chung Station Bus Terminus, take bus 11 and alight at the Tai O Bus Terminus; or
2.
From Tuen Mun Ferry Pier, take the ferry that goes directly to Tai O