Only accessible on foot, Fan Lau (Divided Flow), a small peninsula on the southwestern tip of Lantau, has a couple of good beaches and the remains of Fan Lau Fort, built in 1729 to protect the channel between Lantau and the Pearl River estuary from pirates. It remained in operation until the end of the 19th century and was restored in 1985. The sea views from here are sterling.

To the southeast of the fort is an ancient stone circle. The origins and age of the circle are uncertain, but it probably dates from the neolithic or early Bronze Age and may have been used in rituals.

To get here from Tai O, walk south from the bus station for 250m and pick up section 7 of the coastal Lantau Trail, a distance of about 8km. The trail then carries on to the northeast towards Shek Pik for another 12km, where you can catch bus 1 back to Mui Wo.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Tai O Tin Hau Temple

3.5 MILES

The main gods here are Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea, and notably, Madam Kam Fa, the Goddess of Fertility and protector of infants and pregnant women. Every…

2. Tai O

3.56 MILES

On weekends, droves of visitors trek to the far-flung west coast of Lantau to see a fascinating way of life. Here in Tai O, historical home to the Tanka…

3. Tai O Hung Shing Temple

3.74 MILES

Located away from the main street, in a windy spot in Sha Lo Wan Village, this temple has an air of modest quietude. It was built in the 18th century to…

4. Tai O Kwan Tai Temple

3.77 MILES

Tai O's oldest temple, raised in the 15th century (Ming dynasty), is dedicated to Kwan Tai, a deified general known as the God of War. It was renovated in…

5. Stilt Houses

3.91 MILES

Tai O's remaining stilt houses stand over the waterway, scrunched up against each other for support. Some have ladders descending to boats, the vehicle of…

6. Yin Hing Monastery

4.03 MILES

There are good views of the mountains from this small Buddhist monastery, hidden away inside the South Lantau Country Park.

7. Tai O Yeung Hau Temple

4.14 MILES

Yeung Hau, Tai O's patron deity and the resident god here is believed to be the maternal uncle of the last Song emperor. Marquis Yeung is said to have…

8. Shui Hau Beach

4.33 MILES

Lantau's largest stretch of mudflat, Shui Hau Beach, is lovely, with rippled black sand mirroring the sky and mangroves teeming with crustaceans and clams…