Discover the greener side of Hong Kong: 5 unique things to do in Lai Chi Wo

There’s more to Hong Kong than humongous theme parks, plush hotels, modern shopping malls, mouthwatering dim sum, and beautiful harbor. Discover the greener side of Hong Kong and experience the enchanting Hakka village of Lai Chi Wo. Find out how the place promotes sustainability amid the dense mangrove forest and large fung shui woods, and explore the things to do in Lai Chi Wo.

What makes Lai Chi Wo a charming village

Surrounded by well-preserved fung shui woods and verdant mangrove forest, Lai Chi Wo exudes a tranquil ambiance.

Located near the northeast coast of Hong Kong’s New Territories, Lai Chi Wo is probably the most untouched traditional Hakka village in Hong Kong, according to Hong Kong Tourism Board. Indeed, there’s nothing like seeing 210 three-centuries-old houses auspiciously arranged in rows, making Hakka Village one of Hong Kong’s oldest, largest and best-preserved rural settlements.

The village also won UNESCO’s 2020 Special Recognition for Sustainable Development award for promoting cultural heritage conservation.

And because of its biologically diverse freshwater wetlands and well-preserved cultural heritage, Lai Chi Wo is also part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark.

The once-abandoned farming village—which was once home to more than a thousand residents but deserted by many locals in the early 1960s because of decreasing agricultural activities—was revitalized. The farmers have returned to the village, and the hillside areas are now teeming with organic rice, coffee, vegetables and herbs.

So, the next time you plan a trip to Hong Kong, allocate a day to visit this captivating Hakka village.

Here are our top picks for the unique places to see and best things to do in Lai Chi Wo.

1. Experience living in harmony with nature amid fung shui woods.

Lai Chi Wo is flanked by a densely forested area called fung shui woods. According to Hong Kong Tourism Board, the villagers planted the trees under the “feng shui philosophy of living in harmony with nature, in the hope it would bring them good luck and greater wealth.”

Home to over 100 native plant species, you will see a lot of amazing, towering trees in Lai Chi Wo. Some of the unique ancient trees you will notice are the century-old Hollow Tree (or Sweet Gum) with many holes in the center of its trunk, the giant Five-Finger Camphor, and the Stangler Fig.

2. Walk along the white-flowered Derris Boardwalk.

Take a walk along Derris Boardwalk, enjoy the relaxing views and soothing sounds of nature, and take selfies with stunning scenery as your backdrop.

Walk into the woods near the mangroves forest and large, python-like vines crisscrossing on the ground—some of them hanging from the tress and forming arches—will greet you. These climbing shrubs are called white-flowered Derris. With stems measuring up to 30 centimeters in diameter, it has taken hundreds of years for them to grow to this size. Isn’t that amazing?  

Interestingly, Lai Chi Wo is also home to about 112 freshwater insect species. The area is also an important habitat for many different birds, butterflies, dragonflies and reptiles. Among the precious species sighted in the area are the rare White Dragontail butterfly and the endangered Yellow-Breasted Bunting songbird.

3. Explore the Agriculture Rehabilitation Area

Stroll along the stream leading out of the village until you reach the freshwater wetland area, one of the largest and most biologically diverse areas in Hong Kong.

The Agriculture Rehabilitation Area is home to all eight mangrove species native to Hong Kong. This includes the Coastal Heritiera (Heritiera littoralis) mangroves, with some of them growing to 15 meters tall and 30 centimeters in diameter.

The wetland areas are also home to beds of seagrass species, which are important food and shelter habitats for young coastal creatures.

4. Visit the Lai Chi Wo Cultural Hub

As the village experiences a new sense of vitality, it has become a model of Hong Kong’s eco-agriculture and rural revitalization.

Lai Chi Wo Cultural Hub proudly houses the records of achievements of its residents and volunteer conservationists. On exhibit are farming tools, old rock specimens, household items and traditional Hakka attire, offering visitors a better understanding of Lai Chi Wo’s rich ecology and history.

5. Try soil painting.

Another unique thing to do in Lai Chi Wo is to try your hand at soil painting and discover the artist in you.

Using soil to make art showcases the village’s soil diversity. Explore soil painting and, besides embracing the local art, you will also experience a closer relationship with soil, making you realize that besides the usual brown hue, soil has indeed a lot of colors.

For more information about Lai Chi Wo, visit Hong Kong Tourism Board’s website.

All images: credit to Hong Kong Tourism Board

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