Nestled away in a sunny bay, just a short boat ride from the bustling port community of Sai Kung, lies the serene and scenic isle of Yim Tin Tsai. Secluded though it be, this verdant island has a history of nearly 300 years, and is unique for being one of the few Hakka villages to integrate local beliefs and traditions with European Catholicism. In 1875, the village was inhabited exclusively by members of the Chan clan, who were one and all baptized at St. Joseph’s Chapel, which can still be seen standing proudly overlooking the village and bay today – in fact, the chapel is so well preserved that it was awarded the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award of Merit in 2005 and listed as a Grade II Historic Building in Hong Kong in 2011. Beyond the church, Yim Tin Tsai also has several exhibits which explore Hakka culture, as well as criss-crossing trails that pass through the island’s beautiful and flourishing natural ecosystem of mangroves and camphor trees. Visitors may also enjoy touring the island’s salt pans, historically the most important productive industry in the village. Stroll across Yim Tin Tsai, escape from the tumultuous commotion of the city, as if across time and space, into a garden of plants – from East and West – that have grown to become entwined together.
The Salt and Light Preservation Centre provides regular ferry services and ticketing for heritage attractions on the island. Please refer to the Centre's website for more info.
Note: The ferry ticket (organized by Salt and Light Preservation) includes entry and conservation support for the saltpan and the Heritage Exhibition Centre. For those visitors who visit the island by themselves and who want to visit the saltpan and the Heritage Exhibition Centre, they should donate the maintenance fee for each visited location.
Notes: Information provided by The Salt and Light Preservation Centre.