交椅洲孖洞

What secrets does Kau Yi Chau conceal beneath its rugged exterior? Here we stand before the Kau Yi Chau Cave, a natural wonder carved into the island’s rocky terrain. Kau Yi Chau, also known as Tai Kau Yi Chau, sits uninhabited in the sea between Hong Kong Island and Lantau Island. Its peculiar shape, resembling a traditional Chinese Kau Yi (stirrup), gives the island its name. Kau Yi Chau Cave, an entrance to deeper mysteries, adds to the island’s allure. While no one permanently calls Kau Yi Chau home, it’s not entirely devoid of human presence. Nearby, Lighthouse 81 stands sentinel on a reef, guiding ships through the waters. High on the island, a remote radar station, installed by the Marine Department, silently monitors maritime traffic. It’s also a central reference station for a Differential Global Positioning System. And for those needing to reach the island quickly, a public heliport perches atop its heights. Kau Yi Chau has witnessed its share of dramatic events. In 1971, during Typhoon Rose, the USNS Regulus met its end in the waters off Kau Yi Chau. Salvage attempts proved futile, and the ship was eventually abandoned and scrapped. More recently, in 2018, Typhoon Mangkhut brought another vessel ashore. This time, it was the PLA vessel Nan Jiao 86. The ship, damaged and adrift, ran aground on the eastern rocks of Kau Yi Chau. Thankfully, the crew was safely evacuated. While authorities attributed the grounding to a \”sheltering operation,\” the incident remains shrouded in a bit of mystery. Kau Yi Chau also holds a unique place in Hong Kong’s development plans. In 2005, a proposal emerged to reclaim land around Kau Yi Chau and its smaller neighbor, Siu Kau Yi Chau. The plan aimed to create a new port and logistics hub, potentially serving as a station for the proposed Route 10 tunnel linking Hong Kong Island and Disneyland. However, fierce opposition from environmental groups forced the government to shelve the project, preserving Kau Yi Chau’s natural state. So, as you gaze at the Kau Yi Chau Cave, remember the stories it silently holds. Stories of shipwrecks and typhoons, of ambitious development plans and environmental victories. These echoes of the past blend with the island’s natural beauty, creating a truly unique experience.