A breathtaking panorama unfolds before you. This is Kiu Tsui Viewing Point. From here you can see Sharp Island in all its glory. It’s one of eight islands making up Kiu Tsui Country Park. Did you know this park opened in 1979? It’s surprisingly small only 1 square kilometer. Yet it holds a wealth of history.
Imagine the bustling North Sea Fishing Village. This once popular seafood restaurant and resort thrived in the 1980s. It offered amusement rides and go-karts. People remember it fondly. Sadly it closed in 1989 due to financial difficulties. Billionaire Francis Choi later renovated the area. However some structures had to be demolished. They were built on public land.
Kiu Tsui Country Park isn’t just beautiful. It is also geologically significant. The islands formed some 140 million years ago. They are part of an ancient supervolcano. This submerged supervolcano was only discovered in 2012. Isn’t that fascinating? The islands are rich in igneous rocks. These include tuff volcanic breccia rhyolite and quartz monzonite. Look closely. You might even spot the pineapple bun rocks. These are heavily weathered quartz monzonite boulders. Their surface cracks resemble the local delicacy.
Sharp Island boasts two stunning beaches. There’s Kiu Tsui Beach and Half Moon Bay. Both have excellent facilities. Changing rooms showers barbeque pits and refreshment kiosks are all available. You can also hike across the tombolo connecting Sharp Island to Kiu Tau. However you can only do this at low tide. The tombolo is 200 meters long. It emerges from the water only when the tide is below 1.4 meters.
The islands are home to diverse wildlife. Look for white-bellied sea eagles and striated herons. Many other bird species live in the woods. The waters teem with marine life too. About 50 species of hard corals thrive here. These support around 170 species of fish. However this fragile ecosystem faces threats. Unregulated diving and rising temperatures cause coral bleaching.
The Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival celebrated this area’s natural and cultural heritage. This three-year festival began in 2022. It showcased artwork and offered activities like guided walks. This festival highlights the importance of preserving Kiu Tsui Country Park. It is a place of both stunning beauty and rich history. It’s a place to be cherished and protected for generations to come. Enjoy your visit to this remarkable viewpoint.