Cheung Chau typhoon shelter Pictures

The Cheung Chau harbour is actually the typhoon shelter. With large stone breakwaters across the bay it is possible for boats to anchor here safely in the worst weather. This has increased the number of boats mooring in the harbour as the boat insurance in Hong Kong requires them to be in a typhoon shelter during such a storm.

With small sampan darting between the fishing trawlers, private cabin cruisers and other vessels it is always a busy place. A wide corridor from the piers to the sea is kept open for the ferries, but to the north and south of that the boats are packed together closely, often roped to each other.

The harbour is very photogenic and keen photographers spend plenty of time walking along the waterfront finding the perfect angle to capture authentic fishing village atmosphere of Cheung Chau. While only a few families still live entirely on their boats there is still lots of domestic activities on-board, with laundry hanging from lines, kids and dogs play on-deck and of course buckets and tubs full of fish everywhere.