Getting to Cheung Chau from the other outlying islands

In short: Cheung Chau is not only a ferry ride from Central. A Sun Ferry inter-island route also links it with Peng Chau, Mui Wo on Lantau and the Chi Ma Wan peninsula, and a local kaito - a small motorised sampan - still runs from the Cheung Chau public pier to Sai Wan on the western shore, the short way to reach Cheung Po Tsai Cave without a long walk.

This page covers the one part of "getting there" the rest of the site leaves open: arriving from Lantau or Peng Chau instead of from Hong Kong Island, the piers to board at, the crossing times, the fare, and the little Sai Wan boat. If you are starting from the city, those ferries have their own pages - see how to get to Cheung Chau and the complete Central Pier ferry guide.

The inter-island route at a glance

The service that ties the outlying islands together is the route the Transport Department lists as "Peng Chau - Mui Wo - Chi Ma Wan - Cheung Chau", run by Sun Ferry Services Company Limited. The route links the four piers in a loop, so you can move between the islands instead of returning to Central between them.

The four piers on the route are:

The crossings are short enough for a day trip. From the Transport Department's route details:

Sailings run through the day, but not every sailing calls at every pier. Two sailings a day omit the Chi Ma Wan stop - one early-morning sailing from Mui Wo and one late-evening sailing from Cheung Chau. If Chi Ma Wan itself is your destination, check the operator's timetable rather than assuming the next boat will stop there. Exact clock times are not printed here because they change: take them from Sun Ferry's timetable or the Transport Department's ferry service details.

Fares on the inter-island route

Fares were adjusted on 1 April 2026. The Transport Department publishes a single-journey fare for the route:

So an adult pays the Transport Department's single-journey figure of HK$16.3 for the route. That is the government-published single-journey fare, effective 1 April 2026; the operator's own timetable lists the fare it charges for each section, which can differ, so confirm the fare for your particular hop on Sun Ferry's page, which is the final word on the day.

Island-hopping combos

Because the inter-island ferry calls at Mui Wo and Peng Chau, you can build a two-island day without going back through Central.

Cheung Chau + the Big Buddha, via Mui Wo. Take the inter-island ferry from Cheung Chau to Mui Wo (about 31-35 minutes), then continue by local bus from the Mui Wo ferry pier up to Ngong Ping - the village below the Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. That gives you a Cheung Chau seafood lunch and the Big Buddha in the afternoon, or the reverse. Check the current bus route and times with the bus operator at the pier before you set out, and check the time of the last ferry back to Cheung Chau.

Cheung Chau + Peng Chau. The same ferry reaches quiet Peng Chau in about 49-55 minutes from Cheung Chau. Peng Chau is smaller and slower than Cheung Chau and makes an easy add-on. If you are still weighing up the islands, our Cheung Chau, Lamma and Lantau comparison sets out the differences.

Chi Ma Wan. Chi Ma Wan is the peninsula on Lantau that the route calls at, so you can reach it by ferry rather than by road. Bicycles are carried on the inter-island route for HK$17.9 each, so cyclists can use its pier as a starting point for a ride on Lantau.

The local kaito to Sai Wan

One more boat matters on Cheung Chau itself. A kaito - a small motorised sampan - runs from the Cheung Chau public pier area to Sai Wan on the western shore, the short way to reach Cheung Po Tsai Cave without the long walk out. On leaving the main ferry pier, look for an inland pier with a white canopy roof on the right-hand side and ask for the kaito to Sai Wan; the boat sets you down at the Sai Wan pier, from where you walk up to the cave. It is a local boat rather than a scheduled ferry, with no published timetable and no published fare, so ask at the pier. See our Cheung Chau attractions for the cave itself.

Coming from the city instead

If you are arriving from Hong Kong Island, the main service is the Sun Ferry route from Central Pier No. 5 to Cheung Chau: the ordinary ferry takes about 55-60 minutes and the fast ferry about 35-40 minutes. Fares, times and the pier walk-through are on the complete ferry and transportation guide and the full ferry schedule, and the Next Ferry tool shows the next usable sailing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get to Cheung Chau from Lantau or Mui Wo?

Yes. The inter-island ferry runs from Mui Wo Ferry Pier to Cheung Chau in about 31-35 minutes. From Ngong Ping or Po Lin Monastery, a local bus runs down to Mui Wo, where the bus stop is beside the ferry pier; check the current route at the pier.

How much is the inter-island ferry?

The Transport Department fare from 1 April 2026 is HK$16.3 for an adult single journey, HK$8.1 for a child aged 3 to 11, a person aged 65 or over, or a person with disabilities, and free for a child under 3 travelling with an adult. A bicycle costs HK$17.9.

Do the boats stop at Chi Ma Wan?

Most do, but not all. Two sailings a day omit the Chi Ma Wan stop - one early-morning sailing from Mui Wo and one late-evening sailing from Cheung Chau. Check the current timetable if Chi Ma Wan is where you are heading.

Can I bring a bicycle on the inter-island ferry?

Yes. Bicycles are carried on the inter-island route for HK$17.9 each, which is how cyclists take a bike across to Chi Ma Wan on Lantau. See our bike rental and cycling guide.

How do I reach Cheung Po Tsai Cave without a long walk?

Take the kaito from the Cheung Chau public pier to Sai Wan, then walk up to the cave from the Sai Wan pier. It is a local boat rather than a scheduled ferry, with no published fare or timetable, so ask at the pier with the white canopy roof on the right of the main ferry pier.

Related pages

• How to get to Cheung Chau - the Central ferries and the pier walk
• Cheung Chau ferry schedule and transportation guide - Central Pier No. 5, fares and timetables
• Full ferry schedule
• Other outlying islands - Lantau, Peng Chau and Lamma
• Cheung Chau vs Lamma vs Lantau
• Hong Kong day trips: Cheung Chau and the outlying islands
• Cheung Chau bike rental and cycling guide
• Cheung Chau attractions - including Cheung Po Tsai Cave
• Cheung Chau map