Travel

It is not difficult to understand why elderly persons, even highly mobile, feel uncomfortable about travelling afar especially when they are required to take a plane.  For families with elders, there are in fact a lot of choices in Hong Kong which can provide the same nostalgic atmosphere and novelty, and Tai O Heritage Hotel is one good example of a paradise hidden in the middle of a busy city with a good integration of the East and West.

Tai O Heritage Hotel stands on a small hill next to the Tai O Pier.  It was formerly the old Tai O Police Station built in 1902 to combat piracy because of its proximity to the sea. In 2009, it was converted into a boutique hotel under a “Revitalization Plan”. It now features nine sea-view rooms with features common in the early 20th Century British architecture, such as a rooftop restaurant with a glass roof, a library, and a gallery converted from a reporting room. Sitting in front of the ceiling-high glass windows at the elegant restaurant overlooking the sea, the tranquility of the Tai O fishing village brings you back 100 years to the life of old Hong Kong.

In this revitalization project, The Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation Limited have chosen Chinese tiled roof, wooden casement windows, granite steps and French double-glazed doors as the basic elements in the overall design. The arched façade, fireplaces and the connecting bridges in-between buildings have highlighted the classical look of the early 20th Century architecture. Tai O Lookout, a restaurant fitted with a glass roof, was originally the lookout tower of the old police station to guard against pirates and is now named after it. The original cannons, searchlight, guard towers and bunkers are preserved and become part of the hotel’s permanent features which cannot be found in other hotels.  Sitting here at dusk will give you an unforgettable experience.

The conservation work of the hotel is undertaken by The Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation Limited.  In 2013, the hotel was awarded an Award of Merit, UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in recognition of the hotel's contribution to sustainable development.  The cultural tourism tours organized by the hotel have enhanced the cultural experiences of visitors and promoted Tai O’s community building and economic growth, bringing sustainable development to this historical landmark. The hotel operates as a social enterprise and its surplus in proceeds goes to the conservation and maintenance of the historical building.  In its employment policy, priority is given to hiring Tai O residents as its frontline staff so as to create more job opportunities for local residents.

The hotel launches a full range of carefully designed community activities, live-in experiences and ecological guided tours to allow visitors to be close to history and ecology and to promote their conservation awareness. There are also guided tours, themed workshops and festival cooking classes to add value to a special holiday. For a family with several generations, Tai O Heritage Hotel is an ideal choice for a holiday where young and old can both find joy in this lovely place.  For reunions of old friends who no longer need to work, a splendid lunch and a night’s stay at the hotel are both wonderful options for reminiscing the good old days.

Tai O Heritage Hotel has evolved from an old police station to a special boutique hotel.  It carries not only history and memories, but also the relics of culture in Tai O.  Today, after rejuvenation, the hotel has become a "living history" to provide a quiet corner for visitors. The credit must go to The Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Company. If you want to learn more about Tai O, the heritage hotel is the door to the memory lane.

How to get to the Tai O Heritage Hotel:

1. Take Bus Bo. 11 at Tung Chung Bus Terminus at Tung Chung MTR Station to go to Tai O. The journey takes about 50 minutes.
2. At No. 6 Pier at the Central Pier, take the high-speed boat to Mui Wo (about 35 minutes) and at Mui O Ferry Bus Terminal, take bus No. 1 to Tai O. This journey takes about 55 minutes.

Upon arrival in Tai O, take a 2-minute speedboat ride or walk to the hotel for about 20 minutes.

For enquiries, please call: (852) 2985 8383 
Website: www.taioheritagehotel.com