Lamma Island

Lamma has been inhabited for thousands of years: archaeological digs at Sham Wan in the 1970s uncovered evidence of settlement going back to the Neolithic period. For centuries it was home to fishing and farming villages, and its three Tin Hau temples, at Yung Shue Wan, Sok Kwu Wan and Luk Chau, reflect the importance of the sea goddess to island families.

During the Second World War, Japanese forces dug caves near Sok Kwu Wan to hide munitions and suicide boats. In the later 20th century Yung Shue Wan became a small industrial centre before growing into a relaxed community of locals and expatriates, while the Lamma Power Station in the north of the island became one of the island's most visible landmarks.

Lamma's two villages have distinct personalities. Yung Shue Wan is home to a mix of long-established families and newcomers drawn by the slower pace, with bars, cafés and small shops, while Sok Kwu Wan remains rooted in fishing and fish farming. The Tin Hau Festival is celebrated with Cantonese opera and floral offerings, and the absence of cars shapes daily life: everything from groceries to building materials moves by trolley or small village vehicle.