Yim Tin Tsai — Hong Kong’s “Little Salt Pan” Reborn Through Heritage, Faith, and Art

Just a short ferry ride from Sai Kung lies Yim Tin Tsai, a tiny island with a story far larger than its size. Once known as Hong Kong’s “Ghost Island,” this quiet retreat is now experiencing a thoughtful revival, reconnecting the city with a chapter of Hakka culture, Catholic heritage, and salt-making history that nearly disappeared.

Founded more than 300 years ago by Hakka settlers, Yim Tin Tsai thrived on its salt pans — a precious commodity long before refrigerators and modern preservation. The village later embraced Catholicism, building the elegant St. Joseph’s Chapel in 1890, a landmark that still watches over the island today. But as competition increased and younger generations sought education and opportunities elsewhere, the population slowly dwindled. By the 1990s, the last residents had left, leaving behind moss-covered homes, decaying rooftops, and memories embedded in stone.

The island’s rebirth began in the early 2000s, led by descendants like Colin Chan, who saw the village not as ruins, but as heritage worth preserving. With community support, the chapel was restored — earning a UNESCO award — while walking trails, ancestral homes, and a small museum brought new life to what had once fallen silent. Most striking of all, the historic salt pans were resurrected, becoming Hong Kong’s only operational salt fields and a living testament to the island’s origins.

MTR Choi Hung Station’s Exit C2 leads to the stop for minibus 1A, which goes to the terminus near Sai Kung Pier. You can also take bus 92 from MTR Diamond Hill Station, which stops at Sai Kung Bus Terminus, near the public pier. You will find Sai Kung’s Yim Tin Tsai ticket and reception booth near the minibus terminus, next to the waterfront. The ferry from Sai Kung New Public Pier operates mainly on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, with the first ferry leaving at 10am. The ride takes about 20 minutes.

Leaving from Yim Tin Tsai Take the same ferry back to Sai Kung New Public Pier. The last ferry departs from Yim Tin Tsai at 5pm.