Beach Cheung Chau Island

Sat, 02/21/2015 - 03:20
Date picture taken
1940s

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This is the Afternoon Beach or locally called the Kwun Yam Wan, a beautiful view from the high ground near the London Mission or the ridge between the two Wans.

In the picture one can easily sort out the kids' favourite skydiving rock at the foothill by the shallow water on the east.

We came to this beach very often too.

I used to swim very slowly back and fro between Tung wan and the Kwun Yam Wan. There was a fresh water spring located at the foothill off the London Mission by the rocky table ( just the same area of today's Helipad). Not many people realised of it because it seemed to be a drop-off spot of rain water. And its flow-out was never that attractive yet good enough for a fresh water bath after the swimming session.

I knew some of my primary school friends loved to do skydiving at the same rock much like the Zieglers kids did. I didn't instead I did the act at Tung Wan.

By the way, Tung Wan is my Wan----- Tung's wan.

There was a very big round rock, sitting rightly by the water line of the mid-section of the Tung Wan beach, suitable to be a diving stand except during the low tide. A signal pole was elected on its top in the early 1960s, a red flag would mean you can't swim because of the stormy weather. There was always one or two lifeguards, equipped with a metallic raft, on duty during the day to enforce the rules for beachcomers' safety. However, this lonely rock was completely mined away some years later. ( I don't have any idea!)

On the other hand, KYW was a much small beach. Its water usually is calm partly due to the hill which blocks of any strong winds except the North wind in winter. And the rules were more relax here, safety is a matter of your own business. Besides swimming and diving, folks would harvest few types of clam, scallop, shrimp, lobster, oyster, orchin, seaweeds, coral, and nice stones and marble debris. Over the hills there were different choices of edible berries. And the fun could be maximized here with your sensiblity and bravery.

Few boater would launch their fising trip from here for their seafood persuit. That was decades long before the days of windsurfing hitting this part of the world.

What's your choice today? .

Tung