About Tai O
Tai O means something like "big cove," and the name makes sense when you see the river channels that cut through the village. Above them balance the pang uk, stilt houses that recall the days when the place was known as a Tanka village, home to people who lived off the water. The nickname "Venice of Hong Kong" is a friendly exaggeration: here, what perfumes the streets is the salted fish and shrimp paste sold at the doorways.
Locals offer short boat trips to try to spot the Chinese white dolphin, the famous pink dolphin. On land, Yeung Hau Temple, from 1699, is a declared monument, and the old police station has become a nine-room boutique hotel.
