The second phase of the Sha Tau Kok Open Plan will commence on January 1, 2024. In the first stage, up to 1,000 visitors per day will be allowed to visit the entire Sha Tau Kok area except Chung Ying Street after applying for a Closed Area Permit online. This will give more people the opportunity to learn about the history, culture, and natural landscape of Sha Tau Kok and nearby outlying islands, and promote cultural and ecological tourism.
Applying for a Closed Area Permit
As Sha Tau Kok is located in the Frontier Closed Area of Hong Kong, you need to apply for a Closed Area Permit before you can visit. The permit application can be found on the Hong Kong Police Force website (https://www.es.police.gov.hk/). Click on e-Services - Frontier Closed Area Permit to apply. Visitors are required to apply with the actual travel document they will be using to enter Hong Kong.
If you are applying with a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (commonly known as Home Return Permit), you need to submit the front and back of the permit (the endorsement needs to be valid at the time of submission) and a simple itinerary.
To continue processing your application for a Sha Tau Kok Closed Area Individual Visit Permit, please provide the following supplementary documents for our reference.
- Please provide the endorsement on the back of your Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
- Entry certificate or other supplementary information related to your visit to Hong Kong (e.g. train tickets/flight tickets/hotel booking records/or other itinerary information)
If you are unable to provide the required supplementary information, this application will be cancelled.
If you really don’t know how to write an itinerary, you can refer to the table below:
| Time | Location | Transportation |
|---|---|---|
| -08:00 | Shenzhen Futian Port - Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point (Lok Ma Chau MTR Station), arrive in Hong Kong | Walk |
| -08:15 | Lok Ma Chau MTR Station - Sheung Shui MTR Station | MTR |
| -09:00 | Sheung Shui - Sha Tau Kok | KMB Bus 78K |
| -17:00 | Visit Sha Tau Kok: Visit Cape of Sha Tau Kok, Sha Tau Kok Pier, Sun Moon Pavilion, Fish Lantern Plaza, Sha Tau Kok Old Fire Station, Chung Ying Street Garden, Salmon House, Sha Tau Kok Mirror in Mirror and other attractions | Walk |
| -18:00 | Return to Sheung Shui Station | KMB Bus 78K |
| -18:30 | Sheung Shui MTR Station - Lok Ma Chau MTR Station | MTR |
| -19:00 | Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point - Shenzhen Futian Port, return to Shenzhen | Walk |
Although the website says that the permit will be issued within 3 working days, if the information is complete, it can basically be issued within one working day.
Getting to Sha Tau Kok
You can take KMB bus 78/78K/78S from Sheung Shui Station (around 8HKD, but less frequent, about every half an hour), or minibus 55K (around 11HKD, departs when full, more frequent).
Before entering the Sha Tau Kok closed area, police will board the vehicle to check closed area permits and identification documents. The closed area permit does not have to be printed, an electronic version is also acceptable, as long as the police can scan the QR code.
Inside the Sha Tau Kok Closed Area
Chung Ying Street Garden
Chung Ying Street Police Post
Currently the only checkpoint connecting Chung Ying Street. On the other side of the checkpoint is Chung Ying Street (but mainly under the jurisdiction of the Mainland). Unfortunately, holders of the Hong Kong side closed area tourist permit cannot enter the Mainland side of Chung Ying Street.
Sha Tau Kok River
KCR Sha Tau Kok Station Ruins
Sha Tau Kok Chuen
Leaving Sha Tau Kok by Water
After exploring Sha Tau Kok, besides taking a bus/minibus to leave, you can also take the “Sha Tau Kok - Lai Chi Wo/Ap Chau/Kat O” kaito ferry to leave Sha Tau Kok by water. After arriving at Kat O, you can return by the same boat, or take the “Ma Liu Shui - Kat O/Ap Chau” ferry directly back to Ma Liu Shui Pier (but this ferry only operates on weekends and holidays, with only one trip per day).
