Kat O, meaning “lucky harbour”, it was once a major anchorage in Mirs Bay as well as an enroute stop for travelers between Yantian in Shenzhen and northeastern villages. This favourable geographical location made it a popular home base for fishermen operating on the nearby waters. The earliest Hakka settlement here dates back to the Qing dynasty. Over the years, there are 43 families of 37 clans made Kat O their home. The local population reached its peak off about 6,000 people in the 1950′s and 1960′s. Today, less than 50 people lived on the island. However, rich cultural heritage of this sparsely populated island are well preserved. Kat O Heritage Trail will bring you to the historical and cultural spots of the islands, listen to the stories told over generations and discover the island′s boom days.
The Kat O Heritage Trail is centred around Kat O Main Street and goes to various heritage sites on the island. The trail is generally level. The paths forms two branches, one leading to a lookout at Ko Tei Teng and another to Ko Pang Teng. The former offers distant vistas of Yantian, Shenzhen, and other regions in the north; the latter offers a view across the lyrical Double Haven in the south. There are 27 interpretation panels along Kat O Heritage Trail. Scan the QR code on the panel to listen to stories told by the villagers and geopark guides.
