Ninepin Group, Island group in Sai Kung District, Hong Kong.
The Ninepin Group is a cluster of uninhabited islands in the northeastern part of Sai Kung District, Hong Kong. The islands are made up of steep rock faces with vertical columns, sea caves, and cliffs that drop sharply into the water.
Around 140 million years ago, a volcanic eruption left behind layers of hot rock that cooled slowly and cracked into the hexagonal columns seen today. The area is now part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, which was established to protect this geological record.
South Ninepin Island has a Tin Hau temple built by local fishing families to honor the goddess of the sea. Tin Hau temples are common along Hong Kong's coastline, and finding one on such a remote island shows how far out fishing communities once worked.
The islands can only be reached by private boat from Sai Kung Town, as no regular ferry service runs to this area. Weather and sea conditions change quickly here, so checking forecasts before departure is a good idea.
Big Cannon Rock on North Ninepin Island is a single massive hexagonal column that sticks out horizontally from a cliff face, pointing toward the sea. Most visitors miss it because it is only visible from the right angle on the water.
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