Hong Kong’s Jack Sparrow: a pirate legend behind Cheung Po Tsai cave on Cheung Chau Island
Notorious and fabled Qing dynasty pirate was said to have hidden his loot in a famous spot in the present-day tourist destination, just an hour’s ferry ride from the city
The recent dramatic operation in Thailand to save 12 boys and their soccer coach who were trapped in a flooded cave since late June has gripped the world. While the mission was a success, the incident was a stark reminder of the power of Mother Nature who, for all her beauty, hides dark treachery in mountain crevices and deep underground spaces.
And Hong Kong, more than 1,000km away, is no stranger to such rock formations, with sea caves forming a significant part of its natural landscape.
Although smaller in size and less complex than those in Thailand, the city’s untouched subterranean world carries its own mix of mystery and lore.
The most famous Hong Kong cave is undoubtedly Cheung Po Tsai, named after a legendary Chinese pirate who inspired many local stories and films. Cheung was said to have used the cave on Cheung Chau Island as a stash for his plunder, but nothing to date has been found – although there is no shortage of treasure hunters willing to try their luck.
A pirate during the Qing dynasty, Cheung is often portrayed as a Robin Hood type character in folk tales. Born in Jiangmen, Guangdong province, to a family of Tanka fishing folk in 1783, he was kidnapped at 15 by the infamous pirate duo Ching Shih and Cheng I when he was a boy, thus beginning his journey into a life of crime on the high seas.
According to legend, at the apex of Cheung’s power, he led 600 pirate ships and more than 25,000 men in the South China Sea.
