At Saiyuen, our aim is to provide meaningful experiences to our guests by showing them what nature has to offer, and by maintaining the authenticity of our island home, Cheung Chau. Being on an island especially, we know that our resources are not finite. We therefore aim to use our natural resources mindfully, while paying homage to mother nature and honouring our cultural heritage. Here are some of our sustainability initiatives: 

Responsible Business

• We are currently one of the few privately-owned campsite licensed by the Hong Kong Home Affairs Department. As such, we hold third party liability insurance of HK$50 million for our property, including activities we offer off-property. With this, we offer our guests peace of mind when they visit us.

• We foster relationships with Hong Kong’s travel industry, including Hong Kong Tourism Board, Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, and many local tour operators, travel agencies, tour guides, and study tour operators.

Waste Reduction & Recycling

• Recycling: On Cheung Chau, we recycle plastic, metal, and cardboard. At Saiyuen, campers can recycle their plastic and metal bottles and cans in the green bin by the front desk. Cardboard can be given to the front desk to recycle. 
• Minimal single-use plastics: In our breakfast and catering services, we avoid disposable cutlery, plates, and straws, opting for reusable alternatives. We have three cold/hot/warm water dispensers located throughout the campsite.
• Nespresso: The coffee we sell is Nespresso, which is a BCorp certified company. Aluminium capsules are taken for recycling, because aluminium is infinitely recyclable! 

 Eco-Friendly Facilities

• Solar & wind power: We harness solar and wind energy to light nighttime paths, and oxygenate our fish ponds.

Wind & solar lamp post. Salvaged ship propellor art installation reminding us of our heritage in the background.

• We save energy and water by using untreated well water to flush our toilets, irrigate our farm, and top up our ponds.
• We save energy by using a heat pump to deliver water to guest rooms, rather than relying on energy-intensive instant-hot water shower systems.

Biodiversity & Land Stewardship

• Native plant landscaping: We prioritize local flora to support pollinators and wildlife.

Our lychee tree yielded several hundred pounds of lychees that were shared with staff, guests, and Saiyuen neighbours.

• Chemical-free pest control: No harmful pesticides, just natural solutions like companion planting and manual removal. We are currently researching and testing natural methods for mosquito control.
• Leave no trace education: We educate guests on responsible camping practices.

Community Impact

• ⅔ of our staff are local Cheung Chau residents.
• We support other local businesses and entrepreneurs through referral, joint promotional partnerships, and direct patronage.
• We support local festivals and events through sponsorship and participation, for example, annual participation in the Cheung Chau Bun Festival.
• We support local artists and creators to create art at Saiyuen, or through other initiatives such as Cheung Chau Tells, a bilingual book sharing the unique stories of Cheung Chau people, available for purchase at our front desk and at local bookstores!
• We serve as a laboratory for local universities, for example, with HKU’s Architecture Department, and City U’s veterinary program. Past projects include onsite ant research with HKU’s School of Biological Sciences. We have also been the subject of case studies amongst students at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel & Tourism Management and HKU’s SPACE program. 

City University of Hong Kong’s College of Veterinary Medicine pays us a visit!

Cultural Heritage

• We are a site of one of Cheung Chau’s 14 boundary stones, a historical marker of segregation between colonial inhabitants and local residents.

The first of 14 boundary stones once delineating where locals and foreigners could live on the island.

• We promote local culinary delights such as beggar’s wild chicken, bubble waffle and ping an bao (peace bun) through activities, storytelling, and individual workshops.
• Heritage building materials: Our buildings have been repurposed from farm sheds to offices and other multi-purpose venues. Walls and barriers around the property are also made of granite, a locally abundant material.

Sustainable Guest Experiences

• Cheung Chau is a pedestrian-only island. Guests can arrive on foot, by bicycle, or by local sampan (kaito) .
• Farm-to-table campfire meals: One of our signature programs is the “Roots and Rods Daycamp,” a parent-child experience where participants can fish from our aquaponics pond, and prepare a meal using produce from our farm.

Guests pick their own produce in our day camp programming

We are proud of what we can contribute and are always open to more opportunities to collaborate. Please feel free to inquire at booking@saiyuen.com.