Cheung Po Tsai Cave

Cheung Po Tsai was regarded as one of the most notorious pirates in Chinese history. He was born in 1783 to a fisherman father but later he was kidnapped by pirate leader Cheng I and was forced into piracy. Cheung Po was smart and gracefully adapted to his new life filled with crime. After the death of Cheng I in 1807, Cheung Po married his widow and continued his life of destruction. He was mainly active in the Guangdong coastal region during the reign of the Qing Dynasty (the last Chinese imperial dynasty). There was a time when Cheung Po became very powerful and could command a fleet of 600 pirate ships and over 40,000 army men.

In the year 1809, Cheung Po’s life took a twist when he was attacked by the Government of the Qing Dynasty and was asked to surrender. Finally, he ended his pirate life and started a career as a navy colonel. The rest of Cheung Po’s life was dedicated to the Government where he helped them in fighting other pirates. However, while he was trying to escape, the cave of Cheung Po Tsai became his hide-out. It is believed that this infamous man has hidden all the pirate loot there itself. However, still today no treasure has been found in the cave.

Cheung Po Tsai is an extremely dark and narrow cave which makes it more obvious as a treasure hide-out. The 88 metres long cave with a depth of 10 feet often looks mysterious and intriguing. For the convenience of the tourists, steel ladders are installed inside so that it is easy to access. Walking through the dark underground passages gives a spooky vibe and indeed it is an experience of a lifetime. Whenever the legendary stories of Cheung Po will be told, Cheung Po Tsai Cave will come alive flashing back memories of an era that is lost in time.