[1] Geographically, Ping Chau is an offshore island located in the northeast corner of Hong Kong in Mirs Bay,[2] close to the border with Guangdong Province in mainland China.

The eastern inner shore of the crescent hugs Ping Chau Hoi (平洲海) with a few beaches, including Cheung Sha Wan (長沙灣) in the northeast.

In contrast, the western coast of the island is fairly rocky as a result of the greater wave action taking its toll on the inclined siltstone there.

A large part of the island is country parkland,[5] with footpaths overgrown with orchids, wild mint and morning glory.

Guns and opium were once smuggled from here, and during the Cultural Revolution many mainlanders swam in hopes of reaching Ping Chau and the freedom of Hong Kong.

[9] During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong (1941–1945), Ping Chau was used as a logistics base for the supply of military resources, including petrol, to the Chinese army.

[11] At that time, the economy of the island deteriorated due to the depletion of fishery resources and the termination of trade with the mainland as a consequence of the Korean War (1950–1953).

Hong Kong is mostly formed of extrusive igneous rocks, after a series of major volcanoes erupted during the Jurassic Period.

Following the volcanic activity, a basin formed in the northeast, with deposition in a brackish lake—producing the siltstones and chert of Tung Ping Chau, which have been dated from the early Paleogene period.

Cham Keng Chau (斬頸洲, "Chop Neck Islet"), in the northwest, is a chunk of land that has broken away from the island;[15] the Chinese say it represents the head of a dragon.

Lan Kwo Shui can be reached by foot from Kang Lau Shek, at low tide and in calm sea conditions.

[16] Many early residents of Ping Chau were from Shantou (Swatow) and they kept the tradition of worshiping Tam Kung after they settled on the island.

[19] A few basic restaurants can be found at Tai Tong, a short distance north of Tung Ping Chau Public Pier.

[22] With the exception of an area of old villages along its east coast,[5][8] Ping Chau is part of the Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park, designated in 1979.