[3] The island historically had a maximum of about 1,000 fishermen and farmers, whose economic activity consisted mainly of fishing, farming and seaweed harvesting.

[4] The population lived mainly in two villages, Chang Shek Pai (長石排) and Shan Liu (山寮).

[7][8][9] Ancient rock carvings on the island, believed to date back to the Bronze Age (around 1500–700 BC),[10] were discovered in the 1960s.

A Tin Hau Temple is located on Po Toi, facing the bay of Tai Wan (大灣).

[19][20] The climax of John le Carré's novel The Honourable Schoolboy (the second in the 'Karla trilogy', featuring George Smiley) takes place on Po Toi.