傑·文化-香港世界地質公園賞奇石:東平洲更樓石Kit.Culture-Spectacular Watchtower Rocks in Tung Ping Chau, HK Global Geopark

東平洲原名平洲，位於香港東北水域的大鵬灣，面積1.16平方公里，是本港最東面的海島，以「三平」見稱: 島平，最高點只有48米；海平，附近海域時常波平如鏡；石平，全島由水平層狀沉積岩構成，是名副其實的「平洲」。為了方便與大嶼山對開的坪洲區分，郊遊人士習慣在其名字前加上「東」字，稱之為東平洲。其薄層狀沉積岩（頁岩）極具特色，自然環境優美，地質景點眾多，一直都是香港的熱門郊遊名勝，深受海內外遊客喜愛。

東平洲為船灣郊野公園（擴建部份）的其中一個島嶼。東平洲附近海域則為香港第4個海岸公園——東平洲海岸公園，岸邊有貝殼及珊瑚生長，它亦是香港世界地質公園範圍內重要地質景區。

該島主要由有5,000 - 6,500萬年歷史的粉砂岩（siltstone）及少量燧石（chert）構成，地質學上屬平洲組（Ping Chau Formation)，屬香港境內出露的最年輕岩石。小島上有海蝕平台及海蝕洞等海蝕地貌，成為郊外旅遊及地理考察的熱點。

更樓石位於東端，是香港地質公園的其中一個景點，兩條高7米的沉積岩石柱屹立於海蝕平台之上，遠觀就像兩座更樓一樣，故得「更樓石」之名。

來源:維基百科及香港世界地質公園網頁

Tung Ping Chau, formerly known as Ping Chau, is located in Dapeng Bay in the northeastern waters of Hong Kong. It covers an area of 1.16 square kilometers and is the easternmost island in Hong Kong. It is known as "3 flats": the flat land, the highest point is only 48 meters; the flat sea, the surrounding waters are often flat like a mirror; the flat layer of rocks, the whole island is composed of horizontal layered sedimentary rocks, which is a veritable "Ping Chau (Flat Island) ". In order to facilitate the distinction from Ping Chau, which is opposite to Lantau Island, it is customary for picnickers to add the word "East" to their names and call it Tung Ping Chau. Its thin-layered sedimentary rock (shale) is very distinctive, with beautiful natural environment and numerous geological scenic spots.

Tung Ping Chau is one of the islands in Plover Cove Country Park (extension). The waters near Tung Ping Chau are Hong Kong's fourth marine park, Tung Ping Chau Marine Park. Shells and corals grow on the shore. It is also an important geological scenic spot within the scope of the Hong Kong Global Geopark.

The island is mainly composed of 50-65 million-year-old siltstone and a small amount of chert. Geologically, it belongs to the Ping Chau Formation, which is the youngest rock exposed in Hong Kong. It is indeed a veritable "Pingzhou". Coupled with sea erosion features such as sea erosion platforms and sea caves, it has become a hot spot for suburban tourism and geographical investigation.

Located at the east end, Genglou Rock is one of the scenic spots in the Hong Kong Geopark. Two 7-meter-high sedimentary rock pillars stand on the sea erosion platform. From a distance, they look like two watch towers, hence the name "Genglou Rock".

Source: Wikipedia and Hong Kong Global Geopark webpage