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Hong Kong – THE LURE OF THE RAILWAY
Thai Royal Travel / Travel Articles / Hong Kong – THE LURE OF THE RAILWAY
November 30, 2010, 11:39 am
Many thanks to Hong Kong Tourism Travel Board to providing us with this article.
Hong Kong – THE LURE OF THE RAILWAY
There has always been a romantic allure to railway travel in Hong Kong. Opened in 1910 as a single-track line to the Lo Wu border, the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) was originally conceived by powerful business house or Hongs as a way of opening up trade with China.
In 1979, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) started operations with network coverage to most areas in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. In the 1980s, the KCR was double-tracked and electrified. Then in December 2007, operations of the MTR and the KCR were unified under the MTR Corporation, making it one of the most efficient and far-reaching networks in Asia. Using the MTR East Rail Line and West Rail Line introduced in this booklet, visitors can discover a truly unique part of Hong Kong in a fascinating and comfortable way. From the mega-malls in bustling East Tsim Sha Tsui, and the teeming streets of Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei, to the sprawling new towns and rural splendours of the New Territories, travelling by train is your window to a rich culture and heritage experience.
Stop, eat, sightsee and uncover the hidden treasures of Asia’s world city you can do it all by train! So, hop aboard a train and let every moment be a journey of discovery of the magic if Hong Kong. And while you’re at it, you’ll discover the allure of the railway! Once you live it, you’ll love it!
Hong Kong – TODAY’S CONVENIENT NETWORK
Getting around Hong Kong and visiting the city’s fantastic attractions couldn’t be easier with the quick and efficient MTR rail system, that covers all major districts in the territory, and includes stops at the boundary with Mainland China (Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau). The MTR consists of ten lines: Island, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O, Tung Chung, West Rail, Ma On Shan and Disneyland Resort, as well as an Airport Express. In addition, the MTR Corporation also operates a Light Rail system running between Yuen Long and Tuen Mun in the New Territories and an Inter-City cross-boundary long-distance passenger and freight service to China.
Hong Kong – AN AMAZING JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
The MTR East Rail and West Rail Lines offer an exceptional opportunity to discover the historical roots of Kowloon and the New Territories. You’ll travel in comfort from Hong Kong’s renowned Tsim Sha Tsui, the modern bustling commercial and cultural hub of Kowloon, to the far-flung reaches of the New Territories where the pace of life is slower and where you can glimpse a more rural Hong Kong.
The MTR East Rail Line takes you through the teeming Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei neighbourhoods to the New Towns of Sha Tin, Tai Po and Fanling. These communities of towering apartment blocks are interspersed with villages and ‘village-style’ two-storey dwellings that exemplify the rural side of the New Territories.
On the other hand, if you take the MTR West Rail Line, you’ll travel to Yuen Long in the western New Territories where you can see pagodas and ancient villages, and walk heritage trails.
So, all aboard! Enjoy the hustle and the bustle, the culture and heritage, and the green and stunning vistas of the New Territories – and come away with a better understanding and appreciation of what a phenomenal place Hong Kong is.
Hong Kong – RENDEZVOUS OF CULTURES
Hong Kong – TSIM SHA TSUI
As every local and visitor knows, bustling Tsim Sha Tsui is a great place to shop and dine! But it is also the cultural hub of Hong Kong. Just a start walk from the East Tsim Sha Tsui terminus you’ll find most of Hong Kong’s major museums, a handful of fascinating heritage sites, and the Hong kong cultural Centre that houses the principal venues for local and international performing arts.
Tsim Sha Tsui has changed mightily since it was ceded to the British in 1863. The colonial authorities quickly cleared the crime-ridden area and gardens. Any commercial development in Kowloon was focused on Yau Ma Tei! It wasn’t until the 1950s that Tsim sha Tsui developed into a commercial and densely populated residential area. In recent years, Tsim Sha Tsui has become the dominant tourism centre for Hong Kong with its old suburban character long gone.
An Inter-Village War
The 19th century stonemasons from Tsim sha Tsui and Hung Hom were hakka, as were the junk builders. They were usually single, lived away from home and tended to be quarrelsome. To the north around Kowloon City were the Punti (Cantonese-speaking) subsistence rice farmers who live in villages of great respectability on the fertile plain around the city.
Fights were not uncommon between these two groups. In 1862, insults exchanged at the Tsim Sha Tsui ferry pier escalated into an all-out war! It was this bloody and animated conflict, and the general lawlessness of the district that finally led the Hong Kong Government to clear the whole area the following year.
Hong Kong – East Tsim Sha Tsui
1. The Hong Kong Museum of History
For a fantastic overview of the history of Hong Kong and how its people lived down through the ages, this museum is a must. ‘The Hong Kong Story’* reveals many important archaeological discoveries dating back thousands of years, and traces more recent developments that cover life in the New Territories and modern day Hong Kong right up to the Handover in 1997. Allow a couple of hours to do it justice.
2. The Hong Kong Science Museum
This museum is designed to appeal to the young and the young-at-heart. It serves up a whole host of great ‘hands-on’ exhibits featuring basic science and the background to many everyday facts of life. This is a very user-friendly and cheerful museum, with no solemnity or stuffiness about it!
3. Tsim Sha Tsui – Trendy Dining
If you imagination is fired by the thought of great dining, you’re in the right district! Check out Nathan Road, Canton Road and Chatham Road as well as side streets like Ashley Road, Hillwood Road and Granville Road. For great Cantonese and Sichuan food, pop into the Miramar Shopping Plaza on Kimberley Road. Or wander over to Knutsford Terrace and Knutsford Steps to sample a whole world of culinary treats.
4. Former Kowloon British School
This architectural gem is the oldest surviving school building constructed for foreign residents of Hong Kong. The Government began construction of the building following a HK$ 15,000 donation from Mr. Ho Tung (later Sir Robert). The school was opened in 1902. The building is a unique Victorian structure adapted to local climate conditions with wide verandas, high ceilings and a pitched roof. Today it houses the Antiquities and Monuments Office.
5. St Andrew’s Church
This Anglican church has had a rich and varied history, featuring a strong evangelical tradition for the past 100 years. Early worshippers would arrive by the main means of transportation of the day – rickshaws, cabs and sedan chairs! Accounts of the time reported that, ‘it was a great occasion for many Christians in Kowloon and their friends in Hong Kong’.
6. Nathan Road
Paris had its Champs Elysee, New York has its Fifth Avenue and Hong Kong has Nathan Road. This long boulevard of fine shops and hotels sparkles with neon at night. When Governor Nathan ordered it built at the turn of the 20th century, people thought it too wide for the sparsely populated district and dubbed it ‘Nathan’s Folly’. His folly was truly visionary. Today, it is often called the ‘Golden Mile’ – and rarely will you leave it empty-handed.
7. Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre
What better place to learn all about heritage than in a building steeped in history and culture! The Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre consists of two blocks of building constructed circa 1910, part of what used to be the British Army’s Whitfield Barracks. It served as the temporary home of the Hong Kong Museum of History from 1983-1998. The Heritage Discovery Centre includes a Thematic Exhibition Gallery, Lecture Hall, Reference Library and Activity Room that are open to the public.
8. Harbour City / Ocean Terminal
This is the largest shopping and entertainment centre in Hong Kong, featuring more than 700 local and international shops and restaurants. Part of the complex is Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong’s cruise terminal where many luxury regional and international cruise liners dock.
9. The ’Star’ Ferry
The iconic ’Star’ Ferry has been plying the waters of Victoria Harbour for over 100 years, providing visitors with memorable views of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Also located at the ‘Star’ Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui is an HKTB Visitor Centre where you can get answers to any questions you might have about Hong Kong.
10. ”1881 Heritage”
Located on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, ”1881 Heritage” boasts an area of 130,000 square feet. It features a shopping mall, a heritage hotel, and an exhibition hall. The original site of “1881 Heritage” was occupied by the Hong Kong Marine Police as headquarters from 1880’s to 1997. The buildings’ unique Victorian architecture epitomizes its rich colonial background. Except for the Former Fire Station, the Former Marine Police Headquarters Main Building, Former Stable Block,
Former Time Ball Tower were declared monuments by the Antiqities and Monuments. Office in 1994, as proof of their historical significance.
11. Clock Tower
You can’t miss this landmark to the Age of Steam located along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. The Clock Tower, completed in 1921, is all that is left of the original Kowloon-Canton Railway terminus along the waterfront. This is an icon to rail when trains arrived here with passengers who had set off from London weeks before on, what was at the time, the world’s longest railway journey.
12. Hong Kong Cultural Centre
The Cultural Centre contains Hong Kong’s main venues for performing arts. Most nights of the year there are performances of classical Western or Chinese music, as well as theatrical performances put on by both local and international artists. Whatever your taste in the arts, there is always something to entertain in Hong Kong, the Events Capital of Asia.
13. The Hong Kong Museum of Art
For an excellent overview of Hong Kong and Chinese art, there can be no better place to visit than this exquisite museum. There are seven galleries covering Chinese fine Art from nearby Guangdong province, Chinese painting and calligraphy, Chinese antiquities, Chinese ceramics, historical pictures and contemporary art, etc.
14. The Hong Kong Space Museum
Explore the final frontier-learn all about astronomy and space technology at the Space Museum. There are two exhibition halls-the Hall of Space Science and the Hall of Astronomy with plenty of interactive exhibits, and the newly renovated Stanley Ho Space Theatre. Equipped with a new digital planetarium, and latest SXRD projectors, the theatre is capable of projecting full-dome animation and movies with ultra-high definition images.
15. Avenue of Stars
Hong Kong has a well-deserved reputation as the ’Hollywood of the East’ and you can fine out all about these movie legends when you visit the Avenue of Stars. Here you’ll find commemorative plaques (some with the hand-prints of local stars), sculptures, movie memorabilia and much more in this great tribute to the stars of the silver screen. There is also a two-metre-tall bronze statue of the legendary kung-fu action star Bruce Lee, who was named ‘Star of the century’ by the HK Film Awards Association in 2005, the 65th anniversary of his birth. It’s also an ideal place to watch the spectacular A symphony of Lights and soak up fantastic views of the harbour and vistas of Hong Kong Island.
16. A Symphony of Lights
Acknowledged as the biggest permanent light and sound shoe by Guinness World Records, this stunning show stars every night at 8pm and features flashing neon lights, laser and searchlight beams, music and narration as more than 40 buildings on both sides of the harbour glow in a myriad of colours depicting Hong Kong’s colourful and bustling atmosphere.
Contact your travel agent, hotel tour desk or the HKTB multilingual Visitor Hotline +852 2508 1234 for cruise details.
Hong Kong – MARKET TOWN
MONG KOK
For sheer non-stop excitement with a distinctly local flavor, head for Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei, where side streets and alleys feature some of Hong Kong’s liveliest scenes. You will be amazed by the teeming masses jostling to and fro in this unique section of the city-long described as one of the most densely populated places on earth! In the early days, Hakka farmers and stonemasons were the principal occupants of Mong Kok, while Yau Ma Tei to the south became home to villagers cleared out of Tsim Sha Tsui and quickly became a prosperous town until it too had to be cleared in 1875 due to the insanitary conditions. Nowadays, Mong Kok is the undisputed retail centre of Kowloon! With its crowded streets and vast numbers of shops occupying every inch of street frontage, just walking the streets with the immense crowds out shopping is an education in itself! You’ll love the ambience and the great deals you can get on souvenirs, clothing, electronic goods and much more.
Hong Kong – Some Interesting Street Names
You can glimpse the past history of Mong Kok by checking street signs. The name are a colourful reminder of the bygone days. There is Yuen Po Street (Vegetable Patch Street), Sai Yeung Choi street (Watercress Street), Yuen Ngai Street (Horticulture Street), Fa Yuen Street (Flower Garden Street), Yim Po Fong Street (Bleaching Sheds Street), Pak Po Street (White Cloth Street), Hak Po Street (Black Cloth Street), and Yin Chong Street (Tobacco Factory Street). Nothing remains of the old Mong Kok village but these street name.
Hong Kong – Places in Mong Kok
1. Yuen Po Street Bird Garden
Elderly men gather here every day with their prized birlds, enjoying their birdsong and the fresh air. The birds lead a pampered existence as the owners feed them snacks to encourage them to sing. The market with its traditionally designed Chinese-style stalls (selling caged birds, bird cages and other accessories for the care of caged birds) offers a pleasant and novel experience. While appreciating the beauty and sweet songs of the birds, please avoid direct contact.
2. Flower Market
Hong Kong’s flower market is a fun and coloueful experience featuring a stunning array of blossoms, blooms and potted plants. This collection of street is the hub of the wholesale and retail flower business in Hong Kong. Wander around the market and savour the colours and the fragrances of the flowers. Hong Kong people love decorating their home with flowers, especially at Chinese New Year, so the market is always a great place to visit.
3. Goldfish Market
Fish play an important part in Chinese culture and many people keep fish as pets. The Goldfish Market on Tung Choi Street is the place people head when they want to stock up their aquariums. The market is filled with all manner of goldfish and just about any other type of exotic fish you can think of, as well as fish food, aquariums and associated paraphernalia.
4. Fa Yuen Street
Looking for a bargain? You’ve come to the right neighbourhood! Fa Yuen Street is the place to go to find bargain-priced trendy fashion and casual wear for men, women and children.
5.Ladies’ Market
Join the crowds at the Ladies’ Market and check out the fantastic bargains. Don’t be deceived by the deceived by the name. This market has something for everyone, including men’s, women’s and children’s clothes, knick-knacks, watches and beauty products. Besides the street stalls, there are a number of Hong Kong-style cafes that are worth trying. You are sure to take home a bargain!
6. Sportswear Street
If you’re looking for trendy sports gear then check this place out! This thematic shopping street is great for sports shoes and equipment, featuring all kinds of brands at affordable prices. Whatever your style, this is one of the best places to find sports equipment for the whole family.
Hong Kong – Yau Ma Tei
1. Shanghai Street
Get a taste of the bygone days of Hong Kong and visit one of the city’s oldest streets. Many of the buildings are ages old and some of the shop have existed for decades. Look for shops selling Chinese style wedding clothes which feature stunning embroidery. Once there were many of these shops, now just a few remain. It’s also a great place to pick up bargain kitchenware.
plays an integral role in the preparation of any dish or meal! No one know chopping boards better than Man Kee, which makes more than 70 per cent of the board used in Hong Kong. Fashioned from sturdy, these traditional cutting boards make a great souvenir or gift.
Dim sum, one of Hong Kong’s most tantalizing eating experiences, come in funky little bamboo baskets or steamers. Sham Hing Kee supplies 50 per cent of the Hong Kong market and while most of them come from China, the company still makes some of its own.
Kansu Street/Canton Road
2. The Jade Market and Jade Street
This is a fun place to browse and watch the jade dealers buy and sell from their stalls. Located at the junction of Kansu and Battery street, there are about 400 stalls selling jade of all types, shapes, sizes and prices and where you can find an inexpensive memento. Back in the 1930s, the jade traders used to congregate on street corners to sell their wares, but moved into the market 20 years ago.
Still looking for that special gift or souvenir for somebody? Near the Jade Market is Jade Street, located on Canton Road between Kansu Street and Jordan Road. Jade and gemstone testing is available at Jade Plaza. A giant jade stone weighing three tons has been placed at the junction of Canton Road and Jordan Road as a landmark.
Temple Street
1. Tin Hau Temple
Tin Hau, protector of fisherman, is one of the most revered deities in Hong Kong. Among these many temples in Hong Kong, this is the largest entirely traditional temple complex, constructed of blue brick and granite with tiled roofs. The Main Hall, which is extremely elegant and well proportioned, is dedicated to Tin Hau while the side halls are dedicated to lesser deities. The complex also includes soothsayers who will tell your fortune.
2. Temple Street Night Market
At night, Temple Street is home to Hong Kong’s biggest night market. Here you can find clothes, luggage, cheap watches, posters, and many kinds of gadgets for sale. There are also food stalls if you get hungry. It’s also called the ‘Poor Man’s Night Club’. Here you can get your palm read or enjoy performances of Cantonese opera. It’s an unbelievable experience! The Night Market gets very busy after sunset.
Hong Kong – JORNEY BETWEEN THE CENTURIES
Hong Kong – SHA TIN
Settlement of the Sha Tin Valley began more than 500 years ago, but it was only in the 1950s that it developed into more than a community of rice-subsistence farmers. The real transformation of Sha began in 1973 with the construction of the New Town with its plethora of high-rise residential blocks on partly reclaimed land from the river estuary.
Today, walking around Sha Tin is akin to walking through a time tunnel! You can find vestiges of bygone days here and there interspersed with the modern urban development. Experience a 16th century temple (Che Kung Temple) dedicated to a warrior general imbued with mystical powers! Visit an old village (Tsang Tai Uk) built in the 19th century featuring an amazing one-of-a-kind architectural style. Stroll around a modern-day shopping centre (New TownPlaza) built in the 20th
century that seves as a lightening rod for many of the 750,000 people that call this bustling New Town home.
Hong Kong – The Lady of Amah Rock
On the summit of a hill on the southern flank of Sha Tin valley is a large rock, which viewed from some directions looks like a woman carrying a child on her back! The story goes that after a fisherman failed to return from a fishing trip, his wife with their child on her back would climbed the hill every day to look out to sea, looking for his boat. Alas, he had been caught in a storm and never came back. Day after day, she climbed the hill until, in sympathy and admiring her constancy, the spirit of the mountain turned her into stone so that she could stand and look out to sea forever.
Hong Kong – Tai Wai
1. Che Kung Temple
First established in the 16th century, the Che Kung Temple was built at the junction of three streams because the god was credited with controlling floods-and reputedly saved the area from a plague in 1629. Considered one of the Gods of Good Fortune, his birthday is celebrated on the Second Day of Chinese New Year when as many as 100,000 devotees come to the temple and turn brass windmills. It is believed turning the blades brings good luck.
2. Tsang Tai Uk
Translated as the Big House of the Tsangs, this is a unique village in the New Territories, built to a Hakka design rather than the traditional local style. Entry is through gatehouses in the front courtyard, with wells on either side. The Ancestral Hall is in the centre of the building. All around are houses for visitors. The village was built in the mid-19th century by Tsang Koon-man, a Hakka who made his fortune as a stonemason. Locals called his village ‘The Big House of the tsangs’
Note: Tsang Tai Uk is private property and not formally open to the public. It is usually accessible but care should be taken not to offend the residents or pay too intrusively into the private areas of the village
3. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Opened in 2000, the museum’s 12 galleries are built around traditional Chinese open courtyards. In addition to changing thematic exhibitions, the permanent galleries showcase the history and culture of the New Territories, Cantonese opera*, Chinese culture, and contemporary Hong Kong art and design. A Children’s Discovery Gallery offers a fun way for children to discover the mysteries of archaeology and to learn about the natural environment.
Hong Kong – Central Sha Tin
4. Sha Tin Park
Take a break from all the sightseeing and go for a stroll in this lush eight-hectare park on the banks of the Shing Mun River. There are six gardens featuring a wide variety of shrubs and trees. Enjoy an eight-metre-high waterfall and two banyan trees that provide a great backdrop for photos. Exit through the North Gate and you’ll see Sha Tin Town Hall.
5. City Art Square
The City Art Square is located at the Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza. With the airm to improve the public environment, develop the arts and culture, and promote the Beijing Olympic Game, world-class art displays were introduced in the City Art Square. These displays include original and unique-styled sculptures and public art installations designed and created by 19 world-renowned overseas, mainland and local artists and designers.
6. New Town Plaza
Take time out at the sprawling New Town Plaza. It contains a comprehensive range of shops and a host of eateries offering a wide variety of cuisines to suit just about every taste and budget. One must-visit is Asia’s first outdoor Snoopy’s World, with more than 60 Peanuts figures including the world’s largest outdoor model of Snoopy atop his doghouse. New Town Plaza also features entertainment facilities including mini-cinemas.
Hong Kong – THE LURE OF THE RAILWAY
There has always been a romantic allure to railway travel in Hong Kong. Opened in 1910 as a single-track line to the Lo Wu border, the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) was originally conceived by powerful business house or Hongs as a way of opening up trade with China.
In 1979, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) started operations with network coverage to most areas in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. In the 1980s, the KCR was double-tracked and electrified. Then in December 2007, operations of the MTR and the KCR were unified under the MTR Corporation, making it one of the most efficient and far-reaching networks in Asia. Using the MTR East Rail Line and West Rail Line introduced in this booklet, visitors can discover a truly unique part of Hong Kong in a fascinating and comfortable way. From the mega-malls in bustling East Tsim Sha Tsui, and the teeming streets of Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei, to the sprawling new towns and rural splendours of the New Territories, travelling by train is your window to a rich culture and heritage experience.
Stop, eat, sightsee and uncover the hidden treasures of Asia’s world city you can do it all by train! So, hop aboard a train and let every moment be a journey of discovery of the magic if Hong Kong. And while you’re at it, you’ll discover the allure of the railway! Once you live it, you’ll love it!
Hong Kong – TODAY’S CONVENIENT NETWORK
Getting around Hong Kong and visiting the city’s fantastic attractions couldn’t be easier with the quick and efficient MTR rail system, that covers all major districts in the territory, and includes stops at the boundary with Mainland China (Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau). The MTR consists of ten lines: Island, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O, Tung Chung, West Rail, Ma On Shan and Disneyland Resort, as well as an Airport Express. In addition, the MTR Corporation also operates a Light Rail system running between Yuen Long and Tuen Mun in the New Territories and an Inter-City cross-boundary long-distance passenger and freight service to China.
Hong Kong – AN AMAZING JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
The MTR East Rail and West Rail Lines offer an exceptional opportunity to discover the historical roots of Kowloon and the New Territories. You’ll travel in comfort from Hong Kong’s renowned Tsim Sha Tsui, the modern bustling commercial and cultural hub of Kowloon, to the far-flung reaches of the New Territories where the pace of life is slower and where you can glimpse a more rural Hong Kong.
The MTR East Rail Line takes you through the teeming Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei neighbourhoods to the New Towns of Sha Tin, Tai Po and Fanling. These communities of towering apartment blocks are interspersed with villages and ‘village-style’ two-storey dwellings that exemplify the rural side of the New Territories.
On the other hand, if you take the MTR West Rail Line, you’ll travel to Yuen Long in the western New Territories where you can see pagodas and ancient villages, and walk heritage trails.
So, all aboard! Enjoy the hustle and the bustle, the culture and heritage, and the green and stunning vistas of the New Territories – and come away with a better understanding and appreciation of what a phenomenal place Hong Kong is.
Hong Kong – RENDEZVOUS OF CULTURES
Hong Kong – TSIM SHA TSUI
As every local and visitor knows, bustling Tsim Sha Tsui is a great place to shop and dine! But it is also the cultural hub of Hong Kong. Just a start walk from the East Tsim Sha Tsui terminus you’ll find most of Hong Kong’s major museums, a handful of fascinating heritage sites, and the Hong kong cultural Centre that houses the principal venues for local and international performing arts.
Tsim Sha Tsui has changed mightily since it was ceded to the British in 1863. The colonial authorities quickly cleared the crime-ridden area and gardens. Any commercial development in Kowloon was focused on Yau Ma Tei! It wasn’t until the 1950s that Tsim sha Tsui developed into a commercial and densely populated residential area. In recent years, Tsim Sha Tsui has become the dominant tourism centre for Hong Kong with its old suburban character long gone.
An Inter-Village War
The 19th century stonemasons from Tsim sha Tsui and Hung Hom were hakka, as were the junk builders. They were usually single, lived away from home and tended to be quarrelsome. To the north around Kowloon City were the Punti (Cantonese-speaking) subsistence rice farmers who live in villages of great respectability on the fertile plain around the city.
Fights were not uncommon between these two groups. In 1862, insults exchanged at the Tsim Sha Tsui ferry pier escalated into an all-out war! It was this bloody and animated conflict, and the general lawlessness of the district that finally led the Hong Kong Government to clear the whole area the following year.
Hong Kong – East Tsim Sha Tsui
1. The Hong Kong Museum of History
For a fantastic overview of the history of Hong Kong and how its people lived down through the ages, this museum is a must. ‘The Hong Kong Story’* reveals many important archaeological discoveries dating back thousands of years, and traces more recent developments that cover life in the New Territories and modern day Hong Kong right up to the Handover in 1997. Allow a couple of hours to do it justice.
2. The Hong Kong Science Museum
This museum is designed to appeal to the young and the young-at-heart. It serves up a whole host of great ‘hands-on’ exhibits featuring basic science and the background to many everyday facts of life. This is a very user-friendly and cheerful museum, with no solemnity or stuffiness about it!
3. Tsim Sha Tsui – Trendy Dining
If you imagination is fired by the thought of great dining, you’re in the right district! Check out Nathan Road, Canton Road and Chatham Road as well as side streets like Ashley Road, Hillwood Road and Granville Road. For great Cantonese and Sichuan food, pop into the Miramar Shopping Plaza on Kimberley Road. Or wander over to Knutsford Terrace and Knutsford Steps to sample a whole world of culinary treats.
4. Former Kowloon British School
This architectural gem is the oldest surviving school building constructed for foreign residents of Hong Kong. The Government began construction of the building following a HK$ 15,000 donation from Mr. Ho Tung (later Sir Robert). The school was opened in 1902. The building is a unique Victorian structure adapted to local climate conditions with wide verandas, high ceilings and a pitched roof. Today it houses the Antiquities and Monuments Office.
5. St Andrew’s Church
This Anglican church has had a rich and varied history, featuring a strong evangelical tradition for the past 100 years. Early worshippers would arrive by the main means of transportation of the day – rickshaws, cabs and sedan chairs! Accounts of the time reported that, ‘it was a great occasion for many Christians in Kowloon and their friends in Hong Kong’.
6. Nathan Road
Paris had its Champs Elysee, New York has its Fifth Avenue and Hong Kong has Nathan Road. This long boulevard of fine shops and hotels sparkles with neon at night. When Governor Nathan ordered it built at the turn of the 20th century, people thought it too wide for the sparsely populated district and dubbed it ‘Nathan’s Folly’. His folly was truly visionary. Today, it is often called the ‘Golden Mile’ – and rarely will you leave it empty-handed.
7. Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre
What better place to learn all about heritage than in a building steeped in history and culture! The Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre consists of two blocks of building constructed circa 1910, part of what used to be the British Army’s Whitfield Barracks. It served as the temporary home of the Hong Kong Museum of History from 1983-1998. The Heritage Discovery Centre includes a Thematic Exhibition Gallery, Lecture Hall, Reference Library and Activity Room that are open to the public.
8. Harbour City / Ocean Terminal
This is the largest shopping and entertainment centre in Hong Kong, featuring more than 700 local and international shops and restaurants. Part of the complex is Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong’s cruise terminal where many luxury regional and international cruise liners dock.
9. The ’Star’ Ferry
The iconic ’Star’ Ferry has been plying the waters of Victoria Harbour for over 100 years, providing visitors with memorable views of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Also located at the ‘Star’ Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui is an HKTB Visitor Centre where you can get answers to any questions you might have about Hong Kong.
10. ”1881 Heritage”
Located on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, ”1881 Heritage” boasts an area of 130,000 square feet. It features a shopping mall, a heritage hotel, and an exhibition hall. The original site of “1881 Heritage” was occupied by the Hong Kong Marine Police as headquarters from 1880’s to 1997. The buildings’ unique Victorian architecture epitomizes its rich colonial background. Except for the Former Fire Station, the Former Marine Police Headquarters Main Building, Former Stable Block,
Former Time Ball Tower were declared monuments by the Antiqities and Monuments. Office in 1994, as proof of their historical significance.
11. Clock Tower
You can’t miss this landmark to the Age of Steam located along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. The Clock Tower, completed in 1921, is all that is left of the original Kowloon-Canton Railway terminus along the waterfront. This is an icon to rail when trains arrived here with passengers who had set off from London weeks before on, what was at the time, the world’s longest railway journey.
12. Hong Kong Cultural Centre
The Cultural Centre contains Hong Kong’s main venues for performing arts. Most nights of the year there are performances of classical Western or Chinese music, as well as theatrical performances put on by both local and international artists. Whatever your taste in the arts, there is always something to entertain in Hong Kong, the Events Capital of Asia.
13. The Hong Kong Museum of Art
For an excellent overview of Hong Kong and Chinese art, there can be no better place to visit than this exquisite museum. There are seven galleries covering Chinese fine Art from nearby Guangdong province, Chinese painting and calligraphy, Chinese antiquities, Chinese ceramics, historical pictures and contemporary art, etc.
14. The Hong Kong Space Museum
Explore the final frontier-learn all about astronomy and space technology at the Space Museum. There are two exhibition halls-the Hall of Space Science and the Hall of Astronomy with plenty of interactive exhibits, and the newly renovated Stanley Ho Space Theatre. Equipped with a new digital planetarium, and latest SXRD projectors, the theatre is capable of projecting full-dome animation and movies with ultra-high definition images.
15. Avenue of Stars
Hong Kong has a well-deserved reputation as the ’Hollywood of the East’ and you can fine out all about these movie legends when you visit the Avenue of Stars. Here you’ll find commemorative plaques (some with the hand-prints of local stars), sculptures, movie memorabilia and much more in this great tribute to the stars of the silver screen. There is also a two-metre-tall bronze statue of the legendary kung-fu action star Bruce Lee, who was named ‘Star of the century’ by the HK Film Awards Association in 2005, the 65th anniversary of his birth. It’s also an ideal place to watch the spectacular A symphony of Lights and soak up fantastic views of the harbour and vistas of Hong Kong Island.
16. A Symphony of Lights
Acknowledged as the biggest permanent light and sound shoe by Guinness World Records, this stunning show stars every night at 8pm and features flashing neon lights, laser and searchlight beams, music and narration as more than 40 buildings on both sides of the harbour glow in a myriad of colours depicting Hong Kong’s colourful and bustling atmosphere.
Contact your travel agent, hotel tour desk or the HKTB multilingual Visitor Hotline +852 2508 1234 for cruise details.
Hong Kong – MARKET TOWN
MONG KOK
For sheer non-stop excitement with a distinctly local flavor, head for Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei, where side streets and alleys feature some of Hong Kong’s liveliest scenes. You will be amazed by the teeming masses jostling to and fro in this unique section of the city-long described as one of the most densely populated places on earth! In the early days, Hakka farmers and stonemasons were the principal occupants of Mong Kok, while Yau Ma Tei to the south became home to villagers cleared out of Tsim Sha Tsui and quickly became a prosperous town until it too had to be cleared in 1875 due to the insanitary conditions. Nowadays, Mong Kok is the undisputed retail centre of Kowloon! With its crowded streets and vast numbers of shops occupying every inch of street frontage, just walking the streets with the immense crowds out shopping is an education in itself! You’ll love the ambience and the great deals you can get on souvenirs, clothing, electronic goods and much more.
Hong Kong – Some Interesting Street Names
You can glimpse the past history of Mong Kok by checking street signs. The name are a colourful reminder of the bygone days. There is Yuen Po Street (Vegetable Patch Street), Sai Yeung Choi street (Watercress Street), Yuen Ngai Street (Horticulture Street), Fa Yuen Street (Flower Garden Street), Yim Po Fong Street (Bleaching Sheds Street), Pak Po Street (White Cloth Street), Hak Po Street (Black Cloth Street), and Yin Chong Street (Tobacco Factory Street). Nothing remains of the old Mong Kok village but these street name.
Hong Kong – Places in Mong Kok
1. Yuen Po Street Bird Garden
Elderly men gather here every day with their prized birlds, enjoying their birdsong and the fresh air. The birds lead a pampered existence as the owners feed them snacks to encourage them to sing. The market with its traditionally designed Chinese-style stalls (selling caged birds, bird cages and other accessories for the care of caged birds) offers a pleasant and novel experience. While appreciating the beauty and sweet songs of the birds, please avoid direct contact.
2. Flower Market
Hong Kong’s flower market is a fun and coloueful experience featuring a stunning array of blossoms, blooms and potted plants. This collection of street is the hub of the wholesale and retail flower business in Hong Kong. Wander around the market and savour the colours and the fragrances of the flowers. Hong Kong people love decorating their home with flowers, especially at Chinese New Year, so the market is always a great place to visit.
3. Goldfish Market
Fish play an important part in Chinese culture and many people keep fish as pets. The Goldfish Market on Tung Choi Street is the place people head when they want to stock up their aquariums. The market is filled with all manner of goldfish and just about any other type of exotic fish you can think of, as well as fish food, aquariums and associated paraphernalia.
4. Fa Yuen Street
Looking for a bargain? You’ve come to the right neighbourhood! Fa Yuen Street is the place to go to find bargain-priced trendy fashion and casual wear for men, women and children.
5.Ladies’ Market
Join the crowds at the Ladies’ Market and check out the fantastic bargains. Don’t be deceived by the deceived by the name. This market has something for everyone, including men’s, women’s and children’s clothes, knick-knacks, watches and beauty products. Besides the street stalls, there are a number of Hong Kong-style cafes that are worth trying. You are sure to take home a bargain!
6. Sportswear Street
If you’re looking for trendy sports gear then check this place out! This thematic shopping street is great for sports shoes and equipment, featuring all kinds of brands at affordable prices. Whatever your style, this is one of the best places to find sports equipment for the whole family.
Hong Kong – Yau Ma Tei
1. Shanghai Street
Get a taste of the bygone days of Hong Kong and visit one of the city’s oldest streets. Many of the buildings are ages old and some of the shop have existed for decades. Look for shops selling Chinese style wedding clothes which feature stunning embroidery. Once there were many of these shops, now just a few remain. It’s also a great place to pick up bargain kitchenware.
plays an integral role in the preparation of any dish or meal! No one know chopping boards better than Man Kee, which makes more than 70 per cent of the board used in Hong Kong. Fashioned from sturdy, these traditional cutting boards make a great souvenir or gift.
Dim sum, one of Hong Kong’s most tantalizing eating experiences, come in funky little bamboo baskets or steamers. Sham Hing Kee supplies 50 per cent of the Hong Kong market and while most of them come from China, the company still makes some of its own.
Kansu Street/Canton Road
2. The Jade Market and Jade Street
This is a fun place to browse and watch the jade dealers buy and sell from their stalls. Located at the junction of Kansu and Battery street, there are about 400 stalls selling jade of all types, shapes, sizes and prices and where you can find an inexpensive memento. Back in the 1930s, the jade traders used to congregate on street corners to sell their wares, but moved into the market 20 years ago.
Still looking for that special gift or souvenir for somebody? Near the Jade Market is Jade Street, located on Canton Road between Kansu Street and Jordan Road. Jade and gemstone testing is available at Jade Plaza. A giant jade stone weighing three tons has been placed at the junction of Canton Road and Jordan Road as a landmark.
Temple Street
1. Tin Hau Temple
Tin Hau, protector of fisherman, is one of the most revered deities in Hong Kong. Among these many temples in Hong Kong, this is the largest entirely traditional temple complex, constructed of blue brick and granite with tiled roofs. The Main Hall, which is extremely elegant and well proportioned, is dedicated to Tin Hau while the side halls are dedicated to lesser deities. The complex also includes soothsayers who will tell your fortune.
2. Temple Street Night Market
At night, Temple Street is home to Hong Kong’s biggest night market. Here you can find clothes, luggage, cheap watches, posters, and many kinds of gadgets for sale. There are also food stalls if you get hungry. It’s also called the ‘Poor Man’s Night Club’. Here you can get your palm read or enjoy performances of Cantonese opera. It’s an unbelievable experience! The Night Market gets very busy after sunset.
Hong Kong – JORNEY BETWEEN THE CENTURIES
Hong Kong – SHA TIN
Settlement of the Sha Tin Valley began more than 500 years ago, but it was only in the 1950s that it developed into more than a community of rice-subsistence farmers. The real transformation of Sha began in 1973 with the construction of the New Town with its plethora of high-rise residential blocks on partly reclaimed land from the river estuary.
Today, walking around Sha Tin is akin to walking through a time tunnel! You can find vestiges of bygone days here and there interspersed with the modern urban development. Experience a 16th century temple (Che Kung Temple) dedicated to a warrior general imbued with mystical powers! Visit an old village (Tsang Tai Uk) built in the 19th century featuring an amazing one-of-a-kind architectural style. Stroll around a modern-day shopping centre (New TownPlaza) built in the 20th
century that seves as a lightening rod for many of the 750,000 people that call this bustling New Town home.
Hong Kong – The Lady of Amah Rock
On the summit of a hill on the southern flank of Sha Tin valley is a large rock, which viewed from some directions looks like a woman carrying a child on her back! The story goes that after a fisherman failed to return from a fishing trip, his wife with their child on her back would climbed the hill every day to look out to sea, looking for his boat. Alas, he had been caught in a storm and never came back. Day after day, she climbed the hill until, in sympathy and admiring her constancy, the spirit of the mountain turned her into stone so that she could stand and look out to sea forever.
Hong Kong – Tai Wai
1. Che Kung Temple
First established in the 16th century, the Che Kung Temple was built at the junction of three streams because the god was credited with controlling floods-and reputedly saved the area from a plague in 1629. Considered one of the Gods of Good Fortune, his birthday is celebrated on the Second Day of Chinese New Year when as many as 100,000 devotees come to the temple and turn brass windmills. It is believed turning the blades brings good luck.
2. Tsang Tai Uk
Translated as the Big House of the Tsangs, this is a unique village in the New Territories, built to a Hakka design rather than the traditional local style. Entry is through gatehouses in the front courtyard, with wells on either side. The Ancestral Hall is in the centre of the building. All around are houses for visitors. The village was built in the mid-19th century by Tsang Koon-man, a Hakka who made his fortune as a stonemason. Locals called his village ‘The Big House of the tsangs’
Note: Tsang Tai Uk is private property and not formally open to the public. It is usually accessible but care should be taken not to offend the residents or pay too intrusively into the private areas of the village
3. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Opened in 2000, the museum’s 12 galleries are built around traditional Chinese open courtyards. In addition to changing thematic exhibitions, the permanent galleries showcase the history and culture of the New Territories, Cantonese opera*, Chinese culture, and contemporary Hong Kong art and design. A Children’s Discovery Gallery offers a fun way for children to discover the mysteries of archaeology and to learn about the natural environment.
Hong Kong – Central Sha Tin
4. Sha Tin Park
Take a break from all the sightseeing and go for a stroll in this lush eight-hectare park on the banks of the Shing Mun River. There are six gardens featuring a wide variety of shrubs and trees. Enjoy an eight-metre-high waterfall and two banyan trees that provide a great backdrop for photos. Exit through the North Gate and you’ll see Sha Tin Town Hall.
5. City Art Square
The City Art Square is located at the Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza. With the airm to improve the public environment, develop the arts and culture, and promote the Beijing Olympic Game, world-class art displays were introduced in the City Art Square. These displays include original and unique-styled sculptures and public art installations designed and created by 19 world-renowned overseas, mainland and local artists and designers.
6. New Town Plaza
Take time out at the sprawling New Town Plaza. It contains a comprehensive range of shops and a host of eateries offering a wide variety of cuisines to suit just about every taste and budget. One must-visit is Asia’s first outdoor Snoopy’s World, with more than 60 Peanuts figures including the world’s largest outdoor model of Snoopy atop his doghouse. New Town Plaza also features entertainment facilities including mini-cinemas.
Hong Kong – TRADITIONAL LOCAL LIFESTYLE
Hong Kong – TAI PO
Dating back to the 8th century, Tai Po was a station of the Imperial Pearl Monopoly that collected pearls from Tolo Harbour. From the late 14th century, the Tang clan took over the area and established the Old Market, in the process becoming wealthy and building their own Tin Hau temple. Later, a rival band of clans built their own market just across the river from the Tang market, and this New Market grew more powerful over the years. Today, Tai Po is home to about a third of a million people. Whether it’s being fascinated by the mysterious-looking produce in a local shop or being intrigued by burning coils of incense in a favourite local temple, Tai Po offers an intriguing mix of heritage spots, scenic agricultural and fishing villages interspersed with modern residential and commercial tower blocks.
The Foundation of the New Market
The tenant farmers who leased space from the powerful Tang clan chafed under the rules that made trade at the Old Tai Po Market expensive and problematic. They had long sought to establish a river market on the other side of the river. Finally, in 1892, on their third try, the magistrate ruled in their favour. The Tang clan was furious and called the judge stupid because when he ordered the Man clan to take him to the new site, they walked two and a half miles to a bridge, crossed it, and walked the same distance back to the proposed new site. In fact, the site was only a few hundred yards from the existing market!
Hong Kong – Tai Wo
1. Fu Shin Street
This is the original ‘New Market’ Street, first laid out in 1892, which along with Yan Hing and Tsing Yuan streets, provides an amazing visual experience. You’ll see butcher shops that sell every part of the pig! Marvel at the fresh seawater and freshwater fish. There are bakeries selling traditional style cakes and cookies, vegetable shops, hardware stores selling traditional aromatic pillows, Hakka hats (rattan hats with black veils) and bamboo steamers.
| Directions: | Take MTR to Tai Wo Station. Follow the ‘Po Nga Court’ sign to the leave the station. Go downstairs to the ground floor bus terminus. Walk in the direction of the McDonald’s, then follow the sign and walk along Po Nga Road. Cross the Tai Wo Bridge to Pak Shing Street. Turn left and cross the road. Turn right to Yan Hing Street and Fu Shin Street is one alley to the left. |
2. Man Mo Temple
Built in 1892, this in Fu Shin Street has no windows and features coils of long-burning incense. The ladder-accessible upper floors were for guests to the maket. The side halls were useful to keep records and adjudicate disputes between merchants. As well as providing a place for worshippers, the temple served as a market storehouse, hotel, Town Hall and law courts-all the public functions a town needed!
| Directions: | Man Mo Temple is located on the right hand side in the middle of Fu Shin Street. |
3. The Town Earthgod Shrine
Right behind the Man Mo Temple you’ll find the much-venerated Town Eartgod Shrine where people burn offerings to the gods and dead relatives, and elderly villagers come to play cards and chess. Nearby is a shop selling incense and paper offerings. You’ll see banknotes drawn on the Bank of Hell, paper depictions of gold and silver foil (when folded they resemble gold and silver bars), sets of clothing for the dead, or luxuries they might fancy (telephones, fax machines, etc).
| Directions: | Go to the back of the Man Mo Temple. The Town Earthgod Shrine is located next to Yan Hing Street. |
Shun Tak Street
4. The Town Well
The Town Well was the only source of drinking water for the market area until the Government laid mains in the 1920s. While no longer in use, the Well God Shrine located in an alcove is still worshipped. At the entrance of Fu Shin Street, on the left, is a single-story shop, which is the last remaining commercial building dating from in 1892. All the other buildings have been rebuilt.
| Directions: | Go to the end of Fu Shin Street. |
5. The Hong Kong Railway Museum
Great for railway buffs, this small picturesque museum opened in 1985 and is located in the old Tai Po Market Railway Station, which opened in 1913 and is now a historical monument. Its exhibition of Hong Kong’s rail history includes photograghs, old coaches, samples of track, an electric-train mock-up and a narrow gauge steam locomotive.
| Opening hours: | 9am-5pm Monday and Wednesday to Saturday and most public holidays |
| Closed on Tuesday. Free admission | |
| Directions: | Turn right at Shun Tak Street and follow the sign to the Railway Museum |
| Telephone: | +852 2653 3455 |
| Did you know… |
| Local people like cooked food stalls because they offer home made dishes or food prepared in old-fashioned ways. In the Tai Po Hui Market Complex, Ping Kee (shop CFS 12) cooks make their sturdy noodles using bamboo sticks! Yau Kee (shop CF 20) serves up tasty Hakka treats like Hak Ji Ma Cha Gau-the outer layer is made from sticky rice and the contents include various ingredients like sesame and peanuts; great for afternoon tea and pastry! Similar kinds of cooked food stalls can be found in residential areas all over Hong Kong. |
Hong Kong – WALLED VILLAGE
FANLING
The great clans (the Hau, Tang, Pang, Lui and Man) all settled in different sections of the fertile flat lands of the Sheung Yue River. The fertile soil allowed the ancient villagers of the area to prosper and to build fine large ancestral halls and temples, and to defend themselves with stout walls. The villages had good schools and produced a number of scholars. Fanling developed as a market town and the railway helped boost prosperity. During the 1920s and 1930s small religious house were constructed and a suburban ‘garden city’ emerged. The fields are pretty much gone, and the New Town is now filled with residential and commercial blocks and has a population in excess of 350,000. Culture and heritage buffs will be delighted with the cornucopia of treasures to see, including a stunning Taoist temple and a number of walled villages. It’s also fun to wail around in the nearby shopping mall and check out the local eateries and shop for a real slice of modern-day Hong Kong life.
Hong Kong – A Prestigious Marriage
During the 12th century, a Tang clan man rescued a young girl fleeing the invading Mongols. When she grew up, he arranged for her to marry his son. When peace and security was restored, she informed her husband that she was in fact related to royalty and was the daughter of the Emperor. Luckily, the Emperor was inclined to look favourably on the marriage and let it stand, giving her husband a suitable title and large estate to provide for his daughter. Most of the Tangs resident in the New territories today are descended from their five sons.
Fanling
1. Fung Ying Seen Koon
This is the largest Taoist institute in Hong Kong, built in 1929 by devotees fleeing the Anti-Superstition Campaign in Canton (Guangzhou). Recently rebuilt, the Main Hall contains shrines to various Taoist deities. There is also a finely inscribed wall behind the Main Hall with the 72 Immortals on one side and the entire text of the Tao Te Ching (the Taoist scripture) on the other. The restaurant inside the temple is famous for serving vegetarian meals.
| Directions: | Leave MTR Fanling Station and follow the signpost ‘Fung Ying Seen Koon’. Cross the pedestrian flyover running across the main road. This runs into an underpass. At the end of the underpass, turn left and the entrance to the Fung Ying Seen Koon is immediately in front. The main buildings are up the steps. A brief, Free guide to the complex is available at the office (to the right at the top of the entrance steps). |
Hong Kong – Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Tral
Lung Yeuk Tau
The Sung dynasty Princess and her Tang clan husband settled in Lung Yeuk Tau in the 13th century, Today his descendants occupy 11 villages in the area, five of which are walled.
2. Shung Him Tong
Hakka Lutherans founded this village in 1901 after escaping persecution. Of note is the fine Tsung Kyam Church (Tsung Kyam is the Hakka pronunciation of Shung Him), the only church with services in Hakka. Just part the church is Shek Lo mansion belonging to the Tsui clan. The son of the family was just a university student when he joined the British Army to fight the Japanese invasion. After the war, he was permitted to join the Hong Kong Civil Service – the first Chinese person allowed to do so.
Note: This is private property and not open to the public.
| Directions: | Go back to MTR Fanling Station and follow the sign to ‘Luen Wo Hui’. Turn left and go downstairs to the Green Minibus station and take Green Minibus 54K to Lung Yeuk Tau. Ask the driver to let you off at Shung Him Tong. |
3. Ma Wat Wai
For a unique experience there is nothing quite like a Chinese walled village. At Ma Wat Wai, check out the gatehouse with its gun platform over the gate, dating back to about 1740. It’s made of thick plated wrought iron in two leaves. When closed and locked, the design allows air to circulate but provides a good deal of strength at the same time. Access to the village is through a single narrow gate on the northwest side. The entrance gate of Ma Wat Wai became a Declared Monument in 1994.
| Directions: | Walk along the route to Ma Wat Wai, which is next to Ma Wat Wai children’s playground. |
4. Lo Wai
This old walled village is a must-visit in Lung Yeuk Tau, featuring thick walls accessible only through the single narrow gateway on the east side. The walls and the gatehouse have been restored recently and are Declared Monuments. The gatehouse contains a shrine to the Earthgod and has a gun platform above, but the village’s small canon is no longer. Several old houses within the walled village are still occupied.
| Opening hours: | 9am-5pm daily (Entrance Tower of Lo Wai) |
| Directions: | Walk along the route to Lo Wai. |
| Remarks: | To avoid disturbing local residents, the interior of Lo Wai is not open to the public. |
5. The Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall
This Declared Monument is a superb building, originally built in 1570 and rebuilt around 1700. It includes an Ancestral Hall that is a perfect example of the ‘Gentry Ancestral Hall’ or a hall for the descendants of some high officials (in this case the descendents of the Sung Princess and her husband). The building is decorated to the Sung Princess and her husband, the only such tablet in Hong Kong.
| Opening hours: | 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm Monday and Wednesday to Saturday |
| Closed on Tuesday and some public holidays. | |
| Directions: | Walk along the route to Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall. |
6. Tin Hau Temple
The local Tin Hau Temple, immediately next to the Tang Clan Ancestral Hall, is an excellent piece of workmanship, entirely traditional in form and decoration. It was last restored in 1981. Tin Hau, protector of fisherman and one of Hong Kong’s most popular deities, is in the Main Hall while Kam Fa, goddess of childbirth, is in the side hall. Note the magnificent wall orchid that has been growing for the past 70 years.
| Directions: | Tin Hau Temple is next to the Ancestral Hall. |
| Tip: | Take Green Minibus 54K back to MTR Fanling Station and take MTR back to town. |
FIRST HERITAGE TRAIL IN HONG KONG
YUEN LONG
Situated in the northwest New Territories, Yuen Long is an area of mountains and rivers – a land of
. Commercial development grew up around a market at Tai Kiu Tun, which later moved to Kau Hui.
The market prospered and it was the focal point of community life for 250 years until the
establishment of the Yuen Long San Hui (Yuen Long New Market) in 1916. Today, Yuen Long has
developed from a market town into a modern New Town filled with residential and commercial developments. But the district still harbours incredible vestiges of Hong Kong’s past. Many heritage sites – including Hong Kong’s only ancient pagoda – are still well preserved. The various centuries-old ancestral halls provide a rich vein of information about the early clan settlers in the New Territories. All of these heritage sites offer a wonderful way to literally step back in time and revisit the early days of Asia’s world city.
Iron Gate Incident
In 1899, a year after China leased the New Territories to Britain, the people of Kam Tin were still putting up stiff resistance to British troops. After several skirmishes, the villagers took shelter behind the latticed gates of Kat Hing Wai. But the British proved too strong and upon entering the village, removed the gates and shipped them back to Britain as booty! In 1924, a member of the Tang clan petitioned the British government to return the gates. As a gesture of goodwill, this was done and on 26 May 1925, Governor Stubbs arrived in Kam Tin for the ceremonial return of the gates. Today, there is a tablet hanging near the main gate at Kat Hing Wai giving an account of the incident.
Hong Kong – Ping Shan Heritage Trail
Ping Shan
Originally Ping Shan was used to denote a number of villages situated below the Ping Shan Police Station. These included Sheung Cheung Wai, Kiu Tau Wai, Hang Tau Tsuen, Hang Mei Tsuen, Hung Uk Tsuen and Tong Fong Tsuen. But now, Ping shan covers a much larger area.
1. Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda (Pagoda of the Gathering Stars)
Hong Kong’s oldest pagoda, it is believed to have been built by a seventh generation Tang clan ancestor in about 1486. The thre-storey, green brick building is hexagonal shaped and stands 13 metres high. The top floor of the pagoda is home to Fuji Shing (Champion Star) who is believed to be the deity in charge of success or failure in examinations. You will also see auspicious sayings inscribed in each floor.
| Opening hours: | 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm Monday and Wednesday to Sunday |
| Closed on Tuesday and public holidays | |
| Directions: | MTR Tin Shui Wai Station Exit E. When you arrive at the ground floor, cross Tsui Sing Road. You will see Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda. |
2. Shrine of the Eartgod in Hong Kong
Just before you enter Sheung Cheung Wai you will come across a shrine dedicated to the Earthgod, She Kung, the deity that villagers believe protects their villages and homes. The shrines are usually simple brick structures on which pieces of stone are placed to symbolize the presence of the god.
| Directions: | follow the ‘Ping Shan Heritage Trail’ sign. Turn left and walk in the direction of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Kwok Yat Wai College. Follow the sign to Sheung Cheung Wai. |
3. Sheung Cheung Wai
This 200-year-old walled village is the only such village along the entire beritage trail. It consists of rows of symmetrical houses enclosed by a green brick wall. The gatehouse, shrine and some of the old houses are still standind, Part of the wall has been demolished but enough remains to give a good taste of a traditional Chinese walled village.
| Directions: | Turn left at the Shrine of the Earth God. |
4. Yeung Hau Temple in Hong Kong
Located in Hang Tau Tsuen, this temple is one six temples in Yuen Long dedicated to the deity Hau Wong. The exact date of construction is unknown but renovations were undertaken in 1963 and 1991. The temple is divided into three bays housing the statues of Hau Wong, Kam Fa (Patron Saint of Expectant Mothers) and To Tei (God of the Earth).
| Directions: | Follow the signs and turn right at the first junction and turn left at the second junction. Yeung Hau Temple is located on your left. |
5. Tang Ancestral Hall
First constructed in 1273, this Tang clan Ancestral Hall is a magnificent three-hall structure with two internal courtyards, and is one of the finest examples of such a building in Hong Kong. Worth noting is the elevated pathway in the front courtyard indicating that one of the Tang clansmen held a high-ranking position in the Imperial government.
| Opening Hours: | 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm daily |
| Closed on the first three days of the Lunar New Year | |
| Directions: | Go back to the last junction and turn left. Walk along the road and you will see both the Tang Ancestral Hall and the Yu Kiu Ancestral Hall |
6. Yu Kiu Ancestral Hall in Hong Kong
Situated immediately to the south of the Tang Ancestral Hall, it was constructed in the early 16th century by two 11th generation Tang clan brothers. Apart from being an ancestral hall it also served as a school for kids in the Ping Shan villages. The layout and design of this building is identical to the Tang Ancestral Hall with its three halls and two internal courtyards.
| Opening Hours: | 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm daily |
| Closed on the first three days of the Lunar New Year. |
7. Kun Ting Study Hall
Used both for ancestor worship and as a study hall, this 1870s edifice is a stunning piece of craftsmanship. It is a two-hall building with an enclosed courtyard, noteworthy for its finely carved granite columns and granite block base along the ancestral hall inside the Study Hall reflects the work of skilled craftsman of that peried.
| Directions: | Follow the sign to Kun Ting Study Hall and Ching Shu Hin. Enter the Kun Ting Study Hall from the side entrance. |
8. Ching Shu Hin
Adjoining the Kun Ting Study Hall, this 1874 building was intended as a guesthouse for prominent scholars and visitors. It is a memorable feast for the eyes, decorated with carved panels, murals, patterned grilles, carved brackets and elegance of a rich Chinese family’s residence.
| Note: | Ching Shu Hin is private property and not open to the public. |
9. Hung Shing Temple
Hung Shing is widely worshipped, particularly by fishermen and people whose livelihoods depend upon the sea. The temple, built by the Tang clan in 1767, is a simple two-hall building with an open courtyard in between-unlike most other temple in Hong Kong, where the open courtyards are roofed over to from incense towers. The original design of the Hung Shing Temple, with its better lighting and ventilation, has been well preserved.
| Directions: | Turn left to Ping Ha Road. Walk along the Hung Shing temple is next to Hang Mei Tsuen Park. |
| tip: | Return to original route, follow the signs to Light Rail Hong Mei Tsuen Station to take the Route 761P and alight at Tai Tong Road Station to discover the hidden treasures of Yuen Long |
Hong Kong – HIDDEN TREASURES OF YUEN LONG
Traditional Treats
Pun Choi or ‘Big Bowl Feast’ is a type of food served in wooden basins rather than traditional porcelain or metal. The tradition dates back to try this age-old delicacy. Tai Wing Wah Restaurant is one of the few restaurants serving this kind of meal. The restaurant’s menu also features five-spices chicken. Pun Choi is now a popular item at family gatherings with various restaurants around town serving different kinds of Pun Choi.
When families gather together during the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival, eating moon cakes are an indispensable part of the festivities. One moon cake , Wig Wah Cake Shop, along with its assortment of baked goods, has pioneered the so-called healthy variety of moon cake featuring white lotus seed paste instead of egg yolks. Nowadays, thousands of cake shop all over Hong Kong sell moon cakes at festival time.
One story goes that the delightfully named ‘wife cake’ has its roots in a dumpling prepared by the wife of a dim sum chef in Guangzhou. She bet him she could make a better dim sum than his version. The chef agreed and adapted his wife’s recipe, naming it wife cake! The Hang Heung Cake Shop’s wife cake has winter melon inside and a hard-baked crust on the outside. They are hand-made and baked fresh every day. You can also look for wife cake in other traditional Chinese
cake shops.
Local Favourites
Hong Kong people love to eat, and are known to go to great lengths to enjoy their favourite dishes! The Ho To Tai Noodle Shop has customers who go out of their way just to savour its shrimp roe loe min (noodle). Opened in 1948, the restaurant also supplies (wonton) filled with pork, shrimp and bamboo shoots. Wonton noodles are a local delicacy in Hong Kong and you can find many other noodles shops around town serving this popular favourite.
The humble beef ball has a loyal following amongst Hong Kong food lovers. Some shops still make by hand and they are a popular staple in dai pai dongs. At Victory Beef Ball the owner, Mr Liu, learned to make beef balls at age 15, and 20 years on, his outlets sell 200-300 kilos of handmade beef balls every day!
In order to beat the heat in Hong Kong, locals rely on a host of thirst-quenching concoctions. One of the most popular is the unusually named ‘B Choi Grass Jelly’! it’s a colourful mélange of jelly mixed with different fruits and can be shared between three or four people. Kai Kee Dessert in Yuen Long serves this local favourite with more than 10 kinds of fruit! Similar kinds of desserts can also be found in downtown dessert shops.
Hong Kong – International Fare
Hong Kong offers food lovers a tantalizing array of Indian food with dishes from virtually every corner of the country. If spicy lamp curries or mouth-watering lamp samosas are your thing, then a visit to Shaffi’s Indian Restaurant is in order. Run by a former British Air Force employee, this eatery features Air Force photos, adding to the ambiance. You’ll find a wide choice of Indian restaurants in Kong’s various food districts.
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Thai Royal Travel
Thai Royal Travel is a Thai-Danish travel agent company in Bangkok, Thailand. We are Thai registered company with Department of Business Development. Our TAT license is 11/06021
