Tai Po District

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Tung Ping Chau

Tung Ping Chau is the only place in Hong Kong blessed with the existence of shale. The island is situated at the northeast of Sai Kung and in the area of Tai Pang Wan. It is very close to the China border, only about a thousand yards away.

Apart from shale, it is also characterized by many places of interest like Keng Lau Shek, Tau Cliff, Nan Guo Shui, Cham Keung Chau and Lung Guo Shui. Since its designation as a country park, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has provided many amenities for visitors, such as walking trails, picnic and barbecue sites.

Tap Mun

Tap Mun is also called Grass Island. It is situated in Sai Kung North, to the east of the Tolo Channel.

It was once a famous fishing area with a population of about 5 000. The population has now dropped because of the reduction in fish haul, which has forced inhabitants to earn their living elsewhere. There are only a few shops on the island which sell daily necessities. As there is no market, residents have to go to Tai Po Market or Sai Kung to do their shopping. The only school there had ceased operation since September 2004. Since there is no medical facilities in Tap Mun, the government has arranged a medical ship to visit the Island on a regular basis to provide medical services for the residents.

Tap Mun features a variety of attractions, including the Tin Hau Kung temple, Lung Tau Ken, Dip Shek and the Tap Mun Shrine.

During holidays, the only seafood restaurant on the Island is full of customers. The seafood mainly comes from the fishing boats and rafts nearby. Visitors can also buy various kinds of high quality preserved seafood (such as dried shrimps, salted fish and dried octopus) at very reasonable prices from the stalls around the pier. Many ex-residents return to Tap Mun to celebrate and rejoice during major traditional festivals.

Lai Chi Chong

Lai Chi Chong was so named because there had been 3 huge lychee trees bearing juicy fruit. It is situated at the northern foothills of Shek Uk Shan facing Tolo Channel. There are bays and beaches and various scenic natural features. Thus, it is very popular among campers.

Walk for about 10 minutes from University Station, MTR East Rail Line to Ma Liu Shui Pier and take a scheduled ferry.

Tai Mei Tuk

It is located next to the Plover Cove Reservoir and at the foot of Pat Sin Leng. Visitors may walk along the Tai Mei Tuk Family Walk or go to the water sports centre in Tai Mei Tuk. They may also have a barbecue, fly kites, go cycling or go fishing around the pier. Cafes and restaurants can be found along Ting Kok Road which provide visitors with cuisines in Guangdong, Portuguese, Chaozhou and Thai styles.

The Wilson Trail (Tai Po Section)

The Wilson Trail was built with the idea of the ex-governor Lord David Wilson. It is 78 km long. It starts at Stanley, south Hong Kong Island and ends at Nam Chung in the north of the New Territories. There are ten sub-sections totally, which spread across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. The trail takes 27 hours to complete.

In the Tai Po area, there are two sections: Yuen Tun Ha to Cloudy Hill and Cloudy Hill to Pat Sin Leng (Hsien Ku Fung). Pat Sin Leng comprises serveral mountain ridges and is located at the northeast of Tai Po. It has steep mountain paths and its landscape looks like eight celestials (Pat Sin) coming down from heaven. The highest point of Pat Sin Leng at the main peak of Wong Leng, which is 639 m above sea level, commands an excellent view.

Tai Po Waterfront Park

The Tai Po Waterfront Park is the largest park in Tai Po District. Situated to the south of Tai Po Industrial Estate, it covers an area of 22 hectares while facing Tolo Harbour. It was completed in 1997 at a cost of $210 million and has been open to the public since then. The Park provides a wide range of facilities including a 1.2 long promenade, rest-gardens, sitting-out areas, a jogging trail with fitness stations, a cycling track and a 600-seat amphitheatre.

There is also a 32.4-metre-high Lookout Tower in the Park. Visitors have bird eye's view of the entire Park from the top of the Tower. After visiting the tower, visitors may move on to the Insect House nearby.

Man Mo Temple

The Man Mo Temple is located on Fu Shin Street. This building is the first declared monument in the New Territories.

The Man Mo Temple was built in 1891 with funds contributed by the villagers of Tsat Yeuk. The Temple was used as the office of the Tsat Yeuk Rural Committee until 1954, when the new rural committee office was completed. Then it was dedicated to worshipping the Civil God of Literacy (Man) and the Martial God (Mo).

The Man Mo Temple has a long history. Over the years, it has been standing in storms and bad weather and has been badly damaged. The Tsat Yeuk Rural Committee members have been seeking to carry out renovation work. Concurrently the government planned to develop Tai Po and declared the temple as a monument. The government and the Tsat Yeuk villagers funded a total of some $700,000 to renovate the temple.

After visiting the Man Mo Temple, visitors may move on to Fu Shin Street. There you will find a lot of local produce and traditional food, such as rice popcorn and Kei Lo cake. Fu Shin Street is always crowded with visitors during traditional festivals.

Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden

Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) spreads over 148 hectares of land and is located on the northern slopes and foothills of Hong Kong's highest mountain - Tai Mo Shan. The Farm was established in 1956 to provide agricultural aid to farmers in need of support to help them lead independent lives. Today, reflecting the changing times, KFBG plays an active role in promoting the conservation of biodiversity in Hong Kong and South China, allied with sustainable agriculture and creative nature education. Please check KFBG website (www.kfbg.org) for more information.

Enquiry: 2483 7200

Lam Tsuen

Lam Tsuen is located in the hilly area of northwest of Tai Po. It is noted for its numerous species of birds and plants.

Located at Fong Ma Po, the Tin Hau Temple in Lam Tsuen was built in the reign of Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. It is the largest Tin Hau Temple in Tai Po. The main hall of the temple is dedicated to Tin Hau and the side halls are the Hall for the Civil God of Literacy and the Martial God (the Man Mo Hall), and the Temple for Justice built in honour of 12 heroic people who had protected the Lam Tsuen villagers in the past. Villagers hold memorial ceremonies every autumn. It opens every day from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.

The recently established Lam Tsuen Wishing Square is a new attraction in the area. It has a new Wishing Tree and a "Wishing Avenue" with a numbers of Ficus Microcarpa planted along both sides.

Pun Chun Yuen

Located at Shek Kwu Lung, the place was first developed as a lectorium for Buddhists to practise meditation in the early 30s. It was then further developed in the 50s with the construction of other structures, including the Great Buddha's Hall, the Halls for the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin) and the God of Earth. Since then, the beautiful landscape and setting of Pun Chun Yuen has made it a popular tourist attraction in Tai Po.

Wun Yiu Village

Wun Yiu Village is reputed to have been founded in 1650 while the Fan Sin Kung temple for commemorating the patron-god of potters was built in 1790. The Village was famous for producing ceramic products which were made from white clay. The high quality porcelain clay had to be dug out from the hillside. Its large output of household ceramics made Wun Yiu Village famous throughout Hong Kong and the Guangdong Province. However, the operation of the pottery kilns was stopped in 1918 because of fierce competition with imports. There are still some old pottery kilns and ceramic products left. The place was declared a monument by the government in 1983 because of its historical value.

Hong Kong Railway Museum

The Hong Kong Railway Museum is another moument in Tai Po.It was originally the old Tai Po Market Railway Station built in 1913. Its Chinese pyramidal roof makes it distinctively different from all other British style stations. There are Chinese style motifs carved at conspicuous positions on the walls of the stationand the signboard of the ticket counter is painted in red. There are still some passenger notices hanging in the station. All these have been preserved carefully during its renovation.

The museum is aimed at introducing the railway history of Hong Kong. There are three carriages on the tracks for public viewing: a railroad pushcart, a passenger carriage used between the post-war years and the early 70s and a modern-day carriage in bright yellow and chrome trim which takes thousands of commuters to and from the New Territories every day.

Enquiry: 2653 3339

The Old District Office of Tai Po

The Old District Office sits on top of a knoll that commands a breathtaking view of Tai Po and the blue stretch of water called Tolo Harbour. This majestic building was built of red brick. According to records, it was here that the judicious mandarins held court as early as the 1900s to judge cases regarding land, property, marriage or crime. The building was also said to have been used by the Japanese occupational forces in the darkest days of Hong Kong. The long and narrow corridors lend credibility to some spooky tales. Presently, it is a sub-office of the Environmental Protection Department.

Tai Wong Yeh Temple

It is situated next to the Island House Interchange in Yuen Chau Tsai. Its history can be dated back to the middle of the Qing Dynasty. The Temple was originally a stone tablet erected on the north shore of Yuen Chau Tsai by villagers of the Chik Mei Village located north of the Shenzhen River. In the late Qing Dynasty, a group of fishermen raised funds to build the temple at the present location for worshipping Tai Wong Yeh. The Tai Wong Yeh Festival falls on four occasions each year: on the 5th day, 15th day and 25th day of the second lunar month, and the 6th day of the fifth lunar month. Since the 1930s, on the 6th day of the fifth lunar month each year, the fishermen staged Cantonese operas to celebrate the festival, which is a major event for both the local fishermen and residents. In 1988, a ceremony was held to mark the reopening of the Tai Wong Yeh Temple after its renovation.

Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve

The Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve is the oldest nature reserve in Hong Kong. The area is heavily wooded with more than 100 species of trees. Within the Reserve there are a number of walks built in quiet and unspoiled surroundings. Also, there is the Nature Trail for visitors and students to learn about different species of plants and trees.

The Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve lies between the University station, MTR East Rail Line and Tai Po, covering an area of some 20 square kilometres. The entrance is a broad mountain road located next to a road above Tai Po Kau Village. Visitors may park their vehicles in the car park located at the entrance of the road. The trail runs along the west-side boundary of the woods leading to the southern hillsides. Walking pass the giant trees, visitors can enjoy the tranquility of nature.

According to the Hong Kong Bird Watching Association, the Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve is one of the best places to observe birds in Hong Kong. It is inhabited by a large variety of birds. Visitors can also appreciate the beautiful movements of egrets in flight while enjoying the full splendor of nature.

There is also a Nature Trail for visitors to learn about the natural ecology and the names of plants while enjoying their walk in the area. The Trail is about 700 feet long with signposts installed to denote the particular features along the way. Brochures have been published for public reference by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Tolo Harbour Cycling Track

The Cycling Track extends from the town centre of Shatin to the rural area of Tai Po. Visitors can choose to rent a bicycle either in Tai Wai (of Shatin) or Tai Po and start their journeys there. While admiring the beautiful countryside scenery along the track, one can also enjoy the wounderful vistas of the Tai Po waterfront with the giant Tai Po Industrial Estate in the background. The Plover Cove, the dams of the Plover Cove Reservoir, as well as the Tai Mei Tuk Water Sports Centre which provides visitors with various water sports facilities will also come into view.

King Law Ka Shuk Ancestral Hall

King Law Ka Shuk was built by the Tang's clan of the New Territories. It is said is said to have been built by the 13th generation of the Tang's clan in memory of the 10th generation ancestor Tang King Law. King Law Ka Shuk was built in a three-hall type design style which fully reflects the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

King Law Ka Shuk has been renovated with focus on the shrine built in 1932. The six-storey shrine houses Tang's ancestors' soul tablets which were finely carved. It has been recognized by UNESCO as an outstanding culture and heritage restoration project.

Sam Mun Tsai

Sam Mun Tsai is a fishing village. The fishermen there raise various species of fish in rafts with the use of advanced technology. From Sam Mun Tsai, one can gaze across the sea to the dam of the Plover Cove Reservoir. Visitors can take a stroll along its seaside or sail a boat in the nearby waters while enjoying the sunset or the sunrise. There are restaurants nearby where visitors can enjoy a large variety of seafood cuisine.

Fung Yuen

Situated about 2 kilometers from the centre of Tai Po, Fung Yuen was designated as a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" as early as 1980. It is a famous location for watching butterflies in Asia. There are nearly 180 butterfly species and about 50 of these are not commonly seen in Hong Kong.