Sam Tung Uk Village

Sam Tung Uk Village is a Hakka walled village. In the Year 1987, Sam Tung Uk Village was restored and opened to public as a museum. It showcases the traditional life style of Hakka people in Hong Kong.

‘Sam Tung’ represents ‘three rows of dwelling’. The symmetrical layout of the village resembles a chessboard with an entrance hall, an assembly hall and an ancestral hall at the central axis. With four individual houses in the middle, the village is completely walled in by rows of houses at the two sides and the back. These unique buildings express the traditional cultural of Chinese architecture, which is to be balance and in harmony.

Inside the houses, different exhibitions are held. A hands-on exhibition entitled ‘The Way We Were’ has been specially designed for visitors to experience village life. Various agricultural implements and everyday objects of the Hakka people are being display in that exhibition. Also, a temporary exhibition is being organized. It is about Chinese Folk Prints. To celebrate the Year of Tiger, the four side houses of the Sam Tung Uk Museum has put on a new display of around 40 Chinese folk prints under four themes: Scenes from Daily Life, Folk Tales from Operas and Legends, Auspicious Pictures and Folk Deities. These colourful prints offer a fascinating insight into China's folk traditions.

Tsuen Wan started to developed in the late 1940's. In the 1970’s, Villagers in Sam Tung Uk Village were relocated due to the construction of Tsuen Wan MTR station. Since then, Tsuen Wan developed even much faster. As time flies, Tuen Wan, nowadays, is totally different. Everything of the old Tuen Wan lost. Sam Tung Uk lives on, as a witness of the change.

Virtual Heritage Explorer provided by Antiquities and Monuments Office : http://vhe.lcsd.gov.hk/vhe/FEBS?pageAction=INTRO&langNo=1&bsid=13

Opening Hours:

• Mondays, Wednesdays to Sundays(including public holidays) 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Closed on Tuesdays, Christmas day, Boxing day, New Year's day and the first three days of the Chinese New Year
  

Admission : Free-of-charge


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My experience in the Ping Shan Heritage Trail (Part 4)

Now is a time to end up my experience in the Ping Shan Heritage Trail. Finally, I would like to share my options of the pros and cons in the Trail. After that, you can decide this trail is worth to go or not!

Many preservations for the historical buildings
Preservation of historic buildings and monument in Ping Shan can be continuing. Actually, several variable buildings have been renovated, such as Tang Ancestral Hall in 2004, Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda in 2010, etc. These buildings are protected and repaired by the government. Therefore, the visitors can visit the trail to have orginal taste of historical heritage.




Chance for discovering the values and customs
Ping Shan in Yuen Long district is one of Hong Kong’s most historically significant regions because of Tang Clan, one of the major clans in the New Territories. Therefore, most of the 80s teenagers who live in urban area may not familiar with the traditional culture in the New Territories. They can know more about the conventional culture in Tang Clan as well as the crucial of the preservation. It helps to enhance their awareness of preservation or revirtalizion for buildings that is necessary to do so.




Conservation of Culture heritage
There are a number of archaeological and historic sites in the trail. Due to a part of tourists look for culture tourism, it is an opportunity to develop the cultural tourism in Hong Kong. Thus, the Government have been conducted much conservation through revitalization, repairing, restoring, and etc. As a result, the archeological such as Hung Shing Temple or other archaeological site can be preserved. The awareness of the value to outsiders can spur renews interest and pride among residents.





For the cons, there are also my opinions and feelings after i visited the trail. These are mainly for the environmental aspect.

Pollution
Certainly, the planning and development will bring some negative impacts. In maintenance or construction work, different pollution will be caused. For example, noise will affect local people living when working is processing because the historical trail is closely with inhabitants. The project also will produce dirt; the quality of air will decrease and become worse. Besides that, water pollution may contaminate the pool, even drinking water. However, these pollutions do not only made by the visitors but also the residents. The hygiene is bad where is close to the residential areas. In addition, there are not much rubbish bin for the whole trail.

Lack of English support for the shops or even residents
There are still a number of local village residents living in Ping Shan and many of them operate restaurants or snack shops. However, they do not speak well in English even cannot speak English. Some conflicts may occur due to missunderstand. For example, the oversea visitors will try to burst into the local resident house without permit because the residents tend to not close the door. However, the notice regarding the tourists are prohibited entry only in Chinese language.

To sum up, I still think Ping Shan is value to visit the histrical and cultural heritages. There are rich historical resources that can teach or show the visitors the history in Ping Shan since this was a place for the Tang clans to live for many years. The trail is a must for all people visit. The government may do some improvements for the trail. The government may not only focus on revitalization and presevation but also the manpower and the hygiene in the trail. I hope the trail will be improved and become hot place for e-Tourism.:)

Sha Tin Che Kung Temple

If you visit Hong Kong, don't miss this destination. Hong Kong people will visiting the Che Kung Temple every year to pray for happiness.


The Che Kung Temple is located in the Tai Wai area of Sha Tin. It looks more like a Japanese shrine than a traditional Chinese temple. Today, the temple is housed in a modern building (completed in 1993), which replaced the original temple, built more than 300 years ago.

The temple is dedicated to "Che Kung" (General Che), a great soldier who achieved fame by quashing a rebellion in South China during the Sung dynasty. He is said to have accompanied the Emperor when he fled to Hong Kong before the fall of the dynasty. After his death, people began worshipping him for his courage.



Another legend says Che Kung accompanied the last Emperor of the Sung dynasty to Hong Kong, and they settled in Sai Kung. Che Kung was respected by the villagers and after his death, he was raised to the status of a deity. The villagers dedicated a temple to him at Ho Chung in Sai Kung. Today, worshippers flock to the temple to wish Che Kung happy birthday on the second day of the Lunar New Year (January or February).




The temple features a main altar flanked by huge drum and bell. There is also a giant statue of Che Kung at the altar in the main worship hall. Next to this is a fan-bladed wheel of fortune, which, worshippers believe, will bring good luck when turned three times. An addition to the modern temple is a very popular area for fortune-tellers, which can be found to the left of the entrance.

Open to the public from 7am - 6pm daily.

My experience in the Ping Shan Heritage Trail(Part 3)

The last two posts are about the heritage in Ping Shan Heritage Trail. This time i also want to continue this topic. I hope everyone would want to visit the trail after they saw our blog!:)

Sheung Cheung Wai
It is one of the special communities because it is wall-village. For long time ago, there were plenty of pirates attacking Hong Kong so they tended to build up village to protect themselves. Thus, there are number of security methods in wall-village. The visitors can understand the traditional security in this kind of village as well as appreciate their ancestry’s wisdom.
For example, their flat is quite small in which could only accommodate one bed and limited furniture. It is because the residents need to work outside in their daily life. They just need a sleeping area only. Also, they tend to discuss or play in an ancestral hall.
The above situation would not appear in the urban area. Hence, the community in Ping Shan has created a chance for the visitors who can understand more about their living style and architecture style.


Besides the heritage, i also want to introduce the special event in the trail as this is an element of heritage trail.

“Poon-Choi”
The visitors may come to Ping Shan to enjoy “Poon-Choi” with the residents . This event attracts a large number of visitors to create lots of stage authenticity. The "Poon Choi" event will be hold to celebrate Chinese New Year in the Tang Ancestral Hall which was constructed by Tang Fung-shun, the fifth generation ancestor of the Tang Clan about 700 years ago. The building is the main ancestral hall of the Tang clan of Ping Shan. It is a magnificent three-hall structure with two internal courtyards and is one of the finest examples of its kind in Hong Kong. From the photos, you can see the lay out for preparing the "Poon Choi" event.



Although there are many historic buildings in Ping Shan Heritage Trail, there are postive and negative impacts in there. I will tell you about these impacts in next time!!:)

Golden Age Tour( Part 4)

I was introduce the street again, Ladder Street. The movie director was prefer shooting in there. Why? Because it was memorable. This is nearby Hollywood street at the concer. The Tung wah Hospial is the old weatern hospital and some funeral service in the area. The streets is located in Soho and Central. The street included a tree-lined, 350-metre path from Caine Road to Queen’s Road Central. You will find the traditional and residential building, related black and dirty wall.

Near by the street, you will see the worship hourse and 162 year-old Man Mo Temple. Man Mo Temple is the old and hertitage building, is built in 1847.It is dedicated to the civil god Man Cheong and the martial god Kwan Ti Lit Shing Kung is the worship of all heavenly gods. Kung So was an assembly hall where community affairs and disputes were settled.

It is the photo in ladder Street in 1945

Someone said the story, they said in 100 years ago, coolies died were rested here for funeral services before they were carried back to home country. It is terrible. Also, people said that it is “ long-living shop” and "four-and-a-half-piece”, mean is the number of pieces of wood used to make a coffin.

How to Go: Bus (40,40M,5X,5B)

By Renee Lam

Golden Age Tour( Part 3)

The Golden Age Tour was finished a half part of journey, is it interesting? Third station is Central Police Station; it is located in Hollywood road. When you visit the street, you can visit the police station. What feature of the station? This is old building in 1864, it is long history construct in Hong Kong. The government was important to conversation of building It is unique hertiage and key community in Central.Recently, Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trusts have the projects to conversation the old building, in order to retain the leisure and art facility. It is the meaningful activities in Hong Kong. You can see that, Central Police Station is the important for our community.

You visit the Western and Central trail, it is easily to see the outside of Central Police Station. The Victoria prison may also be converted into either a theatre or a museum. The famous tourist destination is historical significance, a rarity amongst Hong Kong attractions.Headquarters Block was constructed in 1919. Also, the two-storey Stable Block was constructed in 1925 at the north-west. The Police Station together with the former Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison. I think you have different experience in this tour!

When you see the Central Police Station., you will feel that the age was change raidly. The commercial ceture or moden building was nearby by Central Police Station. It is the landmark of local resident and alike for foreign people.However, the station was not always open for public. It is use on the venue of art exhibition. I suggest that it is valuable to spend time to visit! Let’s we reminiscence.

How to Go: MTR ( Cental Exit D) , accross Queen's Road Central almost 3 minutes.

By Renee Lam

My experience in the Ping Shan Heritage Trail (Part 2)

Last time, I just introduced a heritage building in Ping Shan Trail. Now I want to introduce some buildings to all of you that I think these are worth to visit in there.

Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery cum Heritage Trail Visitors Centre






The Former Ping Shan Police Station was established to maintain public security in 1898 and located at the top of Ping Shan. It stopped operating until the Yuen Long Police Station establishment in 1965. In 2002, it was passed to Leisure and Culture Services Department redevelopment and revitalization of the ruins to a Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery as well as Heritage Trail Visitors Centre. The Centre is converted from the Old Ping Shan Police Station built in 1899 and the main building is a two-storey structure with an embracing arched verandah that comprises three galleries. Moreover, the other heritage like Tang Ancestral Hall was made by wood. In 2004, plenty of termites eroded the hall. As a result, the pillars and crossbeam were damaged. Thus, the government has renovated to avoid termites erosion. Now, it is a place to hold different exhibition which cooperated with variety of schools to show the history or culture to the visitors. The theme also will be changed by the students irregularly to exhibits various historical or cultural stories in Hong Kong for the visitors.



Yeung Hau Temple & Hung Shing Temple

These two temples have long history with Chinese tradition. The structures of buildings were designed by “Fung Shui” theory. The Chinese were very superstitious even nowadays. The guides will explain some the meaning of Fung Shui for the buildings. Now, I am going to brief about the background of these temples.







The Yeung Hau Temple is one of the six temples in Yuen Long dedicated to the deity of Hau Wong. It is a simple structure, divided into three bays housing the statues of Hau Wong, To Tei (God of the Earth) and Kam Fa (Patron Saint of Expectant Mothers) respectively. The exact date of construction of the Temple could not be traced although it is believed to have a history of several hundred years. Inscriptions on the boards inside the Temple indicate that the building underwent two major renovations in 1963, 1991 and 2002 respectively. In the past, the villagers in Ping Shan believed that Yeung Hau was Marquis Yang Liang-jie, a Song dynasty general who gave up his life to protect the last two emperors of Song dynasty. He was worshipped for his loyalty and bravery.






The Hung Shing Temple is a simple building with two halls separated by an open courtyard. It is thought to have been built by the Tang clan in 1767 during the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty which is the year inscribed on the board inside the temple. The existing structure was rebuilt in the 5th year of the Tongzhi reign which is in the Qing dynasty - 1866. The substantial renovation work was carried out in 1963. The legend is about the Hung Shing was originally a governor of Kwong Lee during the Tang dynasty who was known by the name Hung Hei. After his death, the reigning emperor awarded him the posthumous title of "Kwong Lee Hung Shing Tai Wong". He is widely worshipped, particularly by fishermen and people whose livelihood depend largely on the sea.

Waterworks Heritage Trail

Hong Kong to many people, visitors and residents, means crowded streets and shops; bustling markets; busy bars and restaurants and traffic jams. Hong Kong is all of this......but more. Much more.

Just a short ride from the heart of the city lies the beautiful, scenic Tai Tam Country Park - one of the many of the territory's country parks which comprise some 43% of the total land area. This Country Park is home to one of the newest and most unusual of the city's heritage trails - the Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail.

When the British came to Hong Kong in the mid 19th century the authorities soon found that the existing water supply, consisting of wells and streams, was insufficient for the needs of the rapidly developing city. The Government then embarked upon an ambitious civil engineering programme of reservoir construction.

One of the most extraordinary construction projects undertaken by the authorities was the building of the Tai Tam reservoir complex, in what is now the country park of that name, between 1883 and 1918. In September 2009 this complex of dams, pumping houses and other buildings were designated historic monuments and the Heritage Trail was created. The trail is approximately 6 kilometres in length and winds its' way through the park.

Walking distance 6 kms
Facilities: Toilets en route

Heritage of Central district

The future meets the past in Hong Kong and nowhere can you see this more clearly than in the Central district. We see among historic buildings that are nestled amid stunning skyscrapers, where the ancient art of feng shui influences modern architecture, along streets whose very names evoke the colourful history of this amazing territory.


The heart of Hong Kong city, the Central district, has been developing since inception of British rule in 1841. Western-style buildings sprang up as the city grew prosperously and the early 20th century saw Hong Kong develop into a metropolis. Extensive reclamations extending the waterfront and development projects were carried out during different periods and although the outlook of the city is ever changing, many historical buildings and structures still survive as standing testimony to the history of the Central district.

Statue Square - over which a seated bronze statue of Queen Victoria once reigned. Within the square stands the elegant and modern HSBC – the fourth HSBC building to occupy the site over a period of 150 years. Built in the early 1980s by Lord Norman Foster, it is a fascinating example of how feng shui and modern environmental features have been merged in present-day Hong Kong.

The Legislative Council - one of Hong Kong’s last remaining colonial buildings. Built from Kowloon granite in the neoclassical style, this elegant and historic building once served as the Supreme Court and is situated on reclaimed land.

The Court of Final Appeal - a building of historic importance in Hong Kong. The present three-storey building was built in 1917 on the foundation of a previous structure and is constructed of granite and red bricks. The first Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Henry Pottinger, resided there from 1843 to 1846. The building then had several owners (including an American trading house and the Russian consulate), and was acquired by the French Mission in 1915 - a name by which it is still commonly referred today.

St John’s Anglican Cathedral - this beautiful Cathedral, built in the shape of a cross, is a survivor of the earliest buildings of the British era, built on the only freehold lease in Hong Kong, and is unchanged since it early days. It is the oldest surviving Western ecclesiastical building in Hong Kong, and the oldest Anglican church in the Far East, with construction completed in 1849. It was declared a monument in 1996.

Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery

Buddhist Monastery is one of the popular heritages in Hong Kong. When we talk about Hong Kong heritage, it cannot do without Buddhist Monastery. Today I would like to introduce a Buddhist Monastery which located in Tuen Mun. I always see the Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery in my home; it's a magnificent building really.

The monastery was built in 1950 but the adjoining three-storey Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda, which took six years to build, was completed and enshrined in May 1980. The magnificent Main Worship Hall has a building height of about 21 metres and features three 4.8 metre tall gold-plated statues of Buddha Sakyamuni. Its interior walls are adorned with thousands of Buddha images and paintings featuring Thai and Chinese culture. The Pagoda comprises a vihara and the Court of the Jade Buddha. A 20-metre column carved with giant gold-plated dragons on both sides guards the main entrance of the pagoda. The monastery also offers vegetarian food.

The 7-storey main complex of Miu Fat Monastery is now opened. The complex is meticulously designed with Lotus Shrine on top floor resembling a gigantic crystal lotus blossom viewed from afar. Open to the public from 9am - 5pm every day.

Address: 18 Castle Peak Road, Lam Tei, Tuen Mun, New Territeries

Hong Kong Railway Museum

Hong Kong Railway Museum is an open-air railway museum opened in 1985,which located in Shung Tak Stree ,Tai Po. It is a branch museum of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and now under the management of the Leisure and Cultural Service Department.. It is located at the site where the Old Tai Po Market Railway Station was built in 1913.

The Kowloon-Canton Railway (British Section) opened in 1910 and Tai Po Market Railway Station was built in 1913 , was one of the stops in the New Territories. At that time, it acted as a centre of administration and trade which indirectly boosted Tai Wo Market's economy by bringing traders there. As the KCRC introduction the electric trains in 1980s ,the new Tai Po Market Railway Station opened in 1983 (to the north (Tai Wo) and south (Tai Po Market)), so the old Tai Po Market Railway Station was close in the same year of April 6.In 1984 KCRC given the old Tai Po Market Railway Station(he buildings and relevant exhibits) to government for the construction of the Museum and opened at 1985.With the long history of this station , it is vaulable for tourist to visit and know about the old Hong Kong.

Inside the museum, it includes the distinctive station building , a narrow-gauge steam locomotive was added the museum in1997, a diesel electric engine named “Sir Alexander” locomotive No. 51 which introduced in Hong Kong in 1955 and added into the museum in2004, also there are six historical coaches that the people are willing to go inside the train to sit and touch it ,so it can increase the experiential values of this station . Other than that there is a red-brick office building too .In the museum there was displaying a lot of the tools used, the train model, signal systems, picture of history and have two exhibition room that show the train tickets and train models ( not only KCR trains but also Japanese Shinkansen and Eurostar)and introduce the history and the development of the train and train station. So it have a high cultural value on it.


About the old station building ,it is architecture different from the other stations along architecture that commonly found in existing old southern Chinese temples, the ridge and gables of the building are adorned with auspicious Chinese motifs ,such as red bats ,peonies and magpies ,which are characteristic decorations on traditional Chinese residences and welcomed by the public at that time.



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