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.
