New Territories Walled Villages and Clan Halls
On this full-day visit we will visit a number of wai tsuen (walled villages) and clan halls in the northern and north-western New Territories.
We will go first to Fanling, and explore the old walled village of San Wai. Located not far from the military camp at Gallipoli Lines; San Wai is one of the best-preserved walled villages in Hong Kong. Nearby we will visit a fully-restored ancestral hall that form part of Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail, and an adjacent small Tin Hau temple, now marooned some miles inland from its original geographical position.
From Fanling we will proceed to San Tin, very close to Hong Kong’s frontier with Shenzhen. San Tin is the ancestral home of the Man lineage, one of the “Five Great Clans” of the pre-British era New Territories region. Here we will visit Tai Fu Tai, a beautifully-maintained Ching-dynasty era rural mansion. We will also have time to explore the surrounding village and see several examples of other clan halls in various stages of renovation and repair.
From San Tin lunch we will drive to Kam Tin, in the heart of the Sek Kong valley, and visit Kat Hing Wai, one of the most visited and historically-significant walled villages in the New Territories; its state of preservation is a stark contrast to San Wai. There we will explore the ancestral halls and shu sut (study hall) at Shui Tau Tsuen and Shui Mei Tsuen, and visit the locally-famous shu uk, or “tree house” – an enormous Yung Shue (“Chinese Banyan”) which eventually devoured several houses.
From Shui Tau Tsuen we proceed to Ping Shan, just beyond the old market town of Yuen Long, and visit two of the recently-recently-restored Tang clan halls that form part of the Ping Shan Heritage Trail, and end up at the Tsui Tsing Lau; first built in the fourteenth century, this is Hong Kong’s only original extant pagoda. Like the rest of Ping Shan, Tsui Tsing Lau is now overshadowed by the tower-blocks of Tin Shui Wai New Town.
This will be a full-day excursion which will require some walking. Bring a packed lunch with you as we will eat in the shade of the “tree house” at Shui Tau Tsuen. A small village shop is located nearby, where cold drinks may be purchased, but food options are extremely limited. Please wear sensible footwear, a hat if necessary, and bring a water bottle in addition to your packed lunch.
Meeting Point:
In Front of City Hall, Central.
Meeting Time:
08:30 for 09:00 PROMPT start
Finish Point:
City Hall, Central
Finish Time:
17:00 (approx)
Price:
$675HKD per person for a scheduled day trip. For private group booking enquiries please contact us.