Sha Tin also has still many villages, including Sha Tin Tau village, that are very close to the city centre.
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In front of Sha Tin Tau village, there are a big pond. From a Feng Shui philosophy point
of view, it collects positive energies and delivers them to the environment. Water is important
for wealth, success and purity.
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| Sha Tin Tau village |
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Many high-rise public estates were built in the neighborhood, dwarfing Sha Tin Tau village
and damaging the tranquil character of this site.
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| Sha Tin Tau village |
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Sha Tin Tau village is located in a quiet corner of Sha Tin and is well known
for retreats and summer camp.
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| Sha Tin Tau village |
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Development programme to improve conditions in the old villages in
and around Sha Tin continues. The extension of Sha Tin Tau Village started in 1995
and was completed in mid-1996.
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| Sha Tin Tau village |
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The earth god of the "head" of a village guarded the "head" of the village,
and his counterpart of the "tail" of the village guarded the "tail" of the village.
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| Sha Tin Tau village |
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Tsang Tai Uk is the oldest Hakka walled house in Sha Tin.
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Tsang Tai Uk fortified house is said to have taken twenty years to build,
being ready for occupation in year 1867.
Fly there with
Google Earth
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| Tsang Tai Uk |
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The founder of Tsang Tai Uk fortified house is named Tsang Koon Man. He is said to have made his fortune from a stone quarry.
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The walled house is actually a rectangular array of buildings, which
are arranged in orderly fashion.
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| Tsang Tai Uk |
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The four corners of Tsang Tai Uk fortified house are in shape
of traditional tea pail handles.
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| Tsang Tai Uk |
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At the four corners of the house are three-storey fortresses.
On the top of each fortress are row of gun holes and watch towers.
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| Tsang Tai Uk |
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The ancestral hall also serves as a meeting place for the 300 villagers who are
living inside the fortified village.
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| Ancestor hall |
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Sometimes a red lantern is raised in the ancestral wall, a tradition used to cerebrate good harvest in the old days but also for important gathering for all the male villagers. The villagers discuss how to split amongst the male villagers the profits the village had received from renting out the lands throughout the year.
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Visitors are welcome to enter the first courtyard
and look at the ancestor hall which is opposite of the middle gate.
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| Ancestor hall |
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The ancestral hall is an important building. It is the centre of village or clan life.
Feasts, festivals and meetings are held there.
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| Ancestor hall |
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There are two wells at either end of the first courtyard in order to have drinking water in times of siege.
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Tsang Tai Uk is also known as Shan Ha Wai ("Walled Village at the Mountain's Foot")
and is one of the best preserved Hakka walled village in Hong Kong.
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| Tsang Tai Uk |
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Nowadays there are still three main gates leading into Tsang Tai Uk
fortified house.
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| Gate to Tsang Tai Uk |
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Only the first courtyard is allowed for visitors. The inner courtyards are
private.
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| Private courtyard |
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The fortified house is arranged in three rows, with nine houses in each row.
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Tsing Tai Uk is a private property. The current heritage law does not give the Government
the power to prevent private landowners from demolishing or altering historic buildings.
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| Tsang Tai Uk |
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Tsang Tai Uk is an old walled village housing the Tsang clan.
It is also still used as a domicile by many people related to the clan.
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| Tsang Tai Uk |
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The walled village gained its current name when it gave refuge to displaced
families after the Second World War.
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| Tsang Tai Uk |
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The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is committed to preserving and interpreting
the cultural heritage of Hong Kong as well as to collecting a wide range of
artifacts and works of art from the territory and neighbouring regions.
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Google Earth
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| Hong Kong heritage Museum |
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Click to see more pictures |
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