Yuen Long & Nam Sang Wai
元朗 及 南生圍
Yuen Long is situated in the northwest of the New Territories on a large alluvial plain. The Yuen Long District
covers an area of 14,430 hectares and has a population of about 540,000.
Yuen Long was originally characterised by six rural areas (heungs) with 140 villages. An agricultural centre,
the Yuen Long economy once relied heavily on salt production and pearl harvesting. As a result of a population
increase and the advance in transportation, a market town was established and developed in late Ming Dynasty
near Yuen Long Tai Kiu Tun.
In 1669, during the Qing Dynasty, the market was moved north to the area near where the present-day MTR
Yuen Long Station is situated. This was done for political reasons. Now known as Yuen Long Kau Hui (or Old
Yuen Long Town), the market is sited south of a small hill and while it is far from the coast today, it was beside
the sea shore when it first opened.
After the British leased the New Territories in 1898, they built Castle Peak Road to connect major areas of the
New Territories and Kowloon. The villagers proposed and moved the market town to the main road.
Our first destination on this outing is the narrow lanes and old houses of Yuen Long Kau Hui. Here is a great
chance to see how old meets new in present day Hong Kong as century old houses and temples stand side by
side with new Spanish villas in the shade of modern high-rises and factories.
It is just a short stroll – and an even shorter ferry ride - from the bustle and noise of Yuen Long to the scenic
and serene wetlands of Nam Sang Wai. Most recently famous for hosting Hong Kong’s only crocodile, Nam
Sang Wai is better known as one of Hong Kong’s favourite bird watching areas.
Thousands of birds flock to the shallow Shan Pui and Kam Tin Rivers with their mangrove clad shores as well
as the – now mostly abandoned – fish and duck farms.
The mudflats at the confluence of the two rivers, in particular, are terrific observation points, so make sure to
bring a tripod and a zoom lens.
Amongst the many wintering or migrating waterbirds that gather here, you will see many ducks, wagtails,
cormorants and egrets, but there is also the chance that a Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) might
happen to land on the bank. The appearance of this rare white bird with its spoon-shaped black bill will surely
excite you – as would a sighting of one of our kingfishers…
Other popular motifs are the Lemon-scented Gums (eucalyptus citriodora) and the many other exotic trees,
such as Paper-bark Trees (melaleuca quinquenervia), Cotton Trees (bombax ceiba), Banyan Trees, acacia
confuse, and kandelia obovata.
We finish the Photo Shoot back in Yuen Long, where we look for a lunch restaurant near the “new“ market.
This will also allow the trainspotters amongst you to catch sight of Hong Kong’s newest streetcars…
元朗 及 南生圍
Yuen Long is situated in the northwest of the New Territories on a large alluvial plain. The Yuen Long District
covers an area of 14,430 hectares and has a population of about 540,000.
Yuen Long was originally characterised by six rural areas (heungs) with 140 villages. An agricultural centre,
the Yuen Long economy once relied heavily on salt production and pearl harvesting. As a result of a population
increase and the advance in transportation, a market town was established and developed in late Ming Dynasty
near Yuen Long Tai Kiu Tun.
In 1669, during the Qing Dynasty, the market was moved north to the area near where the present-day MTR
Yuen Long Station is situated. This was done for political reasons. Now known as Yuen Long Kau Hui (or Old
Yuen Long Town), the market is sited south of a small hill and while it is far from the coast today, it was beside
the sea shore when it first opened.
After the British leased the New Territories in 1898, they built Castle Peak Road to connect major areas of the
New Territories and Kowloon. The villagers proposed and moved the market town to the main road.
Our first destination on this outing is the narrow lanes and old houses of Yuen Long Kau Hui. Here is a great
chance to see how old meets new in present day Hong Kong as century old houses and temples stand side by
side with new Spanish villas in the shade of modern high-rises and factories.
It is just a short stroll – and an even shorter ferry ride - from the bustle and noise of Yuen Long to the scenic
and serene wetlands of Nam Sang Wai. Most recently famous for hosting Hong Kong’s only crocodile, Nam
Sang Wai is better known as one of Hong Kong’s favourite bird watching areas.
Thousands of birds flock to the shallow Shan Pui and Kam Tin Rivers with their mangrove clad shores as well
as the – now mostly abandoned – fish and duck farms.
The mudflats at the confluence of the two rivers, in particular, are terrific observation points, so make sure to
bring a tripod and a zoom lens.
Amongst the many wintering or migrating waterbirds that gather here, you will see many ducks, wagtails,
cormorants and egrets, but there is also the chance that a Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) might
happen to land on the bank. The appearance of this rare white bird with its spoon-shaped black bill will surely
excite you – as would a sighting of one of our kingfishers…
Other popular motifs are the Lemon-scented Gums (eucalyptus citriodora) and the many other exotic trees,
such as Paper-bark Trees (melaleuca quinquenervia), Cotton Trees (bombax ceiba), Banyan Trees, acacia
confuse, and kandelia obovata.
We finish the Photo Shoot back in Yuen Long, where we look for a lunch restaurant near the “new“ market.
This will also allow the trainspotters amongst you to catch sight of Hong Kong’s newest streetcars…
Download Reservation Form here or click here to request more information.
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Hansen's Hikes
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| Hansen's Hikes 38 D, Tower 2, Sham Wan Towers 3, Ap Lei Chau Drive Ap Lei Chau Hong Kong Tel: (+852) 9552 0987 E-mail: info@hansens-hikes.com |
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