Hansen's Hikes
| ... photographing Hong Kong's other side... |
Yuen Long & Nam Sang Wai
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…
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.
| 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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