Sai Kung
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Sai Kung (西貢; pinyin: Xi1gong4; Cantonese: sai1 gung3) is the second-largest of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is a peninsula located in the New Territories.
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Geographical characteristics and population
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The peninsula covers approximately 126 km² and had a population of 316,000 as of 2000.
In contrast to the densely populated areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, Sai Kung is a coastal district characterised by beautiful scenery, charming small villages and stunning seascapes. The area is well known to Hong Kong locals for its pristine beaches and quiet living, so that while it remains only partly urbanized, many people describe Sai Kung as the "last back garden" of Hong Kong.
Sai Kung Country Park is an area of restricted development featuring numerous small villages and beautiful beaches. Tai Long Wan (Big Wave Bay), approximately 1.5 hours walk from the nearest road, is one of the few places in Hong Kong where surfing is possible, particularly in the winter months. The dozen or so buildings still standing in the Tai Long Valley are home to a bare handful of indigenous residents.
In addition to this beautiful garden, Tseung Kwan O or Junk Bay is also part of Sai Kung. It is the portion connecting Sai Kung peninsula with the metro area in Kowloon. Junk Bay used to be a usual bay area in Sai Kung, but quite near to the famous seafood village of Lei Yue Mun. In 1977, the Hong Kong Government started a major development project in this area, to develop it into the 7th Hong Kong Territory Development. Reclamation covered the whole bay area, and it has become a district able to accommodate a population of 300,000, accounting for 95% of total population in the district. This new reclaimed land was renamed Tseung Kwan O, its present name. The MTR metro was extended to this newly developed area, making access to Sai Kung easier via Tseung Kwan O.
Islands
On summer nights, a lot of people hire small boats known as kaitos or sampan, some to catch cuttle-fish which is a popular pastime for local residents, others for leisurely trips through the island-dotted inland sea of Port Shelter. Popular islands to visit include:
- Kau Sai Chau
- Kiu Tsui Chau (sharp island)
- Leung Shuen Wan Chau (high island)
- Pak Sha Chau (white sand island)
- Yeung Chau (sheep island)
- Yim Tin Tsai (little salt field)
The large island of Kau Sai Chau is the location for a public golf course developed and run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Local and tourist attractions
There are numerous cultural sites, heritage sites and country parks in the Sai Kung peninsula, such as:
- Sheung Yiu Folk Museum (上民俗文物館), located in a former Hakka village
- Memorial Monuments for Sai Kung Martyrs During World War II (烈士墓園)
- Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre (西貢戶外康樂中心)
- Lions Nature Education Centre (獅子會自然教育中心)
- Sai Kung East and West Country Parks (西貢郊野公園)
- Clear Water Bay Country Park (清水灣郊野公園)
- Che Kung Temple at Ho Chung (蠔涌車公廟)
- Tin Hau Temple at Fat Tong Mun (大廟, or 天后廟)
- Jin Island (or Tiu Chung Chau, 吊鐘洲)
- Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Temple (糧船灣天后廟)
- High Island Reservoir (萬宜水庫)
- Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course (賽馬會滘西洲公眾高爾夫球場)
- Yim Tin Tsai Village and St. Joseph's Chapel (鹽田仔村及古老教堂)
The town center of Sai Kung has a concentration of seafood restaurants, which have been atrracting a lot of tourists.
In addition there are golf courses and nature trails. The golf driving range center in Ho Chung is popular with local residents and tourists. Visitors can also enjoy barbecues at Ho Chung.
Sai Kung is also a popular place for hiking. The starting point for the 100km MacLehose Trail is at Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung.
There are also water sports sites along the shoreline offering kayaking, snorkelling and swimming among other activities. In addition, Sai Kung's Hoi Ha Wan (海下灣) is one of the most easily accessed coral dive sites in Hong Kong. It is suitable for diver training and for newly-certified divers.
As a former fishing village, Sai Kung town is a mecca for seafood lovers, locals and tourists alike. Visitors can stroll around the regional market center of Sai Kung Town or explore the back lanes, visit the Tin Hau Temple, feast on seafood or enjoy different delicacies at Western-style pubs and restaurants. There is also a famous dessert restaurant called Honeymoon Dessert that brings in many visitors from all over Hong Kong and even from abroad.
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In Northern Sai Kung, there is also an area called "Wong Shek" (黃石). There are places where people can have barbecue and enjoy the beautiful view of the sea. However, to protect the natural environment of Wong Shek, the Government controls the number of vehicle entering the area. There is a gate at Pak Tam Chung (北潭涌）on the way towards Wong Shek. Only the vehicles with permit can enter.
It should be noted that although Wong Shek and Hoi Ha Wan are geographically in the northern part of Sai Kung, they are under the administration of Tai Po District.
In recent years, the government has invested heavily in Sai Kung, with improvements being made to the town seafront, such as the Waterfront Park. An attractive mix of small boutique-style shops has sprung up as well, due to a sizeable expat population and increasing numbers of local visitors, selling everything from secondhand books to cat-themed accessories, and alternative lifestyle stores that offer items like surfboards, candles, incense, seashells, etc.
Transport
Some of the most beautiful and thus isolated parts of Sai Kung peninsula can only be reached on foot or by boat. Where a destination is accessible by public transport, it is usually served via a complicated web of bus routes. Certain bus routes can be found at [1] (http://www.travelinsaikung.org.hk/english/bus/index.shtml).
Scheduled ferry services also operate between coastal points on the peninsula and in and around the islands: [2] (http://www.travelinsaikung.org.hk/english/ferry/index.shtml).
The nearest MTR station to Sai Kung town is Hang Hau. The details of buses and minibuses routes going to Sai Kung Town are as follows.
Bus number 92 (http://hk.geocities.com/city8888/kmb3/kmb-92.htm) from Diamond Hill (MTR) Station
Bus number 99 (http://hk.geocities.com/city8888/kmb3/kmb-99.htm) from Wu Kai Sha KCR Station (Via Nai Chung)
Bus number 299 (http://hk.geocities.com/city8888/kmb3/kmb-299.htm) from Sha Tin Central (near Sha Tin KCR Station)
Bus number 792M (http://hk.geocities.com/city8888/nwfb2/nw-792m.htm) from Tiu Keng Leng MTR Station
Minibus number 1 (http://hk.geocities.com/city8888/mxn/mxn-1.htm) from Telford Gardens (near Kowloon Bay MTR Station)
Minibus number 1A (http://hk.geocities.com/city8888/mxn/mxn-1a.htm) from Choi Hung MTR Station (The most popular method)
Minibus number 101M (http://hk.geocities.com/city8888/mxn/mxn-101.htm) from Hang Hau MTR Station (Quickest way from Hong Kong Island)
Miscellaneous
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, one of the eight publicly-funded tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, is located in Sai Kung.
Note that 西貢 is also used as the Chinese scripts for Saigon, nowadays Ho Chi Minh City, in Vietnam.
See also:
- Beaches of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Country Parks & Special Areas
- List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
External links
- District Council website (http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/sk/english/welcome.htm)
- Electoral Boundary Map 1 (http://www.info.gov.hk/eac/pdf/distco/maps/dc2003q1.pdf)
- Electoral Boundary Map 2 (http://www.info.gov.hk/eac/pdf/distco/maps/dc2003q2.pdf)
- Tseung Kwan O New Town (http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/achievements/regional/regi_tko.htm)
- MacLehose Trail website (http://parks.afcd.gov.hk/newparks/eng/hiking/mtrail/mtrail.htm)
- Sai Kung Ho Chung Golf Driving Range Center (http://www.tickshop.com/hc-golf)
- Sai Kung country park website (http://parks.afcd.gov.hk/newparks/eng/country/cps/cp_sk.htm)