There are about 70-80 walled villages in Hong Kong. Most of the walled villages of Hong Kong are located in the New Territories. Punti walled villages are occupied by a clan of typically one surname, while Hakka walled villages can be occupied by people of different surnames. Walled villages of Hong Kong typically have watchtowers at the four corners and contain an ancestral hall.
History During the Ming and Qing dynasties, coastal areas in Guangdong experienced numerous attacks from pirates. The area of present-day Hong Kong was particularly vulnerable to such incursions. The area's winding shores, hilly land, and islands, as well as its distance from administrative centres, made the territory of Hong Kong an excellent hideout for pirates. Villages, both Punti and Hakka, built walls against them. Some villages even protected themselves with cannons. Over time, the walls of most walled villages have been partly or totally demolished.
Names In Punti Cantonese, wai (, 'walled') and tsuen (, 'village') were once synonyms. Most place names which include the word wai were at some point in time a walled village.
Conservation Two heritage trails of Hong Kong feature walled villages: Ping Shan Heritage Trail. One walled village: Sheung Cheung Wai (). Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail. Five walled villages: Lo Wai (), Ma Wat Wai (), San Wai (, also called Kun Lung Wai ), Tung Kok Wai (, also known as Ling Kok Wai), Wing Ning Wai ().Antiquities and Monuments Office. Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail
Features Walled villages in Hong Kong are characterised by row houses arranged in a square or rectangular block, where the parallel rows of houses are separated by narrow lanes.
Notable walled villages
Kat Hing Wai
Kat Hing Wai () is a noted Punti walled village in Yuen Long District of Hong Kong. It often mistakenly believed to be Hakka, whose people have similar traditions. However the Punti people were from Southern China and the first to settle in Hong Kong. Kat Hing Wai's residents speak Cantonese, rather than Hakka. Popularly known as Kam Tin, from the name of the area, it is home to about 400 descendants of the Tang Clan, who built the village back in the 17th century.
Kat Hing Wai is a rectangular (100 m x 90 m) walled village. As a family stronghold, Kat Hing Wai has served the Tangs well through the centuries, protecting the residents against bandits, rival clans, and wild tigers. During the Qing dynasty, a five-metre high blue brick wall and four cannon towers were added to defend against bandits. Today, the village is still completely surrounded by 18-inch-thick walls, outside which are the remains of a moat. However, most houses within the walls have been rebuilt in recent years. There is only one narrow entrance, with a pair of iron gates.
Tsang Tai Uk
Tsang Tai Uk (), also known as Shan Ha Wai (), is another well-known Hakka walled village in Hong Kong, and one of the best preserved. It is located in Sha Tin, close to the south of the Pok Hong Estate, not far from the Lion Rock Tunnel Road. Built as a stronghold for the Tsang Clan, its construction started in 1847 and took around 20 years to complete. The village is built with granite, grey bricks, and solid timber.
Sheung Shui Wai
Sheung Shui Wai (), also known as Sheung Shui Heung (), is one of the very few rural settlements having retained its original moat which was built in 1646. Characterized by its magnificent moat and landscape setting, the walled village is the core of the Liu clan, of which ancestors came originally from Fujian during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). The village is located in Sheung Shui.
Fanling Wai
Fanling Wai () is a walled village in Fanling built by the Pang () Clan. It is recognisable with the distinctive pond and layout including features such as cannons and watchtowers. All these elements were crafted to form an integral part of the village setting. Fanling Wai is the centre of the Pang Clan who arrived in Hong Kong late during the Song dynasty.
Nga Tsin Wai Tsuen
Nga Tsin Wai Tsuen () is a walled village in Wong Tai Sin, New Kowloon. It is the only walled village left in the urban built-up areas of Hong Kong. Nga Tsin Wai Tsuen is also the only remaining walled village in Kowloon. It is located near San Po Kong. On 18 July 2007, the government announced its plans to redevelop Nga Tsin Wai Tsuen.HK Yahoo News
List of walled villages Remaining walled villages in Hong Kong include:
North District
Name Alternate name Area andcoordinates Notes Gate Shrine orancestral hall Watch towerFanling Ching Wai()Fanling Chung Wai()FanlingSee "Notable walled villages" above: Fanling Wai.Hung Leng()Kuk Fung Leng()FanlingThe Hung Shing Temple of Hung Leng was probably built in 1763. It is the centre of the Four Yeuk (; four villages alliance), namely Loi Tung, Lung Yeuk Tau, Lin Ma Hang and Tan Chuk Hang.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal: Hung Shing Temple, Hung Leng TsuenSan Uk Tsai()Tam Chuk Hang San Uk Tsai()FanlingSan Uk Tsai was probably established before 1688.Tan Chuk Hang Lo Wai()FanlingTan Chuk Hang Lo Wai was probably established before 1688. Together with Tan Chuk Hang San Wai, it forms Tan Chuk Hang () village.Agreement No. CE 45/2008 (CE) Liantang / Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point and Associated Works -Environmental Impact Assessment Report. Appendix 12.2f: Detailed Records of Identified Built Heritage Features within CHIA Study Area of the Lau Shui Heung Tunnel Section (South Tunnel)Lo Wai()Lung Yeuk Tau, FanlingOne of the "Five Wais" of Lung Yeuk Tau.Ma Wat Wai(麻笏圍)Antiquities and Monuments Office: Ma Wat Wai: Declared monument on AMO websiteAntiquities and Monuments Office. Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail - Ma Wat WaiLung Yeuk Tau, FanlingOne of the "Five Wais" of Lung Yeuk Tau.San Wai(新圍)Kun Lung Wai()Antiquities and Monuments Office: Kun Lung Gate Tower: Declared monumentAntiquities and Monuments Office: Kun Lung WallsAntiquities and Monuments Office. Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail - San WaiLung Yeuk Tau, FanlingOne of the "Five Wais" of Lung Yeuk Tau.Tung Kok Wai(東閣圍)Antiquities and Monuments Office. Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail - Tung Kok WaiLing Kok Wai()Lung Yeuk Tau, FanlingOne of the "Five Wais" of Lung Yeuk Tau. The watchtowers in the four corners of the village have collapsed, leaving their bases.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Tung Kok Wai, Lung Yeuk TauWing Ning Wai(永寧圍)Antiquities and Monuments Office. Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail. Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail - Wing Ning WaiLung Yeuk Tau, FanlingOne of the "Five Wais" of Lung Yeuk Tau.Ha Wo Hang()Sha Tau KokKuk Po Lo Wai()Sha Tau KokMa Tseuk Leng San Uk Ha()Sha Tau KokMan Uk Pin()Sha Tau KokSheung Wo Hang()Wo Hang()Sha Tau KokHakka Wai()Sheung ShuiA Hakka walled village located in the Tsung Pak Long area. Construction of the village started in the 1900s–1910s and was completed by 1920.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal: Hakka Wai – Residential HousesHo Sheung Heung Lo Wai()Pak Pin Wai()Sheung ShuiThere are four villages in Ho Sheung Heung, namely Nam Pin Wai, Pak Pin Wai, Chung Sum Tsuen and Chung Wai Tsuen (San Tsuen).Antiquities and Monuments Office: Ho Sheung Heung: History Ping Kong()Cheung Lung Wai()Sheung ShuiThe village has a Tin Hau Temple.Lonely Planet: Ping KongChinese Temples Committee: Tin Hau Temple, Ping KongTai Tau Leng()Sheung ShuiWai Loi Tsuen()Sheung Shui Wai()Sheung ShuiBuilt around 1584, Wai Loi Tsuen is the original settlement of Sheung Shui Wai. It is one of the very few rural settlements having retained its original moat. It features a Tin Hau and a Hung Shing temple.East Rail Extension Project: Test Pits Results and Cross-Section Drawings. Items #219, 220, 221 on map: Heung Yuen Wai()Ta Kwu LingMuk Wu()Ta Kwu Ling
Sha Tin District Name Alternate name Area andcoordinates Notes Gate Shrine orancestral hall Watch towerTsang Tai Uk()Shan Ha Wai()Sha Tin(see "Notable walled villages" above)Chik Chuen Wai()Tai Wai()Tai WaiTin Sam Wai()Tai WaiTin Sam was founded during the late Ming dynasty.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal: Entrance Gate, Tin Sam Historic buildings in the village include the Choi,Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal: Choi Ancestral Hall, No. 142 Tin SamAntiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal: Che Kung Temple, Che Kung Miu Road, Tai Wai LeungSCL – NEX/2206 EIA Study for Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section. Environmental Impact Assessment Report.Appendix 4.3. Built Heritage Survey. October 2011East Rail Extensions – Tai Wai to Ma On Shan. Environmental Impact Assessment Report. Archaeological and Cultural Resources, 1999 and Liu ancestral halls, and the Entrance Gate, built during the Qing dynasty.SCL – NEX/2206 EIA Study for Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section, Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report, Figure 4.2.1. Locations of Known Built Heritages (Sheet 1 of 8), October 2011. Shows the location of the historic buildings of Tin Sam Village.
Tai Po District
Name Alternate name Area andcoordinates Notes Gate Shrine orancestral hall Watch towerKei Ling Ha Lo Wai()Shap Sze Heung, Sai Kung PeninsulaChung Sum Wai()Tsing Chuen Wai()Tai Hang (Tai Po)Fui Sha Wai()Tai Hang (Tai Po)The walls of Fui Sha Wai were built by the local villagers during the mid-Ming dynasty. Four watchtowers were built in each corner for fortification. Nowadays, Fui Sha Wai still remains as a village exclusively for the Man clan.Pan Chung()Tai PoA multi-clan village. #1403Tai Po Tau Shui Wai()Tai Po Tau Lo Wai()Antiquities and Monuments Office: Tai Po Tau Shui WaiTai WoTai Po Tau Shui Wai was established during the Song dynasty by a branch of the Tang Clan of Kam Tin. The enclosing walls were constructed during the Ming dynasty.
Tsuen Wan District Name Alternate name Area andcoordinates Notes Gate Shrine orancestral hall Watch towerSam Tung Uk()Chan Sei Bit Tong()Tsuen WanEstablished by the Chan (陳) clan in 1786, the former Hakka walled village has been converted into the Sam Tung Uk Museum, and is now a declared monument.
Tuen Mun District Name Alternate name Area andcoordinates Notes Gate Shrine orancestral hall Watch towerChung Uk Tsuen()Kwong Tin Wai()Lam TeiThe Chungs of Chung Uk Tsuen moved from Dongguan during the Ming dynasty.Brief Information_ on proposed Grade III Items. Item #689 Lam Tei Tsuen()Wing On Tsuen()Lam TeiEstablished by the To () ClanAntiquities and Monuments Office: Tsing Chuen Wai – HistoryNai Wai()Wong Kong Wai()Lam TeiEstablished by the To () Clan #1229 #1252Sun Fung Wai()()Lam TeiA multi-lineage village established around 300 years ago.Brief Information on proposed Grade III Items. Item #875
#875 #1262Tsing Chuen Wai()Mak Yuen Wai()Lam TeiEstablished by the To () Clan about 300 years ago. Tin Hau, Kwan Tai and a Qing official are worshipped in the village shrine.Tuen Mun San Tsuen()San Tsuen Wai()Tai Yuen Wai()Lam TeiEstablished by the To () ClanTuen Tsz Wai()Tin Tsz Wai()Tuen Tsz Wai Building Complex, Hulu CultureLam TeiThe village was built by the Siu () Clan. It was later settled by the To () Clan during the Qing dynasty.Antiquities and Monuments Office: Tuen Tsz Wai – History The entrance gate was demolished and was rebuilt further east for feng shui reasons.
Wong Tai Sin District Name Alternate name Area andcoordinates Notes Gate Shrine Watch towerNga Tsin Wai Tsuen()Hing Yau Yu Tsuen() ()Wong Tai SinSee also "Notable walled villages" above.
Yuen Long District Name Alternate name Area andcoordinates Notes Gate Shrine orancestral hall Watch towerSan Wai()San Hing Wai()Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Yeung Hau Temple, San Wai, Ha TsuenHa TsuenSik Kong Wai()Ha TsuenTseung Kong Wai()Sai Tau Lei()Lo Wai()Ha TsuenTin Sam Tsuen()Tin Sam Wai()Hung Shui KiuKat Hing Wai()Fui Sha Wai()Kam Tin(see "Notable walled villages" above)