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- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
Not a massive amount of history on this place. Sha Lo Tung is located at approximately 3.8 km north-east from the centre of the Tai Po New Town and is bounded by the Tai Po New Town to the south and surrounded by the Pat Sin Leng Country Park to the north, east and west. At the entrance of Sha Lo Tung there stands a signpost that reads “Sha Lo Tung village”, a collective name for the two Hakka villages of Cheung Uk and Lei Uk. Lei Uk is further divided into Lo Wai and Sun Wai: 'Old Village' and 'New Village' Built in Hakka style, all the houses are arranged horizontally and joined together. Both the Cheung and Lei klans were farmers growing rice and vegetables and rearing chickens, ducks and pigs. They sold their produce in Tai Wo Market.
For some years there was just one resident in Cheung Uk. He lived there in his 90s and on sunny days he could be seen sitting in front of his house. His name was Chan Ching-Zhong. He moved to the village in 1976 when he officially retired. A war veteran, he was left alone in the village as people started to move out. He made the veritable age of 100 in 2010.
After his death the only inhabitant mantle passed to Cheung Wai-kok. He returned eight years ago with his wife to open a private kitchen for hikers. Meanwhile a long-running controversy over plans to turn village land into a golf course resulted in the village being sold to developers.
Cheung Uk and Lo Wai are both classified as Grade II Historic Buildings.
2. The Explore
This was a new ghost village for me. Did a bit of research prior my trip to HK and found this place on Google Maps. So on a very hot and close August weekday set off for the village. It was about an hour on the bus from Tsuen Wan to Tai Po then another 10 minutes on a local bus to the start of the trail that goes to the village. The trail was pretty steep and wound up the hills north of Tai Po through the beautiful Sha Lo Tung conservation area. After a steep climb and slight decline the trail led to Sha Lo Tung. I was greeted by several yapping dogs from the only inhabited house but they soon lost interest. This place is truly a ghost town. There are many houses in various states but just one inhabited house. The abandoned houses are pretty overgrown and this plus the marshy conditions stopped me getting to some of the village. With the peace and tranquillity and the amount to explore this had to be one of the highlights of the trip.
3. The Pictures
This looks promising:
img1655 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1586 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Very promising…
img1653 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1647 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The old ancestor worship hall:
img1652 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This place is next to the one inhabited house:
img1644 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1642 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This is the first row of houses I explored. The writing above the door means safe exit and safe return (I think):
img1603 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20170803_181240 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1596 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1620 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A few bits and bobs left behind:
img1594 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1604 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1605 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1601 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Here’s the cooking stove:
20170803_181210 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This one has completely gone:
img1599 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1635 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Round the back there are some very old and decayed houses:
img1640 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1634 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1609 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20170803_181005 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Some old pots:
img1632 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This was the best row of houses. Think this place was a temple. It’s now home to some bats!
img1613 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Note the bat droppings!
img1614 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1618 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This fridge is a bit past its sell-by date:
img1616 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This house has got a tree coming out of it!
img1608 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This was one of the most interesting old houses:
img1629 by HughieDW, on Flickr
With it’s old furniture still in situ:
img1627 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Including this old table:
img1622 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Obligatory “old clock on the wall” picture:
img1623 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This bed has migrated downstairs:
img1626 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Sadly I couldn’t get to these as I didn’t have my wellies:
img1590 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1587 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1656 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Not a massive amount of history on this place. Sha Lo Tung is located at approximately 3.8 km north-east from the centre of the Tai Po New Town and is bounded by the Tai Po New Town to the south and surrounded by the Pat Sin Leng Country Park to the north, east and west. At the entrance of Sha Lo Tung there stands a signpost that reads “Sha Lo Tung village”, a collective name for the two Hakka villages of Cheung Uk and Lei Uk. Lei Uk is further divided into Lo Wai and Sun Wai: 'Old Village' and 'New Village' Built in Hakka style, all the houses are arranged horizontally and joined together. Both the Cheung and Lei klans were farmers growing rice and vegetables and rearing chickens, ducks and pigs. They sold their produce in Tai Wo Market.
For some years there was just one resident in Cheung Uk. He lived there in his 90s and on sunny days he could be seen sitting in front of his house. His name was Chan Ching-Zhong. He moved to the village in 1976 when he officially retired. A war veteran, he was left alone in the village as people started to move out. He made the veritable age of 100 in 2010.
After his death the only inhabitant mantle passed to Cheung Wai-kok. He returned eight years ago with his wife to open a private kitchen for hikers. Meanwhile a long-running controversy over plans to turn village land into a golf course resulted in the village being sold to developers.
Cheung Uk and Lo Wai are both classified as Grade II Historic Buildings.
2. The Explore
This was a new ghost village for me. Did a bit of research prior my trip to HK and found this place on Google Maps. So on a very hot and close August weekday set off for the village. It was about an hour on the bus from Tsuen Wan to Tai Po then another 10 minutes on a local bus to the start of the trail that goes to the village. The trail was pretty steep and wound up the hills north of Tai Po through the beautiful Sha Lo Tung conservation area. After a steep climb and slight decline the trail led to Sha Lo Tung. I was greeted by several yapping dogs from the only inhabited house but they soon lost interest. This place is truly a ghost town. There are many houses in various states but just one inhabited house. The abandoned houses are pretty overgrown and this plus the marshy conditions stopped me getting to some of the village. With the peace and tranquillity and the amount to explore this had to be one of the highlights of the trip.
3. The Pictures
This looks promising:
img1655 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1586 by HughieDW, on FlickrVery promising…
img1653 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1647 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe old ancestor worship hall:
img1652 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis place is next to the one inhabited house:
img1644 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1642 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis is the first row of houses I explored. The writing above the door means safe exit and safe return (I think):
img1603 by HughieDW, on Flickr20170803_181240 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1596 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1620 by HughieDW, on FlickrA few bits and bobs left behind:
img1594 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1604 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1605 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1601 by HughieDW, on FlickrHere’s the cooking stove:
20170803_181210 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis one has completely gone:
img1599 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1635 by HughieDW, on FlickrRound the back there are some very old and decayed houses:
img1640 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1634 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1609 by HughieDW, on Flickr20170803_181005 by HughieDW, on FlickrSome old pots:
img1632 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis was the best row of houses. Think this place was a temple. It’s now home to some bats!
img1613 by HughieDW, on FlickrNote the bat droppings!
img1614 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1618 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis fridge is a bit past its sell-by date:
img1616 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis house has got a tree coming out of it!
img1608 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis was one of the most interesting old houses:
img1629 by HughieDW, on FlickrWith it’s old furniture still in situ:
img1627 by HughieDW, on FlickrIncluding this old table:
img1622 by HughieDW, on FlickrObligatory “old clock on the wall” picture:
img1623 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis bed has migrated downstairs:
img1626 by HughieDW, on FlickrSadly I couldn’t get to these as I didn’t have my wellies:
img1590 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1587 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1656 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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