- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
Yu Yuen villa is located in Tung Tau Wai, between the Tin Shui Wai and Long Ping stations on Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR). It was built by leader of the Tsoi clan, Tsoi Po-tin (1872-1944, in 1927 as a summer villa. He was a prominent figure in Hong Kong and wished to build a summer villa in his birthplace (Tung Tau Wai) so that his family could enjoy the ripe litchi fruit provided by the area all summer long. Tsoi was a leader of the charity “Po Leung Kuk” and was behind many well-known projects in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, including the Oi Kwan building, the first high-rise in Guangzhou. The house became a local attraction and was opened to the public in 1950. In 1984 the house featured in the locally-produced Hong Kong movie “1941” (click HERE for info). Set in war-time Hong Kong during the occupation by the Japanese, it stared a pre-global fame Chow Yun-Fat (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) along with Alex Man and Cecilia Yip.
The villa continued to be the private residence of the Tsoi family up until 1990. A partnership, including New Territories leader Lau Wong-fat, then bought the villa in 1991. A plan by the consortium to build village houses on the site was blocked in 2002 when the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) declared Yu Yuen a Grade I Listed historic site, due to it being “a rare example of Western classical architecture in a rural village setting”. In something of a reverse, in May 2010, instead of ordering the owners to repair and restore the building, the AMO downgraded the villa to a Grade II listing because of its poor condition, meaning it requires only 'selective preservation' and much greater modification is allowed.
Its beautiful woodland no longer exists and the fountain is all that remains of the former garden at front of the house, which has become a car park. Banyan trees now grow on the side of the building and dead branches are tied in bundles, filling the drawing room. Some people even say it is haunted and is a ‘ghost house’.
2. The Explore
As soon as I saw this place pop-up on the HK Urbex page I knew I had to visit. I quickly found the location and set off one very sunny day. A forty-minute MTR ride and a 20-minute walk and I was there. The villa was just sitting there and I walked in via the front door. This was one of three villa houses I explored on my trip and it was probably my favourite. The place is absolutely magnificent and despite having seen much better days, the roof is intact and the floors solid. I spent the best part of an hour looking round this enchanting place. All I hope is that it eventually gets saved. Sadly, though, the land prices in HK mean that places like this are left to rot and fall down, despite their listed status.
3. The Pictures
Aha!
img1821 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The Golden Fountain:
img1818 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1807 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Door detail:
img1816 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1813 by HughieDW, on Flickr
What a frontage:
img1820 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1812 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Ground floor:
img1766 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1759 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1753 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Front room just used for storage:
img1747 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Kitchen:
img1757 by HughieDW, on Flickr
First floor gallery:
img1772 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Storage on the 1st floor:
img1801 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1778 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Safe room:
img1770 by HughieDW, on Flickr
First floor room:
img1774 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Most likely a bedroom:
img1764 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Drawing room?
img1761 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Bathroom:
img1760 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Random flask moment:
img1773 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Complete hat-stand:
img1803 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Out on to the balcony:
img1798 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1799 by HughieDW, on Flickr
First floor from the second floor:
img1784 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Some bizarre recent graff:
img1782 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Onto the roof we go…
img1785 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1793 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1788 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Yes, believe it or not this IS the roof:
img1790 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Yu Yuen villa is located in Tung Tau Wai, between the Tin Shui Wai and Long Ping stations on Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR). It was built by leader of the Tsoi clan, Tsoi Po-tin (1872-1944, in 1927 as a summer villa. He was a prominent figure in Hong Kong and wished to build a summer villa in his birthplace (Tung Tau Wai) so that his family could enjoy the ripe litchi fruit provided by the area all summer long. Tsoi was a leader of the charity “Po Leung Kuk” and was behind many well-known projects in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, including the Oi Kwan building, the first high-rise in Guangzhou. The house became a local attraction and was opened to the public in 1950. In 1984 the house featured in the locally-produced Hong Kong movie “1941” (click HERE for info). Set in war-time Hong Kong during the occupation by the Japanese, it stared a pre-global fame Chow Yun-Fat (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) along with Alex Man and Cecilia Yip.
The villa continued to be the private residence of the Tsoi family up until 1990. A partnership, including New Territories leader Lau Wong-fat, then bought the villa in 1991. A plan by the consortium to build village houses on the site was blocked in 2002 when the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) declared Yu Yuen a Grade I Listed historic site, due to it being “a rare example of Western classical architecture in a rural village setting”. In something of a reverse, in May 2010, instead of ordering the owners to repair and restore the building, the AMO downgraded the villa to a Grade II listing because of its poor condition, meaning it requires only 'selective preservation' and much greater modification is allowed.
Its beautiful woodland no longer exists and the fountain is all that remains of the former garden at front of the house, which has become a car park. Banyan trees now grow on the side of the building and dead branches are tied in bundles, filling the drawing room. Some people even say it is haunted and is a ‘ghost house’.
2. The Explore
As soon as I saw this place pop-up on the HK Urbex page I knew I had to visit. I quickly found the location and set off one very sunny day. A forty-minute MTR ride and a 20-minute walk and I was there. The villa was just sitting there and I walked in via the front door. This was one of three villa houses I explored on my trip and it was probably my favourite. The place is absolutely magnificent and despite having seen much better days, the roof is intact and the floors solid. I spent the best part of an hour looking round this enchanting place. All I hope is that it eventually gets saved. Sadly, though, the land prices in HK mean that places like this are left to rot and fall down, despite their listed status.
3. The Pictures
Aha!
img1821 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe Golden Fountain:
img1818 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1807 by HughieDW, on FlickrDoor detail:
img1816 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1813 by HughieDW, on FlickrWhat a frontage:
img1820 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1812 by HughieDW, on FlickrGround floor:
img1766 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1759 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1753 by HughieDW, on FlickrFront room just used for storage:
img1747 by HughieDW, on FlickrKitchen:
img1757 by HughieDW, on FlickrFirst floor gallery:
img1772 by HughieDW, on FlickrStorage on the 1st floor:
img1801 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1778 by HughieDW, on FlickrSafe room:
img1770 by HughieDW, on FlickrFirst floor room:
img1774 by HughieDW, on FlickrMost likely a bedroom:
img1764 by HughieDW, on FlickrDrawing room?
img1761 by HughieDW, on FlickrBathroom:
img1760 by HughieDW, on FlickrRandom flask moment:
img1773 by HughieDW, on FlickrComplete hat-stand:
img1803 by HughieDW, on FlickrOut on to the balcony:
img1798 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1799 by HughieDW, on FlickrFirst floor from the second floor:
img1784 by HughieDW, on FlickrSome bizarre recent graff:
img1782 by HughieDW, on FlickrOnto the roof we go…
img1785 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1793 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1788 by HughieDW, on FlickrYes, believe it or not this IS the roof:
img1790 by HughieDW, on Flickr
