Tung Chung Fort
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tung Chung Fort (Chinese: 東涌古城, 東涌堡 or 東涌炮台; 東涌所城 during Qing Dynasty) is a fort located near Tung Chung, on Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. Located near Tung Chung Road, the fort is surrounded by villages of Sheung Ling Pei (上嶺皮) and Ha Ling Pei (下嶺皮). It has a companion Tung Chung Battery on the coast.
Contents |
[edit] History
Tung Chung Fort was built in during Shun Hei era (淳熙, 1174 - 1189) of Southern Song Dynasty. Smugglers on the Lantau Island smuggled salt from the island to the Canton City and attacked the government of the city. The government sent a navy led by King Leok Chin (經略錢) to fight against the smugglers. Three hundred soldiers were stayed in Tung Chung and built the Tung Chung Fort. After 3 year of peace, the soldiers were retreated and 150 of them were transferred to built and stayed in Kowloon Walled City.
During Qing Dynasty, the pirates, including the famous Cheung Po Tsai, chose the bay of Tung Chung as their base and made use of the fort. Qing Government recovered the fort after the surrender of Cheung Po Tsai. In 1832 (or 1817 alternatively) the fort was restricted and garrisoned by the Right Battalion of Tai Peng to defend the coast from pirates until the lease of New Territories to Britain in 1898. The fort was then abandoned.
During World War II, the Japanese army occupied the fort.
Tung Chung Fort went later through several transformations. It served as a police station and then as a Wa Ying College. Now, it is the base for the Rural Committee Office and the Tung Chung Public School.
In 1979, it was declared a monument and was refurbished in 1988.
[edit] Features
There are 6 old muzzle-loading cannons (still intact), each resting on a cement base with enclosures made of granite blocks, which measure 70 metres by 80 metres. Three arched gateways, each engraved with a Chinese inscription, are spaced along the walls.
[edit] Transportation
One can get there from Mui Wo (Silvermine Bay) bus terminal and take the hourly bus no. 3 to Tung Chung terminus. Then, walk half-a-mile (about 25 minutes) from the bus-stop in the direction of the fort.
You may also take the buses number 13 and 34. Taking MTR is also a good way to get there and you may exit at entrance B. Head towards the Tung Chung Pier direction for about a quarter of an hour, and the destination shall be reached. Albeit the distance, driving is not recommended, as permission is required to traverse into the country park; parking the vehicle is also unnecessary trouble.
