Yuen Long District

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Yuen Long District
Official emblem] of Yuen Long District
District emblem
Location of Yuen Long District within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Location within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
([ Click here for satellite image])
District Council Chairman Tang Siu-tong, JP
Constituencies 29
Area
  –Land
  –Water		 138.43 km²
km²
km²
Population
  –Total (2004)
  –Density
449,070
3,244/km²
Latitude
Longitude
Official website:
Yuen Long District Council
For the area in Hong Kong known as Yuen Long, see Yuen Long.
For the new town in Hong Kong, see Yuen Long New Town.

Yuen Long District (Traditional Chinese: 元朗區, Jyutping: jyun4 long5, pinyin: Yuánlǎng, used to be known as Un Long), is one of the districts of Hong Kong located in the northwest of the New Territories.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Yuen Long District contains largest alluvial plain in Hong Kong, the Yuen Long-Kam Tin plain. With an area of 144 km², the district covers Ping Shan Heung, Ha Tsuen Heung, Kam Tin Heung, Pat Heung, San Tin Heung, Shap Pat Heung, Yuen Long Town and Tin Shui Wai.

Two new towns have been developed within this district. Yuen Long New Town was developed from the traditional market town of Yuen Long Town from the late 1970s. Tin Shui Wai New Town, has developed since the early 1990s, and is built on land reclaimed from former fish ponds once common in the district.

[edit] History

Since the Tang Dynasty, the Tang's clan has been living in Pat Heung. Like Tai Po, Yuen Long used to be a traditional market town. The total population of Yuen Long is around 534,000. The present population of Yuen Long New Town is 211,000 and is expected to grow to around 287,000 upon full development.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Special festivals

The Tin Hau Festival (天后誕巡遊) is on the 23rd of the third month of the lunar calendar. It celebrates the birth of a local deity, Tin Hau. During the day, residents from various walled villages parade on the two major streets in Yuen Long Town.

[edit] Cuisine

[edit] Popular Scenic Spots

[edit] Hong Kong Wetland Park

Hong Kong Wetland Park (香港濕地公園) is located at the northern part of Tin Shui Wai. It was intended to be an ecological mitigation area (EMA) for the wetlands lost due to Tin Shui Wai New Town development. In 1998, a project named as "International Wetland Park and Visitor Centre Feasibility Study" was initiated by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Hong Kong Tourism Board with a view to expanding the EMA to a wetland ecotourism attraction. After concluding that it was feasible to develop a Wetland Park at the EMA site without compromising its intended ecological mitigation functions and the development of the Wetland Park will also enhance the ecological function of the EMA to a world-class conservation, education and tourism facility, the concerned parties started the Wetland Park Project, which is regarded as one of the Millennium projects by the Administrations.

[edit] Kat Hing Wai

Kat Hing Wai (吉慶圍) in Kam Tin is one of the District's best-known walled villages. It is the ancestral home of the Tang's, one of the "Five Great Clans" in the territory. Built by the Tang's 500 years ago, it is a rectangular walled village with an area of 100 metres-by-90 metres. As a family stronghold, Kat Hing Wai has served the Tang's well through centuries. In the Qing Dynasty, a five-metre high blue brick wall and four cannon towers were added to defend bandits.

Route: West Rail Kam Sheung Road Station or KMB Rt. 54, 64K, 77K

[edit] Mai Po Marshes

Mai Po Marshes (米埔) is located in the centre of the wetland and has achieved international significance as a stopping and feeding place for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australian Flyway. The birdwatching season runs from October to May and more than 300 type of birds have been recorded in the area, many of them are rarely seen anywhere outside the region.

Visitors may go to Mai Po by the following ways:

  • From Central take Bus no. 968 to Yuen Long (West) Bus terminal, then change taxi.
  • From Sheung Shui railway station take Bus 76K to Mai Po village, then walk to the Marsh (about 20 minutes).
  • From Sheung Shui railway station take Bus 76K or Red mini-bus 17 to Mai Po village, then walk to the Marsh (about 20 minutes).

On 30 Jan 2004, the HK Gov. suspended public visits to the Mai Po wetland reserve as a supposed measure to protect people from avian flu (H5N1).

[edit] Ping Shan Heritage Trail

Dai Shui Ha Tin Hau Temple (大樹下天后廟)
Dai Shui Ha Tin Hau Temple (大樹下天后廟)

Ping Shan Heritage Trail (屏山文物徑), inaugurated on 12th December 1993, was designed to link several historic buildings and monuments owned by the Tang clan in Ping Shan (including Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda 聚星樓 and Tang Ancestral Hall 鄧氏宗祠) by a 1km trail.

Route: LRT Ping Shan Station or West Rail Tin Shui Wai Station

[edit] Tai Fu Tai

Tai Fu Tai Mansion (大夫第) in San Tin was probably built in 1865 in the reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a richly embellished residence situated on a spacious ground, with a large open space in the front and a garden at the back. The whole compound is surrounded by a green-brick wall. It is a fine example of traditional Chinese dwellings of the scholar-gentry class and is certainly one of the most elegant buildings throughout the territory.

Route: KMB Bus 76K to San Tin

[edit] Tai Lam Country Park

Tai Lam Country Park is at the west of New Territory with an area of 54 km². Tai Lam has a small area of porphyry in the NorthEast; for the remaining area, it is composed of highly erodible decomposed granite. In 1952, afforestation started as a measure to protect the water catchment area. In spite of the poor soil conditions and the set-backs of fire damage over the years, mature stands of Acacia confusa, Lophostemon confertus, Pinus massoniana, Pinus elliottii and Eucalyptus species now cover most of the area. In addition, the plantations also offer a good habitat for birds, pangolins, Chinese leopard cat, and barking deer. Nevertheless, Tai Lam is an excellent place for outdoor activities because of its remoteness.

[edit] Yuen Long Park

Aviary Pagoda (百鳥塔)
Aviary Pagoda (百鳥塔)

Yuen Long Park (元朗市鎮公園) is a park at Yuen Long Town with recreational facilities. There is a 7-storey pagoda enclosing an aviary, which has become a landmark of Yuen Long.

Route: LRT Shui Pin Wai Station or KMB Bus 68M, 968

[edit] Leisure and Cultural Facilities

  • Yuen Long Theatre was opened in May 2000. This modern performing arts venue has become a centre for the arts in the Northwest region of the New Territories. The Theatre is situated at Yuen Long Tai Yuk Road in the vicinity of Yuen Long Park, Yuen Long Stadium and the Public Swimming Pool. The bamboo courtyard is a focus within the foyer, which creates an ambiance of serenity and tranquility.
  • Yuen Long Town Hall is located in Kau Yuk Road, near Yuen Long Police Station. It is to organize courses and leisure activities. There is also study room.
  • Yuen Long Swimming Pool is situated at Tai Yuk Road. There are 5 Standard swimming pools for four seasons.
  • Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool is situation at 1 Tin Pak Road. There are 3 standard swimming pools for four seasons and a children swimming pool in summer.
  • Yuen Long Public Library is on the first floor of Yuen Long Government Offices, 2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long.
  • Tin Shui Wai Public Library is at No. 101-102, 1/F, Kingswood Ginza, Phase 2, 18 Tin Yan Road, Tin Shui Wai.

[edit] Transport

West Rail Station in Yuen Long
West Rail Station in Yuen Long
West Rail Station in Yuen Long
West Rail Station in Yuen Long

Located in the northwest of the New Territories, Yuen Long has a well-developed public transport network. It is easily accessible from different parts of Hong Kong by bus, mini-bus or railway.

[edit] Statistical Information

Demographic characteristics
Population 449,070
Proportion of population (%) Aged under 15 20
Aged 15-64 71
Aged 65 and over 9
Median age 33
Proportion of population aged 15 and over being never married (%) Male 32
Female 27
Education
School attendance rate of population aged 6-18 (%) 92.9
Proportion of non-student population aged 20 and over having attained tertiary education (%) 10.9
Labour force characteristics
Labour force 219,444
Labour force participation rate (%) Male 74.0
Female 48.2
Both sexes 60.9
Median monthly income from main employment of working population (HK$) 10,588.7
Household characteristics
Number of domestic households 137,211
Average domestic household size 3.2
Median monthly domestic household income (HK$) 16,763.5
Housing characteristics
Number of occupied quarters 136,705
Average number of domestic households per unit of quarters 1.01
Proportion of domestic households owning the quarters they occupy (%) 48.15
Median monthly domestic household mortgage payment and loan repayment (HK$) 7,693.83
Median mortage payment and loan repayment to income ratio (%) 24.63
Median monthly domestic household rent (HK$) 2,513.04
Median rent to income ratio (%) 16.36

[edit] Future

Entering into the Year 2004, development in Yuen Long has been carrying out very rapidly. The West Rail project and other major infra-structural projects have all together changing the face of Yuen Long from an old rural area into a vibrant and dynamic city.

Apart from the West Rail project, the North-West gateway Western Corridor (西部通道), the fourth cross border route, between Hong Kong and mainland China is under-construction and the project is expected to be completed in 2005. The site chosen in Hong Kong is Ngau Hom Shek (鰲磡石), located at the North West of Yuen Long and that in China is Shekou, the busiest harbour port. The bridge will be of 5.4km long and the expected traffic capacity is 80,000 car per day. It will benefit residents in Yuen Long as going back to mainland China will only take 15 minutes. [1]

[edit] Additional information

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Route: Number 10

[edit] External links


Districts of Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Island: Central and Western | Eastern | Southern | Wan Chai
Kowloon (including New Kowloon): Kowloon City | Kwun Tong | Sham Shui Po | Wong Tai Sin | Yau Tsim Mong
New Territories: Islands | Kwai Tsing | North | Sai Kung | Sha Tin | Tai Po | Tsuen Wan | Tuen Mun | Yuen Long
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