Castle Peak, Hong Kong

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For a formal area name in Hong Kong, see Tuen Mun.

Castle Peak (Chinese: 青山) or Pui To Shan (杯渡山) is a 583 m high peak in the western New Territories of Hong Kong.

In contrast to its chinese name, which means green hill; Castle Peak is notorious for its severe loss of vegetation and weathering of its Granite surface.

The area to the west of the hill was also named Castle Peak. It is an industrial area with several power plants owned by CLP (Castle Peak Power Station and Black Point Power Station). It is also the old name of Tuen Mun during early British rule before starting development of Tuen Mun New Town. In early proposal of the development, the new town was named Castle Peak New Town.

Most of area of the hill is under firing range used by military and police forces in Hong Kong. Warnings are issued to public before exercises was carried out. And it is therefore among the few hills in Hong Kong which are not part of a Country Park.

[edit] History

The name Pui To Shan was associated with a Buddhist monk Pui To Sim Shi (杯渡禪師). In Cantonese, Pui means cup, To means water-crossing, Sim Shi means Monk of Zen. Legend has it that the monk who had travelled over water in a cup and finally reached the Castle Peak. He established a monastery on the hill which became the present-day Tsing Shan Monastery.

Early records have indicated the peak was an island once named Tuen Mun Island (屯門島). Its former channel with Kau Keng Shan of an important sea route in South China. Defence structures were built on both hills.