Ma On Shan (town)

Coordinates: 22°25′19.41″N 114°13′56.66″E / 22.4220583°N 114.2324056°E / 22.4220583; 114.2324056

Ma On Shan

A view of Ma On Shan and the Tolo Harbour
Traditional Chinese 馬鞍山
Simplified Chinese 马鞍山
Literal meaning Saddle Hill

Ma On Shan is a new town along the eastern coast of Tolo Harbour in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Although it was initially an extension of Sha Tin New Town, it has been designed to have its own town centre and is now classified as a separate new town in government reports.[1] Administratively, it belongs to Sha Tin District.

Geography

Ma On Shan is located by the west face of the twin peaks of Ma On Shan, which can be translated as "horse saddle mountain". The town is built on the strip between Tolo Harbour and Ma On Shan mountain. The north end of the town reaches the settlement of Wu Kai Sha and the southern Tai Shui Hang.

History

The original Ma On Shan Village still houses around 80 families. Yan Kwong Lutheran Church, one of two original churches established during the area's mining heyday, was revitalised in around 2014 as a centre to highlight the history and culture of the old village.[2]

Deep inside the slope of Ma On Shan was an iron mine. The mine was long abandoned before the more recent new town development. The quarrying workers spoke a language which is a combination of various languages in Southern China.

The three treasures of Ma On Shan

The three treasures of Ma On Shan are:
1. Iron ore – The deposit is estimated to have comprised over 7 million tonnes. The iron extracted from the 1950s to 1970s was mainly exported to Japan.

2. The azalea – The azalea species Rhododendron hongkongense was discovered in Hong Kong in 1851 but was mistaken for another, only acquiring its “Hongkong” name in 1930. The species, which is found only on Ma On Shan and a few nearby sites, blooms in April with colours ranging from white to light red. Since 2006, an annual “Ma On Shan Azalea Festival” has promoted the azalea as the symbol of the district, celebrating six locally native species: (Rhododendron championae, Rhododendron farrerae, Rhododendron hongkongense, Rhododendron moulmainense, Rhododendron simiarum and Rhododendron simsii [3]) Various activities are held, including planting azaleas in housing estates and greenery areas, a photo-taking competition, painting competition, and exhibitions. The event is organised by Sha Tin East Area Committee of the District Council, Sha Tin District Office, Civil Engineering and Development Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Ma On Shan Promotion of Livelihood and Recreation Association, the MTRC and various other bodies.[4][5]

3. Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) – Its habitat includes Hong Kong and west as far as India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The male has short antlers and canine teeth and likes to rest in bushes or tall grass. It feeds on leaves, underground roots and tubers, and sometimes tree bark. They live alone and if they are scared or during the mating season, produce a strange bark, hence their nickname “barking deer”. They are timid and shy, with records showing that some local specimens died of fright when captured.

Development of public housing estates commenced in the mid-1980s, with Heng On Estate completed in 1987,[6] followed by Chevalier Garden in 1988.[7] The Ma On Shan Line of the MTR was opened in 2004.[8]

Shopping centres

Whilst Ma On Shan is a relatively small town in the New Territories, it is well known by Hong Kong residents and expatriates alike. The town features a three-storey shopping centre, Sunshine City Plaza. Connecting to Sunshine City Plaza are two other shopping centres; Ma On Shan Plaza and Sunshine Bazaar.

Ma On Shan Plaza

Ma On Shan Plaza is a shopping centre in the town centre of Ma On Shan in the Sha Tin District. It is located on Sai Sha Road, and is connected to the Sunshine City Plaza and the Ma On Shan Station of the MTR Ma On Shan Line by footbridges. It is an associated shopping centre built together with the residential estate of Bayshore Towers, developed by Cheung Kong Holdings. The shopping centre has been famous for its indoor merry-go-round for the amusement of visitors who purchase items in any shops in the shopping arcade up to a certain amount. The merry-go-round, together with the water-operated clock tower next to it, has been the symbol of the Ma On Shan Plaza.

Sunshine City Plaza

Three floors of shops mean that Sunshine City Plaza is a one-stop place to buy almost anything. The majority of shops are clothing shops, including such well-known labels as Levi's, Bauhaus, K-Swiss, Adidas, Giordano, and over fifty other shops, mostly specialising in women's fashion. Sunshine City Plaza also boasts a large 'Citistore' department store which sells many things: clothes, mattresses, beds, toys, electrical appliances, luggage and more.

Numerous restaurants are in the plaza and as well as local Cantonese favourites; you will find McDonald's and KFC outlets as well as a Cafe de Coral. A large "Wellcome" supermarket is present as is a pharmacy, cosmetics shop, hairdressers and tea houses, bakeries, shoe-shops, sweet shops, a book shop and a classic favourite, a HK "$12" shop.

Sunshine Bazaar

Sunshine Bazaar is a small arcade-size retail space that features a bank, pet shop, music store, family medical centre and tutorial centre(s).

Private housing estates

Monte Vista

Ma On Shan is an area with a high density of private housing estate. Some of the larger private housing estates in Ma On Shan are:

Public facilities

Ma On Shan Park
Ma On Shan Police Station

The Ma On Shan Sports Ground opens all week. Badminton courts and table-tennis tables abound, and the cost of a badminton court for one hour is around HK$60 (half-price for students).

Near the sports centre is the Ma On Shan Public Swimming Pool. Adjacent to the pool is the 'SA Poolside Cafe', a popular cafe run by the Salvation Army, staffed by young disabled men and women who provide a valuable service and gain immensely from the experience. The majority of the cafe's profits go towards the Salvation Army. The public library is near the sports centre and swimming pool, offering a free internet service and wordprocessing facilities.

The Ma On Shan Public Library, completed in the 2000s, provides an alternative location for reading and research to the Sha Tin Public Library.

Schools

Transport

Ma On Shan MTR Station

There are numerous modes of transport, including taxis, MTR, buses and public light buses. Taxis: Ma On Shan is served by both green taxis (New Territories taxis) and red taxis (Urban taxis).

The Ma On Shan Line of the MTR was opened on December 21, 2004, and connects to the East Rail Line at Tai Wai Station. The stations of the Ma On Shan Line are:

The Ma On Shan Line ends at Tai Wai, where passengers can change to East Rail Line. The stop after Tai Wai is Kowloon Tong, where passengers can then change from East Rail Line to Kwun Tong Line.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.statistics.gov.hk/publication/stat_report/population/B1220001012006XXXXB0202.pdf[]
  2. ↑ Take a glimpse of Hong Kong’s mining past, EJ Insight, 26 Sept 2015
  3. ↑ "Native Azaleas in Hong Kong" (PDF).
  4. ↑ Ma On Shan Azalea Festival
  5. ↑ "Ma On Shan Azalea".
  6. ↑ "Heng On Estate". Hong Kong Housing Authority. www.housingauthority.gov.hk. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  7. ↑ "Chevalier Garden". Hong Kong Housing Authority. www.housingauthority.gov.hk. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  8. ↑ "The Financial Secretary inaugurates MOS Rail today". Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation. 2004-12-21. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  9. ↑ Profile of Monte Vista
  10. ↑ Official website of Monte Vista
  11. ↑ Official website of Villa Athena
  12. ↑ Information page for Vista Paradiso
  13. ↑ Emporis.com
  14. ↑ Hong Kong Property
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