August 2021

It's a long time since I have been to Sha Tin, but it has always held a special place in my heart. When we arrived in Hong Kong in August 1996 for the first time, we were met at the airport by two teachers from Peter's school who escorted us to the Regal Riverside Hotel in Sha Tin. We lived there for a month, paid for by the Hong Kong Government, while looking for accommodation. Eventually we took a flat in Fo Tan which is also part of Sha Tin. We lived there for eight years before moving to Discovery Bay. Today I returned there and it's only the third time I have been back.

Sha Tin is yet another of the new towns built to house Hong Kong's expanding population under the government's New Town Development Programme in the 1970's. Sha Tin means sandy fields. Prior to becoming a new town this area was largely agricultural. One of the things I liked best about Sha Tin is that a river runs through the middle of it and this helps make it feel more spacious.

I got to Sha Tin using the newly extended Westrail which runs from Tuen Mun to Wu Kai Sha, just past Ma On Shan. I got off at Che Kung Temple Station. I've been here before, when I lived in Sha Tin, but at that time I walked here from Tai Wai Station.

To get to the temple I exited through exit B and then turned right and walked along a major road. The temple was on the other side of the road about five to ten minutes walk away. Che Kung Temple dates all the way back to the Ming Dynasty, though it has undergone major renovations and even reconstruction since then. The temple was built in honour of Che Kung, also known as General Che. He was a famous general who was rumoured to be able to clear up epidemics. Many years ago, during a major outbreak of disease in Sha Tin, people built his temple and apparently the epidemic ended as soon as it was complete. We could certainly do with him nowadays!!! I remember reading somewhere that it is considered good luck to come here before going to Sha Tin Racetrack and placing a bet. The statue of General Che in the centre of the temple is huge. He looks quite fierce and is holding a giant sword. At the entrance to the temple I saw lots of windmills. Apparently turning a windmill brings good luck.

Gateway to the temple.

Main temple building.

Close up of main temple building.

Statues in grounds of temple.

General Che.

General Che.

Image inside the temple.

Deities.

Lucky windmills.

Painting in temple.

Impressive Doorway.

Animal images on outer walls of temple.

Animal images on outer walls of temple.

Leaving the temple, I headed towards the MTR again, but I continued past it looking for Tsang Tai Uk - the Big House of the Tsangs. On the way I noticed a place with temperature control machines and leave home safe app devices at the entrance. If it hadn't had these, I wouldn't even have noticed it, but I went up and asked "What is in there?" And they said: "It's the four faced Buddha." I went in to take a look. They were very friendly inside and told me that the Buddah was a gift from Thailand, but there were signs up saying no photos everywhere, so I only got two pictures on the lower floor before I noticed all the signs.

At the shrine of the four faced Buddha.

At the shrine of the four faced Buddha.

I then continued on to Tsang Tai Uk. This is a Hakka walled village, which was built in 1847 by Tsang Koon-man, a stone mason. This compound was, and indeed still is, home to the Tsang Clan. The building is rectangular in shape with guard towers at each corner. These were once needed to defend the village against pirates. The village isn't a museum, it is still people's homes, so it's only possible to visit the central courtyard and the ancestral hall. Inside the compound there are some wells and pieces of old machinery. Apparently Prince Charles came here on a state visit to Hong Kong, due to his interest in architecture.

Tsang Tai UK.

Tsang Tai UK.

Earth god shrine outside the village.

Central Courtard.

Central Courtard.

Doorway.

Doorway.

Doorway.

The ancestral hall.

The ancestral hall.

I think these are threshing machines.

I think these are threshing machines.

Next I walked to the Shing Mun River. Personally I felt this had improved a lot. When we lived here, it used to smell and there were always dead fish floating on the surface. We lived in Fo Tan and strangely coloured water- sometimes weird shades of green, sometimes blue - used to flow down the Fo Tan Nullah and into the river. This water came from Fo Tan's industrial zone. On this visit, I noticed live fish, lots of egrets and no bad smells. The Shing Mun River runs from Tai Wai, through Sha Tin Town Centre to the Tolo Harbour in Tai Po. There is a nice pedestrian bridge across the river called the Lek Yuen Bridge. Lek Yuen means source of clear water. The central Sha Tin area was known as this before the new town was built. Along one side of the river there's a long cycle track and behind that is Sha Tin Park.

Pedestrian bridge near Tai Wai.

Tall buildings reflected in the Shing Mun River.

Looking towards the Heritage Museum in Tai Wai.

Looking up the Shing Mun River towards the Lek Yuen Bridge.

Looking up the Shing Mun River towards the Lek Yuen Bridge.

When I lived in Sha Tin, I loved the park. I used to come here all the time. This park was created in 1988. My favourite parts are the Chinese gardens at each end. These have pagodas, bridges, waterfalls and pavilions. There are some statues in the central part of the park and behind these is Sha Tin Marriage Registry, Sha Tin Public Library and Sha Tin Town Hall.

Chinese Garden in North Sha Tin Park.

Chinese Garden in North Sha Tin Park.

Chinese Garden in North Sha Tin Park.

Chinese Garden in North Sha Tin Park.

Chinese Garden in North Sha Tin Park.

Pond with waterlilies.

Colourful flowers.

Colourful flowers.

Strange toadstool sculpture.

Got the whole world in my hands.

These sculptures look like rings and they are outside the marriage registery.

Sculpture outside the town hall.

Hong Kong has really embraced the idea of brightening up its drab concrete surfaces with murals. These were on the walls of the northern part of Sha Tin Park

Murals on the park walls.

Murals on the park walls.

Murals on the park walls.

Murals on the park walls.

Murals on the park walls.

Murals on the park walls.

Behind the park is New Town Plaza, a huge shopping mall where you can also find Sha Tin MTR Station on the East Rail Line. I used to go here on my commute to work every day. Outside the shopping mall on a third floor podium is Snoopy's World. I've always rather liked the Charlie Brown books, so I was happy to visit here and take some photos. This small theme park was created in 2000. It is free entry. There's a play area, canoe rides for small children, Snoopy's kennel, a school bus and school facade with clock and Snoopy town.

Snoopy's World.

Snoopy asleep on his kennel.

Charlie Brown at home.

Charlie Brown at home.

Snoopy's World.

The School Bus.

The School Bus.

Snoopy and Woodstock.

Charlie Brown fishing.

Charlie Brown fishing.

Apparently you can get married inside there.

The Canoe Ride.

Peppermint Patty and Schroeder.

Snoopy, Charlie Brown and Lucy.

I then walked through New Town Plaza to the train station. I didn't go inside the station yet. Instead I exited through exit B and walked down a slope towards a minibus station. This is where I used to catch my minibus home from. To my left was Pai Tau Village. I used to walk past this every day. There are some attractive old houses here.

Pai Tau Village.

Pai Tau Village.

Pai Tau Village.

The walls next to this village are covered in colourful murals.

The first flight in Hong Kong took place in Sha Tin Airfield at 5:10pm on 18th March, 1911 when Belgian, Charles Van den Born, flew a 1910 Farman Mk II bi-plane named “Wanda”, over the fields and water of Tolo Harbour.

Murals.

There are some pagodas nearby.

Sha Tin is home to one of Hong Kong's two race courses.

Sha Tin was once a farming community.

Then housing estates were built.

Murals.

Murals.

When we lived in Sha Tin, one of the first things we did was visit the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery - or so we have always thought. In reality we made a very common mistake we visited Po Fook Hill Columbarium instead. It's taken us a very embarrassing twenty-four years to realise this and it's not just us, many people make the same mistake. Why? Well when you exit the MTR and head towards the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, you will suddenly see an imposing archway guarded by lions, behind it on a hill there are pagodas, Buddha statues and animal statues. It looks exactly like a temple, but it isn't. It's a columbarium, which means it's a place to store the cremated ashes of your loved ones. The only signs for Po Fook Hill Columbarium are in Chinese. Nothing tells you what the building is in English. Then there's the fact that while most sights in Hong Kong are well-signposted, The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is not. Add to that the fact that the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is behind Po Fook Hill Columbarium and that the entrance to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is well-hidden and you can understand why the mix up happens.

To get up Po Fook Hill you can walk, ride an escalator or even ride in a Swiss built funicular. Po Fook Hill Columbarium is one of the largest public cemeteries in Hong Kong. It dates back to 1990 and contains the ashes of over one hundred thousand people. There are great views over Sha Tin from here making this place well worth a visit in its own right even if it isn't the famous monastery.

Entranceway to Po Fook Hill Columbarium.

At the bottom of the hill there is a Tang Dynasty style garden. There's a turtle pond here as turtles symbolise longevity.

Tang Dynasty style garden.

Shrine in the garden.

Pagoda.

Pagoda and views.

Pagoda and views.

Looking up at the cemetery building.

Cemetery building.

Terrace with statues.

Pagoda

Cemetery building, perhaps you can see why I thought it was a temple.

Cemetery building.

Shrine.

Shrine.

Buddha.

Buddha.

One of the areas where ashes are stored.

Views from the cemetery.

Views from the cemetery.

Views from the cemetery.

I already sort of knew that this building was not the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, because when I planned to visit Sha Tin I looked up some sights to remind myself about them and read an account of someone climbing over four hundred stairs to get to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. I thought: "Why didn't they just get on the escalator?" Then I looked at more reviews, some with pictures, and I thought: " I don't remember any of this."

To get to The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery it's necessary to go a little further on than the columbarium, then go left. There's a tall fence, still no signs and an insignificant looking path which leads to the monastery. The first sign I saw for the monastery was when I had arrived at it!

By the time I arrived at the monastery I had been wandering around in the sun for around three hours and I was now faced with more than four hundred steps to climb. I took it very, very slowly and I still felt utterly exhausted. Thank goodness I had brought lots of water with me.

The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery dates from the 1950's. It was founded by a monk called Yuet Kai and completed in 1957. It's not really a monastery as no monks actually live here. As you climb the steep stairways to the monastery, the path is lined with golden statues of arhuts, a kind of Buddhist Saint. Each one has a different expression, some look quite comical.

Yuet Kai , the founder of the monastery, moved to Hong Kong from Mainland China in 1933 and taught the principles of Buddhism here. The place where the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is currently located was at that time the site of a temple to Kwan Yin, goddess of mercy. Sadly one of the nuns at this temple was killed here during World War II. After the war, the land here was purchased by a local tobacco company, then the owner, obviously a devout Buddhist, donated it to Yuet Kai. He was meant to build a Buddhist college here, but ended up building a monastery instead.

Yuet Kai died in 1965, eight years after the monastery was complete. His body is said to have shown no signs of decay eight months after his death. It was then embalmed and placed inside the main monastery building where it is still exhibited to the present day. It's not possible to photograph this part of the monastery.

In 1997, during the Handover of Hong Kong back to China, when Peter and I lived in Sha Tin, we had terrible rain storms that lasted for days. There was a landslide at this monastery and the caretaker of the building was killed.

The monastery is located on two levels. The upper level has four halls dedicated to Kwan Yin and other Buddhist and Taoist deities, the lower level has a hall with the embalmed body of Yuet Kai and over ten thousand tiny Buddha statues. These are the images that give the monastery it's name. There is also a nine storey pagoda and two pavilions here.

More of the temple exists past the upper level buildings, but this area is closed and repair work is still being carried out due to the terrible landslide that occurred all those years ago.

Monastery sign.

Arhuts.

Arhuts.

Arhuts.

Arhuts.

Arhuts.

Arhuts.

Arhuts.

Arhuts.

Arhuts.

The pathway is lined with golden arhut statues.

The pathway is lined with golden arhut statues.

Arhuts and view.

Arhut and View.

Arhuts and pagoda.

Main Hall on lower level.

A view over the lower level with its vegetarian restaurant.

Nine storey high pagoda.

Pavilion on the lower terrace.

Pavilion on the lower terrace.

Building at the upper level.

Statues at the upper level.

Statues at the upper level.

Statues on the upper level.

View over Sha Tin from the monastery.

When I had finished looking at the monastery, I headed back home. It was a huge relief to get back into the air-conditioning.

It's been a lazy week as I've been recovering from my attempts at home improvements which I carried out over the weekend. We spent another resort style day at the pool, went out for an Italian meal in Figo's and I discovered some very beautiful flowers.

Snacks by the pool.

I thought this flowering tree was lovely.

Dinner in Figo's.

Today, Thursday, I decided to go to Tuen Mun in the north-west New Territories. Tuen Mun translates into English as the Garrison Gate. It is located near the mouth of the Tuen Mun River and on the shores of Castle Peak Bay. Apparently it is the site of some of Hong Kong's earliest neolithic settlements. Later this area became home to large groups of Tanka fishermen. Then, later still, around the 1960's, it developed into one of Hong Kong's new towns.

I began my explorations on the banks of the Tuen Mun River. The sky was rapidly turning black and a huge storm was drifting in.

Watching the storm approaching.

View from the other side of the bridge.

Foot bridge across the Tuen Mun River.

I crossed the river via a footbridge to look at the Hau Kok Tin Hau Temple which, at around six hundred years old, is one of the oldest Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong. Tin Hau is goddess of the sea and her temples are normally located on the coast, but due to land reclamation in Hong Kong, many here are now a bit further inland. This Tin Hau Temple is located in a large square known as the Tin Hau Temple Plaza. Each year a Tin Hau Festival Parade and a Fa Pau Lots Drawing Ceremony are held here. Fa Pau are beautiful paper towers decorated with images of flowers, animals and people. They are used to decorate floats in the Tin Hau Festival Parade. At the end of the parade a lottery is held and it's possible to win a Fa Pau which will bring you and your village luck. Near the temple there is an exhibition hall with images, photos and information all about the fa pau.

Gateway to Tin Hau Temple Plaza.

Tin Hau Temple.

Tin Hau Temple.

Incense Coils.

Tin Hau Temples often contain boats.

Shrine.

Tin Hau.

Door god.

Door god.

Fa Pau in the exhibition centre.

Detail of a Fa Pau.

Detail of a Fa Pau.

Photo of lion dancers in front of a Fa Pau during the Tin Hau Festival.

Photo of villagers carrying away a Fa Pau they have won.

It was raining heavily and thunder and lightning by the time I left the Tin Hau Temple and Exhibition Centre. Despite this, I decided to cross back over the river and look at Tuen Mun Park. Tuen Mun Park is located in the centre of Tuen Mun, not far from exit B of Tuen Mun Westrail Station. The park has a large artificial lake, a water cascade, a model boat pond, a roller-skating rink, a children's play area and a Reptile House.

Entrance to Tuen Mun Park.

Map of the park.

The Cascade.

Looking towards Castle Peak from the bottom of the cascade.

Bridge over the lake.

Reflections in the lake.

Reflections in the lake.

There are many real birds in the park and models to inform you what you might see.

Real Bird, apparently it's a black crowned night heron.

I loved the Reptile House and not just because it gave me shelter from the storm. I am a big fan of lizards, so I adored all the lizards and skinks here. The Reptile House also had some scary looking snakes, tortoises in all shapes and sizes and turtles. Entry is free.

Model outside Reptile House.

Model outside Reptile House.

Entrance to Reptile House.

Sleepy Lizard.

Alert Snake. Apparently it is a green tree python.

Python.

Ball Python.

A Saunter of tortoises. If that's not their collective noun, it should be. The big ones are African spurred tortoises.

Flat-topped Spider Tortoise.

Radiated Tortoise.

Pig-nosed Turtle looking at his reflection.

Northern Snake-necked turtle.

Black Skink.

Hiding Skink.

Chinese Water Dragon.

Leopard Geckos.

When I had finished looking around the park, I jumped on a light rail train at Tuen Mun Town Centre Stop. I was heading towards Tuen Mun Ferry Pier. The light rail system only exists in the north west New Territories in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long districts.

The light rail network.

Light rail train.

From the ferry pier in Tuen Mun it is possible to catch ferries to Tung Chung, Tai O and Sha Lo Wan, a small village on Lantau with no road transport. At one time there were also services from here to Macau and Zuhai Airport. These have stopped due to covid. Next to the ferry terminal there is a long promenade with lots of seats. There are views towards Lantau Island from here.

Tuen Mun Ferry Pier.

Tuen Mun Ferry Pier.

Tuen Mun Ferry Pier.

Looking out over Castle Peak Bay.

Egret looking for fish.

The ferry pier is right next to a large light rail terminal which has a shopping centre up above it. I got on a light rail and headed just one stop further on to Melody. I had read that this was the best place to walk to Butterfly Park and Beach from. I know the grand total of one person who lives in Tuen Mun. We did our teacher training at Hong Kong University together. I didn't contact her as my trip to Tuen Mun wasn't really planned. We were supposed to be going to an optician in Tsing Yi, but Peter changed his mind. As I walked towards the beach, I heard someone calling my name and there was my friend. What's more we were right outside her building! She invited me in for some iced tea then took me for a walk to Butterfly Park and Beach. It was nice to catch up. From her house there is a lovely view over the beach.

View from my friend's house.

View from my friend's house.

Looking down towards the beach.

With my friend on the beach.

My friend on the beach.

Looking out to sea from Butterfly Beach.

Next to the beach is Butterfly Beach Park.

Butterflies in Butterfly Beach Park.

Butterfly Beach Park.

Butterfly Beach Park.

After a very pleasant catch-up, I got on the light rail again and headed to my final sight of the day Mui Fat Monastery in Lam Tei. When I told my friend I was going there, she told me she went to school in the building next to it for seven years. Miu Fat Monastery is actually closer to Siu Hong Station than Tuen Mun Station so I was on the light rail for quite a few stops.

Miu Fat Monastery has two parts joined together by a walkway. One part is traditional looking and the other is ultra-modern. I entered through the modern part which is shaped a bit like a lotus flower and is made of concrete and glass. Apparently there are great views from the top floor here, but I did not know this so did not go to see them. The more traditional part is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall, which dates from the 1950's. It is very ornate with a bright red facade featuring two ferocious looking golden dragons wrapped around its pillars. Stone elephants and lions guard the entranceway. Upstairs on the second floor is the stunning Mahavira Hall with three huge golden Buddha images. The stairway up to the hall is adorned with dragon railings and beautiful Buddha images.

Shop in Lam Tei near the monastery.

Entrance to modern part of monastery.

Modern part of monastery.

Inside modern part of monastery.

Inside modern part of monastery.

Inside modern part of monastery.

Model showing traditional and modern parts of monastery.

Entrance to traditional part of monastery.

Entrance to traditional part of monastery.

Lion Guard.

Elephant Guard.

Incense and stone lanterns outside the monastery.

Beautiful Alloplectus flower in the garden.

Guardians of the doorway.

Guardians of the doorway.

Images on the stairway.

Images on the stairway.

Images on the stairway.

Images on the stairway.

Dragon Staircase inside Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall.

Close up of dragon image.

The Three Buddhas in the Mahavira Hall.

Buddha image inside Mahavira Hall.

I then took the light rail back to Siu Hong West Rail Station and returned home.

Today I decided to return to Tsuen Wan. I had wanted to visit the mills on my last visit, but hadn't got there, plus I wanted to visit Western Monastery and the Yuen Yuen Institute.

When I left the house, the sun was shining and I thought: "I'll be too hot all day, but at least I'll get lovely sunny photos." On the MTR journey to Tsuen Wan, I noticed the thunder storm warning had been raised. By the time I got off the train, the skies were black.

To get to the monasteries I got off at Tsuen Wan Station and exited through exit B1. I then took minibus number 81 from Shui Wo Street. It was right next to where I caught the minibus to the gin drinkers' line, that was the 82. The last stop of the 81 minibus is in a little village called Lo Wai, which is situated in the mountains behind Tsuen Wan. It stops right outside the Yuen Yuen Institute. I was the only passenger on the minibus not carrying flowers or paper offerings for dead relatives. When we arrived, everyone from the minibus went into the Yuen Yuen Institute. I decided to walk back down the hill a short way and visit the Western Monastery first. Naturally it started to rain.

The Western Monastery is a Buddhist institution which was founded in 1970 by the Hong Kong Buddhi Siksa Society. Its buildings are designed to look like Chinese palaces. I entered through an impressive entrance gate. Then I wandered off to the garden area at the side, which has a large statue of Kwan Yin, goddess of mercy and some Buddha statues.

View of the monastery across a stream on the way down from the bus stop.

Looking at the monastery through the entrance gate.

The monastery after the entrance gate.

Buddha in the garden area.

Buddha in the garden area.

Kuan Yin.

I then went through the inner gateway with its four guardian gods and its Buddha statue. I could hear large numbers of monks chanting in the main hall above me.

Guardians of the entranceway.

Guardians of the entranceway.

Looking at the gate with the four guardians and the Buddha.

The inner monastery where the monks were chanting.

Main Building.

There was another statue filled garden off to the side beyond the inner gateway. This garden had a pond full of turtles and a little waterfall. The turtles kept sliding across their rocky platform and dropping into the water one by one.

Turtle pond and statues inside the monastery.

Turtles.

I then climbed up the stairs to the building where the monks were chanting and looked at the view. Behind this area there was a tall pagoda. Two women were walking round and round it. I'm not sure if this was for luck or if they were doing some kind of penance. There was a very colourful building near the pagoda.

Looking at the gate with the four guardians and the Buddha. Tsuen Wan is in the background.

Looking down on inner gateway.

The inner monastery.

A dragon headed tortoise bodied creature holding up a stone stele.

I discovered later that this dragon/turtle creature is called a Lóngguī. It is a legendary Chinese creature that combines the positive qualities of both dragons and turtles and thus symbolizes courage, determination, fertility and longevity.

Lanterns and Roofs.

Monastery building and pagoda.

Pagoda.

Pagoda.

Bas Relief on Pagoda.

Bas Relief on the pagoda.

Colourful building.

I largely just peered inside buildings rather than went in, though no-one seemed to be very interested in where I was going or what I was doing. It was all very chilled. I loved the paintings on ceilings and the beautiful ornate details everywhere.

Inside one of the halls.

Inside a hall.

Inside a hall.

Impressive Doorway.

Detail.

Ceiling detail.

Ceiling details.

Garden.

There were lots of serene little shrines dotted all around. I liked the hanging wooden fish outside a building that I think is the monastery's vegetarian eating area. I discovered later that these fish are struck with a stick to make a particular sound.

There is a legend about their origins. Long ago a monk was on a journey to India in search of sutras or precious religious sayings. On the way he had to cross a raging river where there were neither bridges nor boats. Suddenly a fish appeared and offered to help him. The fish explained that it had once been human, but had committed a crime and had been reincarnated as a fish. It told the monk it would help him cross the river if he tried to persuade the Buddha to help him back on the path to enlightenment. The monk promised he would. For the next seventeen years, the monk searched all over India collecting sutras, then he decided to return home. On the way back he reached the same river and the fish appeared again. It asked if the monk had kept his promise, but he hadn't. He had forgotten all about the fish's help. Angrily the fish knocked the monk into the water and all his precious sutras were swept away. The devastated monk was rescued by a passing fisherman. When he returned to his monastery, he was so angry about the loss of his sutras that he made a model of the fish and hit it with a stick. Each time he struck the fish it would spit out a character of the lost sutras. After a year the monk once again had all of his precious sayings back.

Shrine.

Buddhas.

Buddha.

Fish and Pagoda.

Fish.

I think this is the monastery's vegetarian eating area.

The Western Monastery was so beautiful that I am tempted to go back in better weather, but there are just so many other things to see. I left and walked back up the hill to the Yuen Yuen Institute. By the time I got there, the rain was pelting down.

The Yuen Yuen Institute was established in 1950 by monks from Sanyuan Gong in Guangzhou. It is fairly unique in Hong Kong in that it is dedicated to Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. The main building here is a replica of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The Yuen Yuen Institute was very crowded with people burning paper offerings for their ancestors. There was a lot going on here, including a service attended by a group of chanting and instrument playing monks.

The Yuen Yuen Institute.

Looking towards Western Monastery Pagoda

Offerings.

Paper offerings.

Chanting Monks.

Mural.

Mural.

Temple building.

Temple building.

Dragon Roof.

Praying in the temple.

Pagoda.

The Pagoda and Kuan Yin.

Lucky Golden Carp.

Wandering the temple.

Soaked through and with no sign of the rain abating, I decided to cut my losses and head back to Tsuen Wan. When I arrived, I headed towards exit A3 of the MTR. I walked in the direction of Discovery Park. This route lead me through a multi-coloured tunnel which I personally thought was rather beautiful towards Discovery Park Shopping Mall.

Multi coloured Tunnel Walkway.

Multi coloured Tunnel Walkway.

Discovery Park Shopping Mall.

Discovery Park Shopping Mall.

I cut through Discovery Park Shopping Mall, exited, crossed the main road via a walkway and headed to Pak Tin Par Street to find the mills. The mills were originally known as Nan Fung Textiles. These former factories were founded by Shanghainese businessman Dr Chen Din-hwa in 1956. They concentrated on spinning and weaving garments which were then sold in Asia, Australia, Europe, the United States and Central America. At one point after the demise of the textile industry in Hong Kong these buildings were faced with demolition, but they were saved by Vanessa Cheung, granddaughter of Dr Chen Din-hwa. They have now been converted into an exhibition centre and high class shopping mall. Outside the buildings there are many beautiful murals related to the history of Nan Fung Textiles. Inside there is a museum, shops, restaurants and a venue for turning yourself into a Chinese opera star. I really loved the outdoor areas with reflecting pools which, even on a miserable rainy day, were truly beautiful.

Entrance to the mills.

Mural at Entrance to Mills.

Mural and entrance the mills.

Mural and entrance the mills.

Mural.

Mural.

Mural.

Mural.

Mural.

Mural.

Mural.

The mills occupies several floors. On the ground floor there were colourful chairs in the centre of a variety of shops.

Colourful Hall in the mills.

Every now and then there was an exhibit about plants used in the manufacture of different types of cloth.

Plants from which we make cloth.

Textiles.

On one of the outside terraces there was a moving tapestry. This consisted of beautiful pictures connected to manufacturing textiles, but these pictures were made up of many squares of cloth which move in the wind just like a worn garment moves as people wander around wearing it.

A moving tapestry.

A moving tapestry.

A moving tapestry.

A moving tapestry.

A moving tapestry.

A moving tapestry.

Also in this area there was a pond with fantastic reflections of the surrounding buildings.

Reflections.

Later I found a second outdoor terrace filled with beautiful plants and another reflecting pool.

Plants on the outdoor terrace.

Plants on the outdoor terrace.

Reflections.

Reflections.

Reflections.

Reflections.

There are several exhibition rooms in the mills, but only one was open during my visit. It showed the history of textile manfacture in this factory.

Former Machinery in Museum.

Former Machinery in Museum.

Finished products in museum.

Finished products in museum.

Finished products in museum.

Finished products in museum.

Finished products in museum.

Finished products in museum.

Personally I was rather fascinated by all the people who were dressing up as Chinese Opera Stars and having their photos taken. I suppose it was rude of me to push in and photograph them, too, but I did.

Dressing up as Chinese Opera Stars.

Dressing up as Chinese Opera Stars.

Dressing up as Chinese Opera Stars.

Dressing up as Chinese Opera Stars.

Dressing up as Chinese Opera Stars.

Dressing up as Chinese Opera Stars.

Dressing up as Chinese Opera Stars.

Dressing up as Chinese Opera Stars.

The mills also has a variety of inviting looking restaurants.

Restaurants

Restaurants.

Finally, I left the mills and walked back to the MTR and returned home.

Walking the streets of Tsuen Wan.

Washing hanging out to dry.

All kinds of buildings from old to new.

Building Reflections

Minibuses on a Tsuen Wan Street.

We are having a fairly typical Hong Kong summer: days of excessive heat, followed by days of thunder, lighting and non-stop rain.

Yesterday, which was Tuesday, we managed to get down to the pool between thunder storm warnings. For once we decided to treat it as if we were on holiday. We normally arrive, swim for around an hour, then leave. Yesterday we arrived, swam, had drinks and snacks from the poolside kiosk, relaxed, read a bit, then swam some more just as we might do if we had gone to a resort. We plan to try and spend a few more days like this.

Happy down the pool.

Happy down the pool.

Today, Wednesday, I decided to once again brave going out exploring. I have a whole list of hikes I want to do, but they'll have to wait till it's cooler. Instead, I have decided visiting a district of Hong Kong with transport and air-conditioned shopping centres is currently the way to go, because when I feel about ready to die of heat or the thunder and lightning starts, I can go inside. Thus, I decided it was time to visit Tsuen Wan.

I don't often go to Tsuen Wan, but when I have been, I have never actually liked it. I have decided this is because Tsuen Wan is a bit confusing to get around and very built up. Today, however, I took my time and had a good wander around and found Tsuen Wan is actually quite interesting.

Tsuen Wan started out life as a few sleepy villages located next to the sea. Then in the 1940's a group of Shanghai industrialists settled here and established textile factories. These factories developed rapidly and ended up employing thousands of workers and Tsuen Wan became well known for creating fabric and garments. Then the government began to develop this area by building large numbers of housing estates as part of its 'new town policy'. This policy was aimed at providing homes for a rapidly rising population.

I got to Tsuen Wan by taking the West Rail to Tsuen Wan West. I exited through exit B and headed along the waterfront promenade. On a previous outing, I once walked along the waterfront looking towards Tsuen Wan West from Tsing Yi. This time I was looking towards Tsing Yi from Tsuen Wan West. Despite how built up this area is, the waterfront was very, very peaceful.

Tsuen Wan Promenade.

Tsuen Wan Promenade.

Tsuen Wan Promenade.

Tsuen Wan Promenade.

The walk along the promenade joins on to Tsuen Wan Park, which is a very welcome green space in this built-up area. As I headed there, I spotted some beautiful flowers and went to photograph them. While doing this, I tripped over something and stumbled in such a way that my left shoe, which was a bit worn out, suddenly fell apart. Oh dear! I now had to sort of hobble through the park trying to keep my broken shoe on. All things considered, I think I still didn't do too badly on the sightseeing. Tsuen Wan Park has a maritime theme and is very pleasant with quite a few things to see, such as ponds, statues and towers. One of the residential blocks nearby had a beautiful peacock staircase.

Entrance to Tsuen Wan Park.

The flowers that broke my shoe.

Bridge over the pond, Tsuen Wan Park.

Tower, Statues and Fish, Tsuen Wan Park.

Turtles and Reflections.

Fish Statues.

Lighthouse structure by pond.

Tsuen Wan Park, Tsuen Wan West, Hong Kong

The Waterfall in Tsuen Wan Park.

Dolphin Statues, Tsuen Wan Park.

Ivy Tower surrounded by turtle statues, Tsuen Wan Park.

Good Old Boys Playing Chess, Tsuen Wan Park.

Flowers, Tsuen Wan Park.

Peacock Staircase.

Nina Twin Towers.

To my relief at the end of Tsuen Wan Park, I came across Citywalk Shopping Mall. I went inside looking for shoes and found some almost immediately, so I bought these and threw the broken ones away. There are two Citywalk Shopping Malls connected by a pedestrian walkway. Between them they have over three hundred and fifty shops and restaurants.

Looking Towards Citywalk Shopping Mall, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong

Inside the City walk Mall.

Inside the City walk Mall.

What would you like for dinner? Choose your fish from a tank outside the Chinese restaurant.

Peaceful Buddah Face outside a massage parlour.

When I left the shopping mall, I noticed a colourful indoor market, so I went in to take a look round. The fruit and vegetables certainly looked tasty and fresh.

Inside the market.

Inside the market.

Inside the market.

Inside the market.

Inside the market.

Inside the market.

Inside the market.

After the market I followed a walkway towards Tsuen Wan's other MTR station. On the way I passed Tsuen Wan Town Hall and several beautifully decorated staircases. I came off the walkway to wander around some colourful streets with tall buildings and beautiful murals, many of them done by school children.

At one time Tsuen Wan was just a village then it was turned into one of Hong Kong's new towns with lots of housing estates.

Colourful Tsuen Wan Housing Estate.

Street Scene.

Looking towards Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong

Colourful Street Scene.

Across a Playing Field.

Crowded City Streets.

Reminiscent of Causeway Bay.

Shop overflowing with health.

Muay Thai Fight Club.

I liked Tsuen Wan's Painted Staircases.

Another Painted Staircase.

Very Realistic MTR Mural.

And Another One.

Murals of Tsuen Wan Sights.

Murals of Tsuen Wan Sights.

Murals of Tsuen Wan Sights.

Murals of Tsuen Wan Sights.

Murals by Children Outside a Local School.

Murals by Children Outside a Local School.

Murals by Children Outside a Local School.

Murals by Children Outside a Local School.

Murals by Children Outside a Local School.

Murals by Children Outside a Local School.

Murals by Children Outside a Local School.

Murals by Children Outside a Local School.

Murals by Children Outside a Local School.

Murals by Children Outside a Local School.

Murals under an Underpass.

Murals under an Underpass.

Mural Outside MTR. I think they are connected back to Tsuen Wan's textile industry.

Mural Outside MTR.

Next I went to an old Hakka walled village which has been converted into a museum. It's called Sam Tung Uk Village and was built by the Chan Clan in 1786. The Chans moved to this area from Guangdong in the mid-eighteenth century and earned their living here by farming.

Entrance to the museum is free. Near the entrance you can watch some videos about Chinese festivals. The ancestral hall of the village is still intact and brightly decorated. All of the side-rooms are intact but empty. At the back of the building there is an exhibition hall focusing on Chinese crafts. Exhibits here show how to carve a Tin Hau image from a block of wood, how to make a dragon head and how to build a bamboo theatre for staging Chinese operas. I loved the way each step of these processes was shown.

Entrance Sign of Museum.

Earth god shrine.

Museum Doorway.

Close up of doorway.

Lanterns between entrance and ancestral hall.

Close-up of lanterns.

Ancestral Hall.

Passageway.

Passageway.

Side Building.

Doorway with door gods.

Doorway.

Step by step making a dragon head for a dragon dance.

Close up of finished examples.

Movements in the dragon dance.

Exhibit from sights and sounds of festivals.

Building an opera stage from bamboo.

Bamboo.

Step by step making a Tin Hau goddess.

Step by step making a Tin Hau goddess.

Step by step making a Tin Hau goddess.

Lantern making.

Picture of Floating Children from Cheung Chau Bun Festival.

Entranceway.

The walled village.

The walled village.

Old and New.

Pond in Museum Garden.

Turtles in the pond.

Looking across museum garden towards entranceway.

Trees in Museum Garden.

Trees in Museum Garden.

I still had plenty to look at. There was a Tin Hau Temple in one direction and on the other side of the MTR a former mill building which has been converted into an arts centre, but I was starting to suffer from the heat and my new shoes were scraping the skin off my feet in two places, so I decided just to take a look at the nearby Panda Hotel with its large mural of pandas around bamboo then go home. After all I can always return another day.

Panda Hotel.

Inside Panda Hotel.

On the train ride home I took some pictures of the Ramblers Channel separating Tsuen Wan and Taking Yi.

Looking across the Ramblers Channel.

Looking across the Ramblers Channel.

So ... on Monday I went to Nam Sang Wai. I did not intend to go exploring again until Thursday. On Tuesday, we had our best swim of the summer, although the typhoon three and the amber rain signals were raised. As we swam, we were pelted with rain, but the rain had cooled the water of the swimming pool and had made most people flee, so it was uncrowded and refreshing. Just bliss!

We had intended to eat out, but on route to the restaurants, we got so drenched we felt they might not even let us in. We just went home. I cooked. It was fine.

Wednesday, we were meeting a friend for dinner. We said we'd swim first, but thunder and lightning put paid to that. On the way home from dinner, one hell of a storm broke out. I'd say we largely just missed being out in it, but we could certainly hear it when we got in.

I had several plans for Thursday. I thought I'll decide which one to do in the morning. However, when my alarm went off, rain was pelting down, thunder was rumbling, lightning was flashing. I switched off the alarm and went back to sleep. What else can you do?

When I finally woke up, the weather had cleared up a bit, but it wasn't early any more. I also had to be home at a certain time for a prearranged phone call. What to do? Should I just stay in? I decided against this; sometimes I just go stir crazy; I needed out. I thought I'll do a short trip out and back before the phone call - Tsing Yi Park, that would be perfect. And it would have been, but being me, I had to stick in a couple more things to do in there.

I decided since I would be on the Tung Chung Line, it was about time I took a look at Kowloon High-speed Rail Station. This building is an example of very modern architecture and there is a garden on the roof with views across the harbour. However, "Duh!!!" When I got there, the station was closed as the border crossing there with China is closed. I was angry with myself. I should have known this. As getting from the Tung Chung Line to the Kowloon High Speed Rail Station involves going through Elements Shopping Centre, I had a quick look there. I don't really like shopping centres. This one was typical Hong Kong designer goods stores. The ice-skating rink was the best bit.

Elements Shopping Mall.

Elements Shopping Mall.

Ice-skating Rink.

Ice-skating Rink.

Ice-skating Rink.

So Kowloon Station hadn't really worked out, but not to worry, I had read a description of a great viewing point over one of the largest container terminals in the world, just a short walk from Lai King Station, also on the Tung Chung Line. OK, container terminals aren't pretty, but the photo accompanying the article was lovely.

The directions for the viewing point which, believe me should have been pretty simple, were very confused. I accidentally walked past the viewing point that was being described. This did, however, have the advantage of me finding a lovely stream a bit further on in the middle of a built up area. When I finally found the recommended viewing area, it was now a construction site. I could see where it was possible to take a good photo from, but I could not access it.

Stream.

View across the container terminals.

View across the container terminals.

Well that was now two out of three failures. I only had Tsing Yi Park and a shopping trip to Marks and Spencers in Maritime Square left to do. I headed towards Tsing Yi Park by taking exit B from Tsing Yi Station.

It amazes me that I have never before been to this park. After all, I go to Tsing Yi to shop quite often. Tsing Yi Park is a European style park which occupies an area of around seven hectares. It was opened to the public in 1996.

This park has beautiful ponds with elegant statues next to them. It also has a restaurant, tennis courts, soccer fields and a lookout tower. Despite being in the heart of Tsing Yi, it is peaceful here.

Map of Tsing Yi Park.

Trees near the entrance to Tsing Yi Park.

The first area I went to was a large pond with several statues. Some of these are of people; others are of fish or birds. Behind the pond there is a European style folly. It's actually a shelter with seating inside and seating on its roof, but it's designed to look like the kind of folly you might find on an English country estate.

Looking across the pond towards the folly.

Close up of the folly.

View across the lily filled pond.

Boy and Fish Statue.

Lovers' Statue near the pond.

Bird Statue.

Bird Statue.

Waterfall feeding into the pond.

Building at the end of the pond.

Building at the end of the pond.

The building at the end of the pond includes a restaurant. It has another of those full moon shaped doorways that symbolize happiness.

Full Moon Doorways.

Full Moon Doorways.

I wandered round further past beautiful banyan trees with their long roots, colourful flowers and a lovely stream crossed by a little bridge. The stream was home to many turtles and golden koi fish.

More banyan trees.

Flowers and trees.

Stream.

Flowers.

Flowers.

Flowers.

Stream.

I was nearing the end of my explorations when I got a call from my irritated husband. He was having to deal with an airline I phoned yesterday who said they'd call me back yesterday, plus I had to be in for a bank phone call. I only had the lookout left to do and stuff to buy from Marks and Spencers. The sky was already dark. As I climbed to the lookout it went pitch black and the familiar rumble of thunder started. The lookout view wasn't really all that impressive anyway.

Looking up at the lookout tower.

The Lookout Tower.

At the lookout tower.

Rainy view from the lookout tower.

Rainy view from the lookout tower.

As I was coming down from the lookout tower the rain started and the thunder and lightning intensified. I was relieved to make it to Maritime Square Shopping Centre and hurried to Marks and Spencers. I wanted a chicken to roast, but in keeping with the rest of the day they didn't have any. I also needed sliced bread but forgot to buy it. I did make it in time for my phone call, but still think not having bothered to get out of bed at all may have improved my day.