1. The History
Not a massive amount of history on this place. Sha Lo Tung is located at approximately 3.8 km north-east from the centre of the Tai Po New Town and is bounded by the Tai Po New Town to the south and surrounded by the Pat Sin Leng Country Park to the north, east and west. At the entrance of Sha Lo Tung there stands a signpost that reads “Sha Lo Tung village”, a collective name for the two Hakka villages of Cheung Uk and Lei Uk. Lei Uk is further divided into Lo Wai and Sun Wai: 'Old Village' and 'New Village' Built in Hakka style, all the houses are arranged horizontally and joined together. Both the Cheung and Lei klans were farmers growing rice and vegetables and rearing chickens, ducks and pigs. They sold their produce in Tai Wo Market.
For some years there was just one resident in Cheung Uk. He lived there in his 90s and on sunny days he could be seen sitting in front of his house. His name was Chan Ching-Zhong. He moved to the village in 1976 when he officially retired. A war veteran, he was left alone in the village as people started to move out. He made the veritable age of 100 in 2010.
After his death the only inhabitant mantle passed to Cheung Wai-kok. He returned eight years ago with his wife to open a private kitchen for hikers. Meanwhile a long-running controversy over plans to turn village land into a golf course resulted in the village being sold to developers.
Cheung Uk and Lo Wai are both classified as Grade II Historic Buildings.
2. The Explore
This was a new ghost village for me. Did a bit of research prior my trip to HK and found this place on Google Maps. So on a very hot and close August weekday I set off for the village. It was about an hour on the bus from Tsuen Wan to Tai Po then another 10 minutes on a local bus to the start of the trail that goes to the village. The trail was pretty steep and wound up the hills north of Tai Po through the beautiful Sha Lo Tung conservation area. After a steep climb and slight decline the trail led to Sha Lo Tung. I was greeted by several yapping dogs from the only inhabited house but they soon lost interest. This place is truly a ghost town. There are many houses in various states but just one inhabited house. The abandoned houses are pretty overgrown and this plus the marshy conditions stopped me getting to some of the village. With the peace and tranquillity and the amount to explore this had to be one of the highlights of the trip.
3. The Pictures
This looks promising:
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Very promising…
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The old ancestor worship hall:
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This place is next to the one inhabited house:
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This is the first row of houses I explored. The writing above the door means safe exit and safe return (I think):
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A few bits and bobs left behind:
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Here’s the cooking stove:
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This one has completely gone:
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Round the back there are some very old and decayed houses:
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Some old pots:
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This was the best row of houses. Think this place was a temple. It’s now home to some bats!
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Note the bat droppings!
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This fridge is a bit past its sell-by date:
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This house has got a tree coming out of it!
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This was one of the most interesting old houses:
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With it’s old furniture still in situ:
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Including this old table:
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Obligatory “old clock on the wall” picture:
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This bed has migrated downstairs:
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Sadly I couldn’t get to these as I didn’t have my wellies:
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Not a massive amount of history on this place. Sha Lo Tung is located at approximately 3.8 km north-east from the centre of the Tai Po New Town and is bounded by the Tai Po New Town to the south and surrounded by the Pat Sin Leng Country Park to the north, east and west. At the entrance of Sha Lo Tung there stands a signpost that reads “Sha Lo Tung village”, a collective name for the two Hakka villages of Cheung Uk and Lei Uk. Lei Uk is further divided into Lo Wai and Sun Wai: 'Old Village' and 'New Village' Built in Hakka style, all the houses are arranged horizontally and joined together. Both the Cheung and Lei klans were farmers growing rice and vegetables and rearing chickens, ducks and pigs. They sold their produce in Tai Wo Market.
For some years there was just one resident in Cheung Uk. He lived there in his 90s and on sunny days he could be seen sitting in front of his house. His name was Chan Ching-Zhong. He moved to the village in 1976 when he officially retired. A war veteran, he was left alone in the village as people started to move out. He made the veritable age of 100 in 2010.
After his death the only inhabitant mantle passed to Cheung Wai-kok. He returned eight years ago with his wife to open a private kitchen for hikers. Meanwhile a long-running controversy over plans to turn village land into a golf course resulted in the village being sold to developers.
Cheung Uk and Lo Wai are both classified as Grade II Historic Buildings.
2. The Explore
This was a new ghost village for me. Did a bit of research prior my trip to HK and found this place on Google Maps. So on a very hot and close August weekday I set off for the village. It was about an hour on the bus from Tsuen Wan to Tai Po then another 10 minutes on a local bus to the start of the trail that goes to the village. The trail was pretty steep and wound up the hills north of Tai Po through the beautiful Sha Lo Tung conservation area. After a steep climb and slight decline the trail led to Sha Lo Tung. I was greeted by several yapping dogs from the only inhabited house but they soon lost interest. This place is truly a ghost town. There are many houses in various states but just one inhabited house. The abandoned houses are pretty overgrown and this plus the marshy conditions stopped me getting to some of the village. With the peace and tranquillity and the amount to explore this had to be one of the highlights of the trip.
3. The Pictures
This looks promising:
Very promising…
The old ancestor worship hall:
This place is next to the one inhabited house:
This is the first row of houses I explored. The writing above the door means safe exit and safe return (I think):
A few bits and bobs left behind:
Here’s the cooking stove:
This one has completely gone:
Round the back there are some very old and decayed houses:
Some old pots:
This was the best row of houses. Think this place was a temple. It’s now home to some bats!
Note the bat droppings!
This fridge is a bit past its sell-by date:
This house has got a tree coming out of it!
This was one of the most interesting old houses:
With it’s old furniture still in situ:
Including this old table:
Obligatory “old clock on the wall” picture:
This bed has migrated downstairs:
Sadly I couldn’t get to these as I didn’t have my wellies:
