Hong Kong New Territories China

Tsim Sha Tsui Kowloon after Typhoon York in Hong Kong

Our New Terrritories tour group gathered at YMCA International House next to the Peninsula Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui just after 9 a.m. one Saturday. (Well-signed as they are, hotels make good landmarks.)

We could see for ourselves that the Peninisula was not the typical YMCA we had been expecting to find, but a reasonably-priced, well-appointed, well-located hotel. As such, it is heavily booked, and we all made mental notes to check there first for future trips.

The first stop was at an old temple. As I was going from the parking area towards the stairs to the temple forecourt, this older, sadder staircase caught my attention.

Typhoon York, the strongest typhoon in 40 years, had hit Hong Kong with top winds of 234 kph (142 mph) a week or so before my visit, and signs of flooding and landslides were evident on the hillsides. With several large hotels and office buildings showing cracked plate glass windows and other storm damage, I had to wonder how the residents of these ramshackle dwellings could withstand typhoons.

New Territories  Hong Kong China Old Temple Statue

This style of statue is similar to ones seen in Macau. I don't know if this particular style has a name, but it appears to be carved from wood. Several times I passed this style of statue, and watched with interest while an'artist' was carefully repainting it by hand.

Leaving Tsim Sha Tsui, you drive past the enormous container port area and several of the massive housing developments, many of them subsidized by the government. Our guide pointed out the enormous complex at Mei Foo, built on a former oil depot, saying it has its own MTR (subway) stop in the complex. At the time of my visit, it housed some 70,000.

Beyond Mei Foo, we passed Tsuen Wan MTR stop of the same nameand Tsuen Wan West, which at that time housed 700,000. Individual apartments are about 500-700 sq.ft., and shared with several family members. These tight quarters contribute to the number of residents out and about shopping, or strolling the parks and streets.

Most units are not air-conditioned, so there's no relief from Hong Kong's heat. (Take the MTR to Tseun Wan to tour the Sam Tung Uk Museum, a restored Hakka walled village.)

Temple Gardeners Hong Kong China New Terrtiories Tour

Up the stairs, past the statue of the pretty lady, we entered this patio area leading to the temple, where a group of workers were repotting and tending the container garden. Only one or two of them were actually working; the others just looked on. This scene prompted a comment from one member of our tour group: "Wow, just like at home: One person working and the others standing around watching.

Altar Inside Old Temple En Route to New Territories

As well as this main altar, a number of smaller altars lined the temple interior.

These other altars were like shrines, each dedicated to one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. Most of us had our photos taken with 'our' particular god.

This temple is dedicated to all three religions, stated our guide, then didn't name them, begging the question: Which 'three' main religions? Buddhism, certainly, but I don't know which other two he had in mind.

The Wishing Tree - Banyan Prayer Tree New Territories Landmark

From the temple, we headed further inland on the highway, then turned onto a narrower route to reach the Wishing Tree. Here, we all were encouraged to make a cash donation to receive one of the new oranges to which was attached a paper prayer banner.

Then, spreading out around the base of the tree, we proceeded to toss the orange-weighted prayer flag high into the banyan's branches. T

his is not as easy as you would think, as evidenced by the large number of prayer flags clustered along the lower trunk.

The tree canopy is fairly high, and several times, oranges came raining down, fluttering flags in tow. No tourists were hurt in the process. In any event, the 'exercise' did us bus travelers good, and we were all pleased to have taken part in this hands-on cultural experience.

New Territories Hakka Walled Village

With the usual tour route via a mountain road currently closed due to recent typhoon damage (Typhoon York, which carried No. 10 flag for more than 12 hours, reportedly uprooted some 4,300 trees on its rampage through Hong Kong), we were taken along a secondary route to tour this old walled village, still inhabited by Hakka.

Another tropical storm was heading towards Hong Kong, its progress closely watched. Early this morning, our hotel notified guests that the Hong Kong Observatory had raised the storm's status to a No. 3 flag. Our guide explained the flag rating system, which differs from the North American/Caribbean (Saffir-Simpson) hurricane scale that uses categories one through five.

"No.1 means there's a storm brewing," he said."No. 3 means the storm is organized, with winds of 70-80 knots (80-90 mph). No. 8 means wind and rain, No. 10 is a severe tropical storm amd No. 12, well, let's hope it never gets to No. 12."

Since the observatory changed the flag signal from No. 1 to No. 3 at 9:15 a.m., precisely when we were all boarding the tour bus, and before the guide leaerned of it, we continued. Normally, he said, tours are canceled when the No. 3 flag is posted. However, he continually monitored the observatory phone line to check for further increases, at which time we would abandon the balance of the tour and immediately head back to Hong Kong.

Walled Village Abandoned Hakka Home New Territories

One of the derelict homes in the walled Hakka village.

Different Style Doorway :: Walled Village New Territories

As we walked along the laneways in the old Hakka village, our guide paused from time to time to explain details of the various homes and construction styles.


The photo above shows a wooden door frame; the one pictured here is built of stone, with ceramic details.

Hakka Village Free Range Chickens

As always, animal life draws my attention. Ignoring our presence, these chickens continued feeding.

Empty Wire Animal Cages at Hakka Village

Though some houses were vacant shells, most appeared to be occupied, though we never encountered any inhabitants during the hour we were there.

Perhaps they stay indoors when tours visit; perhaps it was meal time. These wire cages raised above the ground caught my eye, though I couldn't tell what animal they housed.

(Perhaps the animals were removed because of our visit.) The fresh, dry newspaper placed under the cage is obvioulsy meant for easy cleaning of droppings; The top is covered for some protection from the rains.

Typhoon Harbour Near Tai Po New Territories

Hong Kong has a number of these Typhoon Harbours :: This one is near the New Territories village of Tai Po. When typhoon flags are raised to one of the higher levels, boats move into these harbours to escape the storm.

Tai Po was first settled by Tanka boat people more than 1,000 years ago, explained our guide. It's located on a river that flows into Tolo Harbour. This photo shows a closer look at the large 'floating village' out in the harbour.

Wide View of Hong Kong Typhoon Harbour

From the close up above, this wide shot gives an idea of the broad harbour that provides safe haven during storms. With our tour abbreviated due to the closure of the mountain road, we had time to spare, so we were able to wander out on the long breakwater sea wall for a closer look.

Sha Tin Race Track New Territories

Horse racing is very popular in Hong Kong, notably at the venerable Happy Valley race track located in Hong Kong proper. Sha Tin is a relatively new additon for race fans, built on reclaimed land that is 14 feet below sea level.

Like much else in Hong Kong, it can be easily reached by MTR (Sha Tin stop). Our day tour included lunch, which was served in an upper level banquet room at the Sha Tin Clubhouse.

Following a very good Cantonese-style lunch (I saved the menu but cannot locate it at present), we went out to the bleacher seats for a closer look at the track.

All in all, a tour of the Hong Kong New Territories is a great day trip, with more attractions added each year.

Hong Kong Travel Pictures - Click a picture and go!