Name (English): Tung Chung Fort
Name (Chinese): 東涌砲台
Category: Outdoor activities
Address (English): Tung Chung Fort, Tung Chung Rd, Lantau Island
Address (Chinese): 香港大嶼山東涌路上嶺皮村旁
Address Google Map Link: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tung+Chung+Fort/@22.2780855,113.9338844,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x3401580a018cddad:0xe5d5bae12ced30a5!8m2!3d22.2780855!4d113.9360731
Address longitude and latitude: 22.278313828679384, 113.9360838261901
Opening Hours:
MON 00:00 – 23:59
TUE 00:00 – 23:59
WED 00:00 – 23:59
THU 00:00 – 23:59
FRI 00:00 – 23:59
SAT 00:00 – 23:59
SUN 00:00 – 23:59
Recommended Time to Visit: 10am / 14pm
Accessibility Note: Not easy to access – need to walk up stairs
Hong Kong may appeal to many as a cosmopolitan where people safely meet, exchange and make wonders. However, as a pivotal port-city, Hong Kong has never been spared from invasions big and small. Although these traces are not obvious, a little hike will reveal a history of defence lesser known to travellers. For a start, let’s head to the 2000-year-old Tung Chung Fort and Battery.
Triumphed over the battles
Built in the 12th century of the Southern Song dynasty, Tung Chung Fort was erected to defend the realm from the attack of pirates and smugglers. Coupled with three hundred soldiers sent by the government, the fort kept out invaders and kept the area peaceful for the next hundreds of years.
In the 19th century, as the fort was no longer garrisoned, the raid of pirates reappeared to threaten marine travellers. The Qing officials then rebuilt and reinforced the site by adding several batteries, especially to protect merchant ships that passed by the estuary of Pearl River.
Rediscovered after a century
As the Qing Dynasty fell, the fort and batteries were abandoned. It is said to have been a site of Wa Ying College from 1937 to 1941, before being occupied by the Japanese Army during WWII. Having witnessed endless wars and change of dynasties, the fort was retrofitted into a police station, then became a declared monument in 1988. Six cannons are preserved for visitors to visit.
Chinese opera in the haunted school
At the entrance, you’ll see a gigantic archway, engraved with the name of the fort. These are majestic structures that can be found in some history books. If you’re brave and adventurous, you can wander around the dilapidated school where the chairs and desks remain intact. Interestingly, the Chinese Opera Society is housed in the haunted campus, which is still running nowadays! Although many learners are the elderly, they might readily teach you to sing some songs.
#discoverhongkong #explorehongkong #visithongkong #hongkongtravel #ilovehk #nature #hongkongnature #hkhiking #outdoors #outdoor #naturelovers #naturelover #naturephotography #capturehongkong #visualhongkong #hongkonginsta #attractions
