- Yuen Long District
Infobox HK District
official_name = Yuen Long District
map_caption = Location inHong Kong
google =
leader_title =District Council Chairman
leader_name =Tang Siu-tong , JP
constituencies = 29
area_note =
area_magnitude =
area_total = 138.43
area_land =
area_water =
population_as_of = 2006
population_note =
population_total = 534,192
population_density = 3,858
latitude =
longitude =
website = [http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/yl/english/welcome.htm Yuen Long District Council]
footnotes =Yuen Long District (zh-t|t=元朗區,
Jyutping : jyun4 long5,pinyin : Yuánlǎng, used to be known as Un Long), is one of the districts ofHong Kong located in the northwest of theNew Territories . It had a population of 449,070 in 2001. The district has the youngest population of Hong Kong.Geography
Yuen Long District contains the largest alluvial plain in Hong Kong, the Yuen Long-Kam Tin plain. With an area of 144 km², the district covers Ping Shan Heung, Ha Tsuen Heung, Kam Tin Heung,
Pat Heung , San Tin Heung,Shap Pat Heung ,Yuen Long Town andTin Shui Wai .Two
new towns have been developed within this district.Yuen Long New Town was developed from the traditional market town ofYuen Long Town from the late 1970s.Tin Shui Wai New Town has developed since the early 1990s, and is built on land reclaimed from former fish ponds once common in the district.History
Since the
Tang Dynasty , the Tang's clan has been living in Pat Heung. LikeTai Po , Yuen Long used to be a traditionalmarket town .Culture
pecial festivals
The Tin Hau Festival (天后誕巡遊) is on the 23rd of the third month of the
lunar calendar . It celebrates the birth of a localdeity , Tin Hau. During the day, residents from various walled villagesparade on the two major streets in Yuen Long Town.Cuisine
*
Poon choi (盤菜)
*Sweetheart cake (老婆餅)Popular scenic spots
Hong Kong Wetland Park
Hong Kong Wetland Park (香港濕地公園) is located at the northern part ofTin Shui Wai . It was intended to be an ecological mitigation area (EMA) for thewetlands lost due toTin Shui Wai New Town development. In 1998, a project named as "International Wetland Park and Visitor Centre Feasibility Study" was initiated by theAgriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and theHong Kong Tourism Board with a view to expanding the EMA to a wetland ecotourism attraction. After concluding that it was feasible to develop a wetland park at the EMA site without compromising its intended ecological mitigation functions and the development of the Wetland Park will also enhance the ecological function of the EMA to a world-class conservation, education and tourism facility, the concerned parties started the Wetland Park Project, which is regarded as one of the Millennium projects by the Administrations.Kat Hing Wai
Kat Hing Wai (吉慶圍) in Kam Tin is one of the District's best-known walled villages. It is the ancestral home of the Tangs, one of the "Five Great Clans" in the territory. Built by the Tangs 500 years ago, it is a rectangular walled village with an area of 100 metres by 90 metres. As a family stronghold, Kat Hing Wai has served the Tangs well through centuries. In the
Qing Dynasty , a five metre high blue brick wall and four cannon towers were added to defend bandits.Route: HK-MTR lines|West Rail
Kam Sheung Road Station or KMB routes 54, 64K and 77KMai Po Marshes
Mai Po Marshes (米埔) is located in the centre of the wetland and has achieved international significance as a stopping and feeding place for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australian Flyway. The birdwatching season runs from October to May and more than 300 types of birds have been recorded in the area, many of them are rarely seen anywhere outside the region.Visitors may go to Mai Po by the following ways:
* From Central, take route 968 to Yuen Long (West) Bus terminal, then change taxi.
* FromSheung Shui Station , take Bus 76K or red minibus 17 to Mai Po village, then walk to the Marsh (about 20 minutes)."On 30 Jan 2004, the Government suspended public visits to the Mai Po wetland reserve as a supposed measure to protect people from avian flu (H5N1)."
Ping Shan Heritage Trail
[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/en/trails_pingshan.php Ping Shan Heritage Trail] (屏山文物徑), inaugurated on
12 December 1993 , was designed to link several historic buildings and monuments owned by the Tang clan in Ping Shan (including Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda 聚星樓 and Tang Ancestral Hall 鄧氏宗祠) by a 1 km trail.Route: LRT Ping Shan Station or West Rail Line
Tin Shui Wai Station Tai Fu Tai
Tai Fu Tai Mansion (大夫第) inSan Tin was probably built in 1865 in the reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a richly embellished residence situated on a spacious ground, with a large open space in the front and a garden at the back. The whole compound is surrounded by a green-brick wall. It is a fine example of traditional Chinese dwellings of the scholar-gentry class and is certainly one of the most elegant buildings throughout the territory.Route: KMB Bus 76K to San Tin
Tai Lam Country Park
Tai Lam Country Park is at the west of New Territory with an area of 54 km². Tai Lam has a small area of porphyry in the northeast; for the remaining area, it is composed of highly erodible decomposedgranite . In 1952, afforestation started as a measure to protect the water catchment area. In spite of the poor soil conditions and the set-backs of fire damage over the years, mature stands of "Acacia confusa ", "Lophostemon confertus ", "Pinus massoniana ", "Pinus elliottii " andEucalyptus species now cover most of the area. In addition, the plantations also offer a good habitat for birds,pangolins ,Chinese leopard cat , andbarking deer . Nevertheless, Tai Lam is an excellent place for outdoor activities because of its remoteness.Yuen Long Park
Yuen Long Park (元朗市鎮公園) is a park at Yuen Long Town with recreational facilities. There is a 7-storey pagoda enclosing anaviary , which has become a landmark of Yuen Long.Route: LRT Shui Pin Wai Station, LWB bus E34 or KMB Bus 264M, 269D, 276(P), 268B, 268C (get off the bus at "Yuen Long Park".)
Leisure and cultural facilities
* Yuen Long Theatre was opened in May 2000. This modern performing arts venue has become a centre for the arts in the New Territories northwest. The Theatre is situated at Yuen Long Tai Yuk Road in the vicinity of Yuen Long Park, Yuen Long Stadium and the Public Swimming Pool. The bamboo courtyard is a focus within the foyer, which creates an ambiance of serenity and tranquility.
* Yuen Long Town Hall is located in Kau Yuk Road, near Yuen Long Police Station. It is to organize courses and leisure activities. There is also study room.
* Yuen Long Swimming Pool is situated at Tai Yuk Road. There are 5 Standard swimming pools for four seasons.
* Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool is situation at 1 Tin Pak Road. There are 3 standard swimming pools for four seasons and a children swimming pool in summer.
* Yuen Long Public Library is on the first floor of Yuen Long Government Offices, 2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long.
* Tin Shui Wai Public Library is at No. 101-102, 1/F, Kingswood Ginza, Phase 2, 18 Tin Yan Road, Tin Shui Wai.
Transport
Located in the northwest of the New Territories, Yuen Long has a well-developed public transport network. It is easily accessible from different parts of Hong Kong by bus, mini-bus or railway.
* Bus services provided by
Kowloon Motor Bus ,Citybus and MTR
* and HK-MTR lines|Light Rail services provided byMTR
*Public light bus es
* Taxis, including the New Territories taxis (green taxis) and public taxis (public taxis).tatistical information
Future
Entering into the 2004, development in Yuen Long has been carried out very rapidly. The West Rail project and other major infrastructural projects have all changed the face of Yuen Long from an old market town into a vibrant and dynamic district.
Apart from the West Rail project,
Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor (深港西部通道), the fourth cross border route, between Hong Kong and mainland China has been completed and was opened in 2007. The site chosen in Hong Kong isNgau Hom Shek (鰲磡石), located at the North West of Yuen Long and that in the mainland is nearShekou , the busiest harbour port. The bridge is 5.5 km long and the expected traffic capacity is 80,000 car per day. It will benefits residents in Yuen Long because going to mainland China will only take 15 minutes. [ [http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr97-98/chinese/panels/plw/papers/pl15012a.htm Route: Number 10] ]ee also
*
List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
*Yuen Long Tin Shui Wai Democratic Alliance
*Yuen Long Town Footnotes
External links
* [http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/yl/english/welcome.htm Yuen Long District Council]
* [http://www.eac.gov.hk/pdf/distco/maps/dc2003m.pdf List and map of electoral constituencies (large PDF file)]
* [http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/achievements/regional/regi_yuenlong.htm Yuen Long New Town]
* [http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/achievements/regional/regi_tinshuiwai.htm Tin Shui Wai New Town]
* [http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Yuenlong Yuen Long Theatre]
* [http://www.ylth.org.hk/ Yuen Long Town Hall]
* [http://www.info.gov.hk/tdd/towns/yuenlong.htm Yuen Long New Town]
* [http://www.info.gov.hk/planning/info_serv/publication/nt_pamphlet02/yl_html/index_e.htm Hong Kong government pamphlet about the development of the new town]
* [http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/touring/hkiidistricts/ta_dist_yuen1.jhtml Hong Kong Tourism Board]
* [http://www.wwf.org.hk/eng/maipo WWF Hong Kong]
* [http://www.afcd.gov.hk/wetlandpark Hong Kong Wetland Park]
* [http://www.yl.com.hk/ Yuen Long Special]
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