Ma On Shan (town)

Ma On Shan is an extension of the Sha Tin New Town along eastern coast of Tolo Harbour in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Despite being part of Sha Tin New Town, the new town extension is designed to have its own town centre. Administratively, it belongs to Sha Tin District.

Geography

Ma On Shan is located by the west face of the twin peaks of Ma On Shan, which can be translated as "horse saddle mountain". The town is built on the strip between Tolo Harbour and Ma On Shan mountain. The north end of the town reaches the settlement of Wu Kai Sha and the south Tai Shui Hang.

History

Deep inside the slope of Ma On Shan was an iron mine. The mine was long abandoned before the more recent new town development. The quarrying workers spoke a language which is a combination of various languages in South China.Fact|date=August 2007

Entertainment

Whilst Ma On Shan is a relatively small town in the New Territories, it is well-known by Hong Kong residents and expatriates alike. There is much to see and do in Ma on Shan, especially if you enjoy shopping: the town boasts a three story shopping centre, Sunshine City Plaza. Connecting to Sunshine City Plaza are two other shopping centers; Ma On Shan Plaza and Sunshine Bazaar.

Ma On Shan Plaza

Ma On Shan Plaza (Chinese: 馬鞍山廣場 (Traditional), 马鞍山广场 (Simplified), Pinyin: Mǎānshān Guángchǎng) is a shopping centre in the town centre of Ma On Shan in the Sha Tin District of Hong Kong, China. It is located in Sai Sha Road, and is connected to the Sunshine City Plaza and the Ma On Shan Station of the MTR Ma On Shan Line by footbridges. It is an associated shopping centre built together with the residential estate of Bayshore Towers, developed by Cheung Kong. The shopping centre has been famous of its indoor merry-go-round for the amusement of visitors who purchase items in any shops in the shopping arcade up to a certain amount. The merry-go-round, together with the water-operated clock tower next to it, has been the symbol of the Ma On Shan Plaza.

Sunshine City Plaza

Three floors of shops mean that Sunshine City Plaza is a one-stop place to buy almost anything. The majority of shops are clothing shops, including such well-known labels as Levi's, Bauhaus, K-Swiss, Adidas, Giordano, and over fifty other shops, mostly specialising in women's fashion. Sunshine City Plaza also boasts a large 'Citistore' department store which sells many things: clothes, mattresses, beds, toys, electrical appliances, baggages and more.

Numerous restaurants abound in the plaza and as well as local Cantonese favourites; you will find McDonald's and KFC outlets as well as a Cafe de Coral. A large Wellcome supermarket is present as is a pharmacy, cosmetics shop, hairdressers and tea houses, bakeries, shoe-shops, sweet shops, book shops and a classic favourites, two HK "$10" shops.

Public facilities

The Ma On Shan Sports Centre is open all week. Badminton courts and table-tennis tables abound, and the cost of a badminton court for one hour is around HK$60. Students, however, receive a discount, and can book any facility for half-price, upon proof of their student status.

Near the sports centre is the Ma On Shan Public Swimming Pool. Adjacent to the pool is the 'SA Poolside Cafe', a cafe run by the Salvation Army, in which young disabled men and women have the opportunity to undertake training and work in the cafe. Supervised by an experienced team, the majority of the cafe's profits go towards the Salvation Army, and despite what one may be inclined to think, the food is excellent and cheap. The Public Library is near the Sports Centre and Swimming Pool, and there are free internet service and word-processing facilities.

Transportation

Ma On Shan is served by both green taxis (New Territories taxis) and red taxis (Urban taxis).There are numerous other modes of transport including minibuses, KMB, and NWFB (on cross-harbour routes). The HK-MTR lines|Ma On Shan link began service on December 21st, 2004, and it connects to the HK-MTR lines|East Rail at Tai Wai Station. The stops of the Ma On Shan Line are:
* Wu Kai Sha
* Ma On Shan
* Heng On
* Tai Shui Hang
* Shek Mun
* City One
* Sha Tin Wai
* Che Kung Temple
* Tai Wai

The Ma On Shan Line ends at Tai Wai, where passengers can change to East Rail Line. The stop after Tai Wai is Kowloon Tong, where passengers can then change from East Rail Line to HK-MTR lines|Kwun Tong.

Schools

*Renaissance College Hong Kong [http://www.renaissance.edu.hk]
*Hong Kong Taoist Association Shun Yeung Primary School [http://www.syps.edu.hk]
*Tak Sun Secondary School [http://www.tsss.edu.hk/]
*Li Po Chun United World College [http://www.lpcuwc.edu.hk]
*Po Leung Kuk Chong Kee Ting Primary School [http://www.plkcktps.edu.hk]

See also

* Ma On Shan (peak)
* Ma On Shan Country Park
* Ma On Shan Line
* Ma On Shan Public Library
* Ma On Shan Road