One Day in New Territories

Route: Tai Fu Tai Mansion - Sam Tung Uk Museum - Lo Wai Village - Yuen Yuen Institute - Western Monastery

Speaking of Hong Kong, most backpacking travelers may consider it a bustling metropolis brimming with numerous skyscrapers and dazzling shopping malls, but the past history has also endowed this city a lot of historical heritages and thick cultural atmosphere. Following this one-day Hong Kong independent tour to New Territories, you will visit the famous historical and cultural relics to unveil a different side of the city.

You may start your Hong Kong backpacking tour with Tai Fu Tai Mansion, which was built in 1865, the former residence of a noted scholar, Wen Songluan. This traditional building is particularly renowned for its fine architectural decorations. To get there, you may take bus 76k after exiting from A1 at MTR Sheung Shui Station. Alight near the post office at San Tin. Then, follow the signs and walk for 5 to 10 minutes to Tai Fu Tai. No admission fee is needed but you are required to show your passport at the entrance. You should notice that this old mansion is closed on Tuesdays.

After that, you may backtrack to the alighting point. The San Tin Hueung Sze Wui bus stop is 440 yards ahead. Take bus no. 78 there to Pat Heung Road, near Tai Lam Bus-bus Interchange, then walk to the opposite side to take bus no. 269M at Tai Lam Tunnel. Finally alight at Chung On Street Tsuen Wan. Follow the signs, you will find the Sam Tung Uk Museum. This museum is actually a Hakka walled village with a history of over 200 years. It houses an ancestral hall, two rows of side houses, an exhibition hall and a lecture hall with old furniture, handicrafts and agricultural tools on display. It is also free for public and closed on Tuesdays.

After staying there for one hour or so, you may head for the next destination, Lo Wai Village, around 1.4 kilometers away. This village was constructed in the 14th century, the first walled village in Hong Kong. It was enclosed on all four sides by brick walls, with a gateway and entrance tower. And now much of the original village walls and internal buildings remain here. Although much of it is closed to the public to protect the villagers' privacy, you can see the protected entranceway and walls.

Continuing walking northward along the Lo Wei Road, you could find the Yuen Yuen Institute. While strolling around this site, you may have a chance to delve into the culture of the three important schools of thought in China, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, at the same time. You are also suggested to spend one hour here.

After that, visit the nearby Western Monastery, a famous Buddhist temple. Besides the thick Buddhist atmosphere, it is also a good place to view the natural landscape with clear pond inside and lush mountains around it.

As you get out from the Western Monastery, your one-day Hong Kong New Territories independent tour comes to an end. Please take bus no. 81 from Western Monastery to Tsuen Wan subway station (Zhaohe Street) and take the MTR back to Kowloon.