Walled villages of Hong Kong

Walled village (圍村) is a kind of tradional building which is completely surrounded by thick walls, protecting the residents from the attack of wild animals and enemies. Usually, people lives in the walled village are families. Walled village can be found in China and Hong Kong.

Walled villages in Hong Kong

Most of the walled villages in Hong Kong are located in New Territories.

Kat Hing Wai

Kat Hing Wai(吉慶圍) is a famous Hakka(客家) walled village in Hong Kong. Popularly known as Kam Tin, it is home to about 400 descendants of the Tang clan, who built the village back in the 1600s.

Kat Hing Wai is completely surrounded by 18-foot-thick walls which protect the residents against bandits, rival clans, and wild tigers. There is only one narrow entrance.

Tsang Tai Uk

Tsang Tai Uk(曾大屋) is also a well-known walled village found in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin.

Built in the 1840s, Tsang Tai Uk is rectangular in shape and is surrounded by grey-brick compound with high, thick walls and tall corner towers.

Orginally designed as the home for a rich quarry-master’s clan, the walled village gained its current name when it gave refuge to displaced families after the Second World War.

Sheung Shui Wai

Sheung Shui Wai(上水圍), also known as Sheung Shui Heung(上水鄉), is one of the very few rural settlements having retained its original moat which was built in 1646. Characterized by its magnificent moat and landscape setting, the walled village is the core of the Liu clan with ancestors came originally from Fujian during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

Fanling Wai

Fanling Wai(粉嶺圍) is walled village in Fanling built by Pang(彭) clan. It is recognisable with the distinctive pond and layout including features such as cannons and watchtowers. All these elements are crafted to form an integral part of the village setting. Fanling Wai is the centre of the Pang clan who arrived Hong Kong from Guangxi province late in the Song Dynasty.