Lai Chi Wo
Century-old Hakka Walled Village (One-day course)
Some places always beckon you to return. Visitors to Lai Chi Wo will agree that it is one such
place. Lai Chi Wo is one of the oldest, biggest and best-preserved rural settlements in the
northeast New Territories of Hong Kong. Built over 300 years ago according to traditional
geomancy rules, the village is laid out with three longitudinal and nine horizontal rows of
houses, with more than 200 houses in all. The charming rural homes slope progressively up the
hill, and the whole village is protected by rustic walls.
In the old days, most of the villagers were rice and fruit farmers; others fished or made bamboo
utensils for a living. Starting in the 1960s, the villagers began migrating to Britain or moving
to the city for better jobs, but they always return to Lai Chi Wo for the decennial Tai Ping
Ching Chiu ceremony of Hing Chun Yeuk. It is a bustling time for all.
Stroll along the 1.2km Lai Chi Wo Nature Trail and you will surely appreciate the region’s
ecological significance. The dense fung shui wood behind the village, with its diverse tree
species, is an important habitat for many mammals and butterflies. The coastal forest of eight
true mangrove species is the breeding ground for abundant marine life. Among the mangroves is
the largest mangrove species in Hong Kong ― Coastal Heritiera ― which can grow over 15m tall.
Their powerful buttress roots break through the muddy ground and stand like solid walls. The
White-flowered Derris is giant vine that can grow to a great size, equalling a grown man’s waist
in diameter. Like a giant python or dragon, it meanders across the forest. Lai Chi Wo is also
home to a sweeping wetland, which supports diverse dragonflies, frogs and freshwater fish. All
these natural habitats come together to form an important ecosystem. These natural resources
enrich the cultural character of the area. Lai Chi Wo is as beautiful as a landscape painting
Siu Ying Story Room is the fruition of joint efforts made by the seven Hing Chun Alliance villages of Sha Tau Kok and Hong Kong Geopark. The gallery was formerly the
extended Siu Ying School building. Established in the 1920’s, the school provided elementary education to children from the seven villages for several decades. It is
an important piece of collective memory. The showcase mainly comprises villagers’ oral history narratives and generously donated cultural relics. Arranged in four themes ―
History of Hing Chun Yeuk and the Seven Villages; Siu Ying School; Tai Ping Ching Chiu; Farming and Trade ― the exhibition presents the heritage and different lifestyles
of the region. It is a wonderful reproduction of rural hamlets in bygone days.
In view of the ecological importance of seagrass communities, the seagrass bed (Zostera
japonica) at Lai Chi Wo was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
in 1979. The seagrass bed had been included in the designation of Yan Chau Tong Marine
Park in 1996.
Under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, all established seagrass beds have
been considered as important habitats where an ecological assessment will be necessary.
All proposed developments that will affect these habitats should undergo ecological
assessment so that the threat to local seagrass communities caused by urban development
can be minimized.
