Sai Kung
Sai Kung (p9;貢; pinyin: xi1 gong4; Cantonese: sai1 gung3) is the second-largest of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is a peninsula located in the New Territories.
Geographical characteristics and population
The peninsula covers approximately 126 km² and had a population of 316,000 as of 2000.
In contrast to the densely populated areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, Sai Kung is a coastal district characterised by beautiful scenery, charming small villages and stunning seascapes. The area is well known to Hong Kong locals for its pristine beaches and quiet living, so that while it remains only partly urbanized, many people describe Sai Kung as the "last back garden" of Hong Kong.
In addition to this beautiful garden, Tseung Kwan O or Junk Bay is also part of Sai Kung. It is the portion connecting Sai Kung peninsula with the metro area in Kowloon. Junk Bay used to be a usual bay area in Sai Kung, but quite near to the famous seafood village of Lei Yue Mun. In 1977, the Hong Kong Government started a major development project in this area, to develop it into the 7th Hong Kong Territory Development. Reclamation covered the whole bay area, and it has become a district able to accomodate a population of 300,000, accounting for 95% of total population in the district. This new reclaimed land was renamed Tseung Kwan O, its present name. The MTR metro was extended to this newly developed area, making access to Sai Kung easier via Tseung Kwan O.
Islands
On summer nights, a lot of people hire small boats known as kaitos or sampan, some to catch cuttle-fish which is a popular pastime for local residents, others for leisurely trips through the island-dotted inland sea of Port Shelter. Popular islands to visit include:
The large island of Kau Sai Chau is the location for a public golf course developed and run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Local and tourist attractions
There are numerous cultural sites, heritage sites and country parks in the Sai Kung peninsula, such as:
In addition there are golf courses and nature trails. The golf driving range center in Ho Chung is popular with local residents and tourists. Visitors can also enjoy barbecues at Ho Chung.
Sai Kung is also a popular place for hiking. The starting point for the 100km MacLehose Trail is at Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung.
There are also water sports sites along the shoreline offering kayaking, snorkelling and swimming among other activities. In addition, Sai Kung's Hoi Ha Wan (海下灣) is one of the most easily accessed coral dive sites in Hong Kong. It is suitable for diver training and for newly-certified divers.
As a former fishing village, Sai Kung town is a mecca for seafood lovers, locals and tourists alike. Visitors can stroll around the regional market center of Sai Kung Town or explore the back lanes, visit the Tin Hau Temple, feast on seafood or enjoy different delicacies at Western-style pubs and restaurants.
Transport
Some of the most beautiful and thus isolated parts of Sai Kung peninsula can only be reached on foot or by boat. Where a destination is accessible by public transport, it is usually served via a complicated web of bus routes. Certain bus routes can be found at [1].
Scheduled ferry services also operate between coastal points on the peninsula and in and around the islands: [2].
The nearest MTR station to Sai Kung town is Choi Hung. A number of buses boarded from outside the station travel to Sai Kung market.
Miscellaneous
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, one of the eight publicly-funded tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, is located in Sai Kung.
Note that 西貢 were also the Chinese characters for Saigon, nowadays Ho Chi Minh City, in Vietnam.
See also:
External links
Referenced By
18 districts of Hong Kong | Coral dive sites | District of Hong Kong | Districts of Hong Kong | Governor General of Hong Kong | Group 28 project | HKSAR | History of Hong Kong | Hong-Kong | Hong Kong | Hong Kong, China | Hong Kong, city | Hong Kong/History | Hong Kong Country Parks & Special Areas | Hong Kong SAR, China | Hong Kong Special Administrative Region | Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | Hongkong | ISO 3166-1:HK | Individual Visit Scheme | Kai Sai Island | Kau Sai Chau | List of China-related topics M-Z | List of Hong Kong-related topics | List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong | Museums in Hong Kong | New Territories | Prince of Wales Hospital
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