Sunset paints the sky here at Pak Nai. Prepare for a story about this special place. Pak Nai is subdivided into Sheung Pak Nai and Ha Pak Nai. They offer some of the best sunset views in Hong Kong.
Facing Deep Bay, also known as Shenzhen Bay, Pak Nai is a unique wetland. Hundreds of rafts float here. Oysters and scallops grow on them. These sea creatures stay safe until they are ready to be sold.
Pak Nai boasts a rich ecosystem. Its biodiversity includes rare species offshore. This has led to public concern and objections of development here, which were eventually dropped.
Ha Pak Nai is known for its ecology. Its shoreline stretches 6 kilometers. Mangroves, wetlands, and mud banks thrive here. Environmentalists highly conserve these mangroves. The government designated this area a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Oyster shells cover the mudflat since Ha Pak Nai used to be an oyster bed.
Several crab species live offshore. You might spot Perisesarma bidens. Ilyoplax tansuiensis also lives here. Uca arcuata and Sesarma sinensis are common too.
The horseshoe crab is very important. It is one of the most highly conserved species here. Horseshoe crabs date back 450 million years. They are called living fossils. Their blood contains copper. This copper detects bacteria so horseshoe crabs are valuable in medicine.
Pak Nai holds historical significance. Relics and a historical site date back thousands of years. The sand dunes of the Chen’s homeland are here. The Wu’s homeland is here too. There is also a fortified structure. The Antiquities and Monuments Office discovered the Chen’s relic in 1997. They found a one-meter-high sand dune. It contained two culture levels. The team found postholes and stone stoves. Kilns and a grave were also found. It was the first time that sun and moon utensils had been excavated in Hong Kong. The Wu’s relic was found later that year. It had culture levels from three time periods. There were rammed earth foundations and stone artifacts.
The fortified structure at No.55 Ha Pak Nai is a declared monument. It connects to the revolutionary movement of modern China. Dr. Sun Yat-sen led this movement. Hsing Chung Hui members stayed at Lower Pak Nai. They planned to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. They also conducted bomb tests here. Tang Yam-nam, a core member of Hsing Chung Hui, built the structure around 1910. It is solid evidence linking the 1911 revolution to Sun Yat-sen and his comrades. The structure helped surveil the Deep Bay coast under the Qing Dynasty.
Ha Pak Nai is famous for sunsets. Many photographers, tourists, and couples visit. The best spots are along Ha Pak Nai’s shores. The junction of Deep Bay Road and Nim Wan Road also provides excellent views. Nim Wan Road is a popular cycling route.
Former Heung Yee Kuk chairman Lau Wong-fat wanted to develop Ha Pak Nai in 2007. Opposition led to the plan being withdrawn. In 2010, Lau reduced the development’s scale. He added conservation features.
Pak Nai is located in the New Territories’ west. You can reach it by minibus or taxi. Minibus 33 from Yuen Long stops at Pak Nai, by the mud-bank.
Remember the sunset you saw here at Pak Nai. Think about the horseshoe crabs living in the mud. Consider the revolutionaries who plotted here. Pak Nai is a place where nature and history meet.