Tai Po Tau Tin Sum

Tucked away in Tai Po District, Tai Po Tau Tin Sum whispers tales of a rich past. Tai Po Tau Tin Sum wasn’t always the tranquil locality you see today. It was once a fortified mound, a key part of the coastal defense system. This mound, northwest of Tai Po Old Market, housed 30 soldiers guarding against threats from the sea. The year was 1668. The ban on coastal settlements, imposed during the Great Clearance, had just been lifted. The Qing Dynasty, ever wary of invaders, reinforced its defenses along the Xin’an County border. Twenty-one fortified mounds, including Tai Po Tau Tin Sum, sprang up like watchful sentinels. Each mound represented a strategic point in the defense network, manned by units from the Green Standard Army. Tai Po Tau Tin Sum, along with others at Tuen Mun, Kowloon, Ma Tseuk Leng, and Fat Tong Mun, played a vital role in safeguarding the region. This network of fortified mounds, including Tai Po Tau Tin Sum, formed a robust defense system. Later, the Kowloon–Canton Railway sliced through the area, dividing the original village of Tai Po Tau. This division gave rise to Tai Po Tau Tsuen (Tai Po Tau village) and Tai Po Tau Shui Wai. Tai Po Tau Tin Sum, therefore, stands as a testament to a layered history. It’s a place where echoes of military strategy mingle with the impact of infrastructural development. Tai Po Tau Tin Sum’s story is etched in the landscape. It speaks of a time of upheaval and strategic importance, shaping the very fabric of the Tai Po District we know today.