Around the 1980s Shui Mun Tau Rest Garden was a bustling hub. Villagers traveled to Hong Kong by boat. They bought goods there. They resold them in Shenzhen. This was parallel trading. About 100 villagers engaged in this activity. They scavenged for secondhand items. They traded them for profit. Shui Mun Tau Rest Garden was then a water-bound village. Its history stretches back centuries. The village’s story began with Zhuangzi. He was a famous Taoist philosopher. His 48th-generation grandson moved to Fujian. His offspring moved to Guangdong. They were loyalists fleeing the Yuan dynasty. They settled in Shui Mun Tau Rest Garden. They found fresh water there. The area became known for fishing and salt production. The villagers were part of Shenzhen’s original inhabitants. They spoke a dialect called Weitou. It was used in Luohu Futian and Hong Kong’s New Territories. Today Shui Mun Tau Rest Garden is a landlocked community. The city government bought much of its land. This included land near the Shenzhen River. The price was 1.2 million yuan. Fish ponds and rice paddies were reclaimed. The village transitioned from fishing and agriculture. It shifted to manufacturing and real estate. Many factories sprung up. They used imported materials. The area became a hub for migrants. Many buildings housed both Hong Kongers and mainland Chinese. The modern Shui Mun Tau Rest Garden retains a sense of its past. It is a residential neighborhood. It has southern Chinese features. You’ll see waterfalls pavilions and a bridge. Water continues to be a significant symbol. It’s found in the many spas and congee restaurants. A rock museum in the area showcases its shift. The cultural meaning of water changed from practical to ornamental. The fishpond and gardens are more about aesthetics. The story of Shui Mun Tau Rest Garden is about adaptation. It’s a testament to Shenzhen’s remarkable growth and transformation. It shows how a small village evolved into a modern neighborhood while retaining its cultural identity.
Sai Wan Shan
Considering a hike today? Sai Wan Shan is calling us. Sai Wan Shan is a hill within Sai Kung East