Lan Nai Wan

Gazing at the tranquil waters of Lan Nai Wan, can you imagine a time when this serene bay pulsed with the life of a vibrant village? Lan Nai Wan, also known as Man Yee Wan, was once more than just a picturesque inlet on the Sai Kung Peninsula. It was home to a community, the Lan Nai Wan Village, also called Man Yee Wan Village. Life here, nestled in the heart of nature, unfolded at a different pace. The 1970s, however, brought a dramatic shift. The Hong Kong government embarked on an ambitious project: the construction of the High Island Reservoir. Lan Nai Wan, along with several neighboring villages like Pak Tam Chung and Sha Tsui, lay in the path of progress. As the reservoir filled, the waters of Lan Nai Wan rose, slowly submerging homes, farms, and the very heart of the community. The villagers, their lives irrevocably altered, were relocated to new homes near Sai Kung Old Town and Sai Kung Public Pier. Lan Nai Wan, once teeming with activity, became a silent, watery grave of a bygone era. The bay now forms a part of the vast reservoir, its history submerged beneath the surface. Yet, the story of Lan Nai Wan persists, a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of development. As you stand here, at the edge of the High Island Reservoir, let the quiet ripples of the water echo the lost whispers of Lan Nai Wan. Let them tell the story of a village swallowed by the tide of progress, its memory kept alive in the hearts of those who once called it home.