Venture with me to Mui Tsz Lam, a village with a story etched in time. Mui Tsz Lam, also known as Plum Grove. This village is in the Sha Tin District of Hong Kong. But there is also a Mui Tsz Lam in the North District of Hong Kong. This Mui Tsz Lam is an upland Hakka village.
Mui Tsz Lam in the North District is over 300 years old. It is part of the Hing Chun Alliance. This alliance includes Kop Tong, Lai Chi Wo, Ngau Shi Wu, Sam A Village, Siu Tan and So Lo Pun.
Imagine Mui Tsz Lam bustling with life. The 1960s were its heyday. About one hundred people called Mui Tsz Lam home. They planted rice and fruit trees. Plums and tangerines were their main crops. Life was tough. Transportation was inconvenient. Many villagers left for better opportunities overseas in the 1970s. Mui Tsz Lam was slowly abandoned.
But Mui Tsz Lam’s story does not end there. Since 2017, a revival has begun. Local villagers and volunteers are breathing new life into Mui Tsz Lam. They are restoring terrace fields and ponds. Dozens of mandarin trees have been replanted. The Mui Tsz Lam Story House was created. Artworks and murals now adorn the village.
Mui Tsz Lam is accessible by foot from Lai Chi Wo. The walk takes about 15 minutes. As you walk, notice the dense woodland surrounding Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong. The stream system provides habitats for several amphibian species. The Chinese Bullfrog and the Big-headed Frog live here.
Mui Tsz Lam’s fung shui woodlands support diverse plants. Pavetta hongkongensis and Aquilaria sinensis grow here. These plants are of conservation significance.
The government-funded Project Plum Grove worked between 2020 and 2022. The Chinese University of Hong Kong led it. Returning villagers and volunteers helped.
Mui Tsz Lam received recognition. It won the President’s Special Prize. The Hong Kong Institute of Architects gave it a Special Award.
Mui Tsz Lam stands as a testament to resilience. The village was once deserted. It is now a model for rejuvenation. Mui Tsz Lam shows how communities can be revived. It reminds us of the importance of preserving our heritage.