Ngau Tong Shan

Did Ngau Tong Shan always look this rugged? Here at Ngau Tong Shan, the wind whispers stories of a time long before the skyscrapers of Hong Kong touched the clouds. Ngau Tong Shan, meaning “Ox Field Hill”, stands as a silent witness to the city’s transformation. It’s one of the peaks that once supplied granite for Hong Kong’s booming construction industry. Imagine barges laden with stone, crossing Victoria Harbour, destined for buildings like the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Canton City. Ngau Tau Kok, the area below, also played a crucial role in the city’s growth. Ngau Tau Kok translates to “ox horn” or “ox head cape,” a name reflecting its coastal shape before Kowloon Bay’s reclamation. This area was not always a concrete jungle. It housed one of the “Four hills of Kowloon” where granite was quarried. In 1911, Ngau Tau Kok was a small community of only 440 people. Today, it bustles with over 210,000 residents. Ngau Tong Shan overlooks a district with a rich past, including Hakka inhabitants and the industrial heart of Amoy Food’s soy sauce factory. The echoes of this industrial past still linger in the area’s street food stalls. Ngau Tau Kok also has a spiritual side, hosting vibrant Yu-lan festivals during the summer months. This festival, rooted in Chinese ghost tales, adds another layer to the area’s cultural fabric. Ngau Tau Kok has faced its share of challenges. The 2003 SARS outbreak drastically impacted the community, particularly in Amoy Gardens. The 2006 town gas explosion on Ngau Tau Kok Road and Jordan Valley North Road served as another stark reminder of the area’s vulnerabilities. Ngau Tong Shan observes the constant change below, from the bustling streets to the quiet resilience of its people.