Did you know that the Sam Tung Uk Museum wasn’t always a museum? It started as a Hakka walled village. Imagine life here in 1786.
Sam Tung Uk Village was built by the Chan clan. They moved here from Guangdong in the mid-18th century. They sought land to cultivate. Chan Yam-shing led the clan. He built three rows of houses. Later, his descendants expanded the village. They added annexes to the sides and back.
The main hall housed the ancestral altar. It faced the main entrance. Above the door, a granite lintel reads “Chan Family Ancestral Hall”. These characters signify the importance of family.
Sam Tung Uk’s story doesn’t end there. By April 1980, the village was vacated. But in March 1981, it was declared a historic monument. The government funded its restoration. Between 1986 and 1987, it transformed into the Sam Tung Uk Museum. This restoration even won an award.
Today, you can explore preserved sections of Sam Tung Uk. The entrance, assembly and ancestral halls, and twelve houses remain. Some rooms now serve new purposes. There is a reception area, exhibition hall, and lecture theater.
The Sam Tung Uk Museum displays agricultural tools. Everyday objects show Hakka village life. The main exhibition changes every six months. An orientation room documents the restoration.
Visiting the Sam Tung Uk Museum offers a glimpse into Hong Kong’s rural past. It shows how villagers lived before urbanization. The Sam Tung Uk Museum is open to all. Come explore this unique piece of history. It connects us to the Chan clan and their legacy. It shows us how life once thrived within these walls.