Sheung Shui Wai

Gazing upon Sheung Shui Wai, can you sense the whispers of centuries past? Sheung Shui Wai, also known as Sheung Shui Heung, rests in the northern New Territories of Hong Kong. It is a place where time seems to slow, a stark contrast to the bustling metropolis just a short distance away. Sheung Shui Wai holds the heart of the Liu clan, whose ancestors journeyed from Fujian during the Yuan Dynasty, seeking a new beginning. They established Wai Loi Tsuen around 1584, the first settlement in this area. The village stands as a testament to their resilience, a walled sanctuary protected by a moat, a rare sight in modern Hong Kong. Within its walls, the Tin Hau and Hung Shing temples stand, renovated but still echoing with the prayers of generations. As the Liu clan prospered, their village expanded. Between 1819 and 1898, Po Sheung Tsuen, Chung Sum Tsuen, and Mun Hau Tsuen emerged, adding to the tapestry of Sheung Shui Heung. The Liu Man Shek Tong Ancestral Hall, built in 1751 in Mun Hau Tsuen, stands as a proud symbol of their lineage, a declared monument. Another ancestral hall, Liu Ming Tak Tong, though reconstructed in 1973, still holds a piece of the past within its granite door frame. In Po Sheung Tsuen, the Liu Ying Lung Study Hall, a Grade II Historic Building, stands as a testament to the clan’s dedication to learning. Restored in 2006, it even garnered an Honourable Mention in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards. Nearby, the Old Sheung Shui Police Station, built in 1902, offers a glimpse into a different era. Sheung Shui Wai, a village steeped in history, offers a captivating glimpse into Hong Kong’s rich past. It is a place where ancient traditions endure, where the spirit of the Liu clan continues to thrive.