Sheung Wo Hang

Tucked away in the Sha Tau Kok area of Hong Kong lies Sheung Wo Hang, a Hakka village steeped in history. Sheung Wo Hang wasn’t always known by this name. Until the 18th century, it was simply called Wo Hang, meaning “valley of rice”. The name reflects the agricultural heart of the village, where rice paddies once thrived. The Li clan, prominent in the area, arrived in Wo Hang in 1698, shortly after the Great Clearance. The clan’s patriarch, Lee Tak-wah, brought his family to this tranquil valley seeking a new beginning. His son, Kuen-lam, solidified their presence by building an ancestral hall, the Lee Sze Sai Kui. This act, however, sparked a shift in the village’s demographics. The hall’s feng shui was believed to be unfavorable to the other residing clans—the Hos, Tsangs, and Tangs—who subsequently left Wo Hang, leaving the Li clan as the sole inhabitants. The village expanded as the Li clan grew. Branches of the family established two new settlements: Ha Wo Hang (“Lower Wo Hang”) around 1730 and Wo Hang Tai Long around 1750. It was during this period of growth that Wo Hang acquired its prefix, becoming Sheung Wo Hang, or “Upper Wo Hang”. At the heart of Sheung Wo Hang stands the Kang Yung Study Hall, a testament to the Li clan’s commitment to education. Originally built in the early Qing Dynasty as a place for clan members to prepare for the Imperial civil service exams, it later served as a public school until its closure in 1986. Today, it stands as a declared monument, its simple yet functional architecture and restored desks and cockloft offering a glimpse into the past. Sheung Wo Hang isn’t just about the Kang Yung Study Hall. Other historical structures like the Wing Kat Tong communal hall and the Li ancestral hall dot the village, each whispering tales of generations past. Despite the exodus of many villagers to urban areas and abroad since the 1950s, Sheung Wo Hang retains its historical charm, a quiet reminder of Hong Kong’s rich and layered past.