Step into a time capsule. Welcome to the Sheung Yiu Folk Museum. This isn’t just a museum. It’s a living testament to Hakka life. Imagine the bustling energy of a 19th-century village. Here in Sai Kung Country Park stands a restored Hakka village. Built around a lime kiln it flourished for generations.
The Sheung Yiu Folk Museum is more than just buildings and artifacts. It’s a story. A story of a Hakka clan the Wongs. They built this village about 150 years ago. They used the lime kiln to make bricks and mortar. It made the village prosperous. Their homes their pigpens their cattle sheds. All surrounded by high walls and a watchtower to protect them from pirates.
The watchtower is a marvel. Standing six meters tall it offered a commanding view. It protected the village from pirates. Can you imagine the villagers looking out from this tower? Watching for any signs of danger. Their lives depended on vigilance. The museum displays everyday objects. Farm implements. Furnishings and Hakka clothing. They offer a glimpse into their daily routines. Their traditions and the strength of their community.
The village thrived until modern materials like cement and bricks arrived. Then the men of the village left for urban areas or overseas. In 1968 the village was abandoned. It stood silent until its restoration. In 1984 it opened its doors as the Sheung Yiu Folk Museum.
Today you see the fruits of that restoration. The whitewashed dwellings. The drying terrace. The pigsties and cattle shed. All are preserved to show the village in its heyday. There are even video programmes. They depict the history of the village and the local culture. It is a trip back in time. A journey into the heart of rural Hakka life. Explore the past. Walk through the restored village. Let the Sheung Yiu Folk Museum transport you to another era. Learn from the past. Experience the rich heritage of this incredible place.