Did you know Tsing Yi means green clothes? It also refers to a type of fish. Welcome to Tsing Yi. This island has a rich history. It connects the past and present.
Tsing Yi is now easily accessible. Eight bridges link it to the outside world. But getting here wasn’t always so simple.
Imagine Tsing Yi sixty years ago. The only way off the island was by boat. It was a one-hour rowing trip to Tsuen Wan. Tang Kai is 83 years old. He has lived on Tsing Yi for over six decades. He remembers those times. “It was a neglected place back then” he said. People paid 20 cents for a rowing boat to Tsuen Wan. It took over an hour because the current was strong. There were no powered boats until the 1960s.
The name Tsing Yi means green clothes. But the island got its name from a fish. This fish was once abundant in the nearby waters. It is most likely the blackspot tuskfish. Early Chinese maps also called it Tsing Yi Tam or Tsing Yi Tam Shan.
Tsing Yi was also known as Chun Fa Lok. This means the fall of spring flowers. The Ming navy once defeated pirate fleets near here.
Tsing Yi is now home to about 200000 people. The island covers about 11 square kilometers. Eight bridges surround the island. One is the Tsing Ma Bridge. It is the largest of its type. It has two decks. It carries both road and rail traffic.
Tsing Yi is divided into four quarters. The northeast is residential. The southeast is Tsing Yi Town. The southwest has heavy industry. The northwest includes a recreation trail and dockyards.
Tsing Yi was once a neglected island. Now it is a vital part of Hong Kong. It is a blend of history and progress. Its green hills and blue waters tell a story. It’s a story of transformation. It is a story of connection.
Let’s appreciate Tsing Yi. Let’s remember its past. Let’s celebrate its present.