Six perfectly preserved muzzle-loading cannons point toward the modern Yat Tung Estate. These cannons are silent witnesses to the tumultuous past of Tung Chung Fort. Welcome to Tung Chung Fort on Lantau Island, a place where history whispers on the wind.
Tung Chung Fort was built during the Shun Hei era. This was between 1174 and 1189 of the Southern Song Dynasty. Soldiers were stationed here to combat pirates. The waters around Lantau Island were once a haven for smugglers and pirates. The government sent King Leok Chin with soldiers to restore order. Three hundred soldiers were stationed here. They successfully cleared the area of pirates.
After three years, most soldiers returned to Canton. However, 150 stayed. These remaining soldiers were transferred to build Kowloon Walled City.
Fast forward to the Qing Dynasty. Many pirates, including the notorious Cheung Po Tsai, used Tung Chung Bay as their base. They even made use of the fort itself. Cheung Po Tsai commanded a large pirate fleet. The Qing government eventually recovered the fort after Cheung Po Tsai’s surrender in 1810.
In 1832, Tung Chung Fort was rebuilt. It was garrisoned by the Right Battalion of Tai Peng. They defended the coast until 1898. That year, the New Territories were leased to Britain. The fort was then abandoned.
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army occupied Tung Chung Fort. After the war, the fort went through several transformations. It served as a police station. It then became Wa Ying College. Today, it houses the Rural Committee Office and the Tung Chung Public School.
Declared a monument in 1979, Tung Chung Fort was refurbished in 1988. As you walk through the 70-by-80-meter fort, notice the granite blocks. Admire the three arched gateways. Each gateway is engraved with a Chinese inscription. Inside, you will see six cannons. They stand as silent guardians of the past.
Tung Chung Fort stands as a testament to Hong Kong’s seafaring past. It connects us to the soldiers, pirates, and villagers who shaped this land. Take a moment to imagine life within these walls. Feel the weight of history in the stones beneath your feet.