Tung Wan Tau

High on Tai Leng Tung, overlooking Tung Wan Tau, a lone hawk circled. This small village nestled near Clear Water Bay First Beach has a history as rugged as the hill that shelters it. Tung Wan Tau wasn’t always the tranquil spot you see today. It was born during the reign of the Wanli Emperor, sometime between 1572 and 1620. The Lau and Chow clans, drawn to the promise of the sea, established Tung Wan Tau. The Laus, skilled fishermen and rice growers, built their lives here. They carved a foothold into the land, their roots intertwining with the very fabric of this place. Over time, many members of these clans migrated to Tai Au Mun, a village northwest of here. Yet, the heart of Tung Wan Tau continued to beat. In 1911, 117 souls called Tung Wan Tau home, 53 of them men. Their lives, etched against the backdrop of the sea and the towering Tai Leng Tung, were a testament to their resilience. Tung Wan Tau holds whispers of the past. An ancestral hall of the Laus stands as a silent sentinel. At No. 23 Tung Wan Tau, a building erected before 1907 and rebuilt in 1949, showcases the Chinese Eclectic style, a fusion of tradition and modernity. As you explore Tung Wan Tau, remember the Laus who cast their nets into the sea. Imagine the rhythm of their daily lives. The rise and fall of the tides. The laughter of children playing near the shore. Tung Wan Tau is more than just a village. It’s a living tapestry woven with threads of history, resilience, and the enduring spirit of its people.