Could you believe that Wu Kwai Sha Tsui was once known as Black Turtle Sands? The name comes from the black iron ore. It flowed down from Ma On Shan peak.
I welcome you to Wu Kwai Sha Tsui. This is a shore along Tolo Harbour. It lies northwest of Ma On Shan. Wu Kwai Sha Tsui is part of the Sha Tin District. This is one of Hong Kong’s 18 districts.
Originally, only a few villages stood here. One of them was Wu Kai Sha Village. Today, it is an extension of the new town of Ma On Shan.
Back in 1911, Wu Kai Sha Village had a population of only 135. 59 of them were men.
The area to the northeast is called Whitehead. It once housed the largest detention centers. These centers were for Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.
Villages around Wu Kai Sha include Cheung Kang and To Tau Wan Village. There is also the original Wu Kai Sha Village.
Wu Kwai Sha Tsui is famous for a campsite. It is the Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village. The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong operates it. Near the Youth Village, you can find a beach.
Today, Wu Kai Sha boasts several high-end housing estates. These include Lake Silver, Double Cove, and The Altissimo. You will also find Seanorama and St Barths here. Do not forget Silversands and The Entrance. At its heart is the Double Cove Place Shopping Arcade. The area also has a wet market.
Other features of Wu Kwai Sha Tsui include the Li Po Chun United World College. You can also visit Starfish Bay and the Whitehead Club Golf Driving Range. There is also Wu Kai Sha Beach and Wu Kai Sha Pebbles Beach. Finally, there is the Wu Kai Sha Pier and Yong Cheng Yuan Market.
Before development, only rough roads led here. Many people took kaito boats. They traveled from Ma Liu Shui to the area. Ma Liu Shui is near the MTR University station. They crossed Tolo Harbour.
With the new town expansion, roads were extended and improved. Sai Sha Road provides another route to Sai Kung. In 2001, construction began on the Ma On Shan Rail. It is now the Tuen Ma line. The line ends at Wu Kai Sha station.
You can also find a bus terminus here. It serves routes to Kowloon and the New Territories. Some routes go to Hong Kong Island. Others reach Lantau Island. Minibuses also serve the area.
Let’s talk a bit more about the Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village. It was built in 1955. Back then, there were no roads. The only way to get here was by kaito boat. The boat went from Wu Kai Sha Public Pier to Ma Liu Shui. Roads were not built until the 1980s.
It was once called the Children’s Village in Wu Kai Sha. It served as an orphanage. It housed up to 1,000 children. The orphanage closed in 1971. The land was then given to the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong. They turned it into a holiday camp and beach resort. That’s how it became the Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village.
The campsite covers 11 hectares. It can accommodate over 1,000 residential campers. It can also host 1,000 day campers.
Take a look around. Consider the history and the changes. Wu Kwai Sha Tsui has transformed. It has changed from a quiet village to a modern community. Yet it still offers natural beauty and recreational spots.