Sha Lo Tung Uk (ghost village), Tai Po (NT), Hong Kong, August 2017

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

HughieD

Super Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Supporting Member
Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2013
Messages
5,534
Reaction score
11,136
Location
People's Republic of South Yorkshire.
1. The History
Not a massive amount of history on this place. Sha Lo Tung is located at approximately 3.8 km north-east from the centre of the Tai Po New Town and is bounded by the Tai Po New Town to the south and surrounded by the Pat Sin Leng Country Park to the north, east and west. At the entrance of Sha Lo Tung there stands a signpost that reads “Sha Lo Tung village”, a collective name for the two Hakka villages of Cheung Uk and Lei Uk. Lei Uk is further divided into Lo Wai and Sun Wai: 'Old Village' and 'New Village' Built in Hakka style, all the houses are arranged horizontally and joined together. Both the Cheung and Lei klans were farmers growing rice and vegetables and rearing chickens, ducks and pigs. They sold their produce in Tai Wo Market.

For some years there was just one resident in Cheung Uk. He lived there in his 90s and on sunny days he could be seen sitting in front of his house. His name was Chan Ching-Zhong. He moved to the village in 1976 when he officially retired. A war veteran, he was left alone in the village as people started to move out. He made the veritable age of 100 in 2010.

After his death the only inhabitant mantle passed to Cheung Wai-kok. He returned eight years ago with his wife to open a private kitchen for hikers. Meanwhile a long-running controversy over plans to turn village land into a golf course resulted in the village being sold to developers.

Cheung Uk and Lo Wai are both classified as Grade II Historic Buildings.

2. The Explore
This was a new ghost village for me. Did a bit of research prior my trip to HK and found this place on Google Maps. So on a very hot and close August weekday set off for the village. It was about an hour on the bus from Tsuen Wan to Tai Po then another 10 minutes on a local bus to the start of the trail that goes to the village. The trail was pretty steep and wound up the hills north of Tai Po through the beautiful Sha Lo Tung conservation area. After a steep climb and slight decline the trail led to Sha Lo Tung. I was greeted by several yapping dogs from the only inhabited house but they soon lost interest. This place is truly a ghost town. There are many houses in various states but just one inhabited house. The abandoned houses are pretty overgrown and this plus the marshy conditions stopped me getting to some of the village. With the peace and tranquillity and the amount to explore this had to be one of the highlights of the trip.

3. The Pictures

This looks promising:

36537043890_19cb6fde7d_b.jpgimg1655 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36126348233_0a53f62fce_b.jpgimg1586 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Very promising…

36099184254_be5e7836fb_b.jpgimg1653 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36933262445_912d4f564b_b.jpgimg1647 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The old ancestor worship hall:

36537133640_f1ba252a80_b.jpgimg1652 by HughieDW, on Flickr

This place is next to the one inhabited house:

36125196933_f44347db5a_b.jpgimg1644 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36762620322_822191035f_b.jpgimg1642 by HughieDW, on Flickr

This is the first row of houses I explored. The writing above the door means safe exit and safe return (I think):
36763269852_b1f1e4dcb3_b.jpgimg1603 by HughieDW, on Flickr

35542645714_65a39bf887_b.jpg20170803_181240 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36126063843_bf300c825b_b.jpgimg1596 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36537727340_8b0ba5eed4_b.jpgimg1620 by HughieDW, on Flickr

A few bits and bobs left behind:

36794774141_7b826aed15_b.jpgimg1594 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36934087875_1657e3acf9_b.jpgimg1604 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36934059565_0e60e6b317_b.jpgimg1605 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36125966563_c7cf1c564d_b.jpgimg1601 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Here’s the cooking stove:

35981604810_320de6cb4e_b.jpg20170803_181210 by HughieDW, on Flickr

This one has completely gone:

36763358682_a465d1b950_b.jpgimg1599 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36933536835_97bf030713_b.jpgimg1635 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Round the back there are some very old and decayed houses:

36762681012_b94e629010_b.jpgimg1640 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36537473390_0fc87288a5_b.jpgimg1634 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36763161852_c456fa5d14_b.jpgimg1609 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36378319745_9c3d561236_b.jpg20170803_181005 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Some old pots:

36537509440_d0de858725_b.jpgimg1632 by HughieDW, on Flickr

This was the best row of houses. Think this place was a temple. It’s now home to some bats!

36794411461_501785d40b_b.jpgimg1613 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Note the bat droppings!

36537817120_b7be6c2f76_b.jpgimg1614 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36794306701_91c6fe946c_b.jpgimg1618 by HughieDW, on Flickr

This fridge is a bit past its sell-by date:

36537781760_409545999b_b.jpgimg1616 by HughieDW, on Flickr

This house has got a tree coming out of it!

36763195412_ae0889b18f_b.jpgimg1608 by HughieDW, on Flickr

This was one of the most interesting old houses:

36537538910_c6420e4e43_b.jpgimg1629 by HughieDW, on Flickr

With it’s old furniture still in situ:

36125507543_951d0d9563_b.jpgimg1627 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Including this old table:

36099750734_d3332d2b6b_b.jpgimg1622 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Obligatory “old clock on the wall” picture:

36125594173_d144fa6084_b.jpgimg1623 by HughieDW, on Flickr

This bed has migrated downstairs:

36537591040_95e167e5e4_b.jpgimg1626 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Sadly I couldn’t get to these as I didn’t have my wellies:

36934416765_28f2523230_b.jpgimg1590 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36100413254_fe95e395f2_b.jpgimg1587 by HughieDW, on Flickr

36934653375_296faf5e94_b.jpgimg1656 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top