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A spot not
to be missed in the New Territories is this huge fish market near
Yuen Long. There is a restaurant here with an entryway and walls
adorned with thousands of oyster shells, each approximately 13 to
15 centimeters long. A cramped street passes by dozens of small,
open-air eating houses, and chic air-conditioned places. Merchants
sell dried and salted fish, live shrimp, prawns, and other edible
creatures of the sea. Visitors can even choose out a fish, pay for
it, and take it to a nearby restaurant to be cooked.
 Yuen
Long, currently being developed, was previously a traditional market
town in the middle of the largest flood plain in the New Territories.
Its population was 40,000 before development, but the toll is now
expected to rise beyond a million when all residential and commercial
land has been developed.
North of Yuen
Long lies Mai Po Marshes, a stopping point on the migratory routes
for more than 400 different species of birds. Bird-watchers and
ornithologists can arrange to visit the park by calling the WWF
for Nature, which manages the marshes.
Close to Yuen
Long are the walled villages of Kam Tin. The most prevalent is the
Kat Hing Wai Village, which stands incongruously across the road
from a supermarket. About 400 locals dwell in this village and all
bear the same surname, Tang. Only descendants of the Tang family
are allowed to live here. Built in the 1600s, it is a fortified
village with walls six meters thick, guardhouses on its four corners,
arrow sticks for fighting off enemies, and a moat. Visitors may
enter the village by paying a minimal admission fee. Cameras are
not allowed in the village unless with special permission. A fee
is charged if visitors want to take shots of the village.
From Kam Tin,
visitors can take a scenic route via Shek Kong. The area used to
be the British military garrison and airfield but is now home to
a skeleton force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. At the
far end of Shek Kong Village is the Route Twisk, which twists and
turns for miles and then suddenly plunges into the techno-industrial
modernity of Tsuen Wan. Atop Route Twisk is Tai Mo Shan (957m),
which overlooks China and Hong Kong Island. This is the only part
of Hong Kong that experiences frost!
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