The King Ting Study Hall

The King Ting Study Hall

The King Ting Study Hall is a traditional private school located in Hang Mei Tsuen, Ping Shan, Hong Kong. It was completed in 1870. Built by Heung Tsun, the 22nd-generation ancestor of the Tang Clan of Ping Shan, in memory of his father, King Ting, the study hall was established to educate clan members for the imperial examinations, enabling them to pursue official careers and elevate the family’s social status. As such, the King Ting Study Hall carries both educational and ancestral significance.

During the era when the King Ting Study Hall was built, the Tang Clan was very wealthy and constructed many study halls across Ping Shan. Although the imperial examination system was abolished in 1904, the King Ting Study Hall continued to serve as an educational institution for clan members. As more people pursued education, the adjacent Ching Cheuk Hin (Summer Retreat Pavilion) was added. Until the early post-World War II period, the King Ting Study Hall remained a place of learning for youths from Hang Mei Tsuen and nearby villages. In 1898, Britain forced the Qing government to sign the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, and in April 1899, took over the New Territories. British troops used the King Ting Study Hall, Ching Cheuk Hin, and other buildings as suppression centers, as well as for police and district administration offices.

The King Ting Study Hall is a two-courtyard structure. The front section is the entrance hall, while the rear section is the main hall, which houses ancestral tablets. A courtyard lies between them, flanked by side rooms. The interior features distinctive elements such as ancestral altars, bracket sets, screen panels, murals, roof ridge decorations, eaves boards, and plaster carvings, all masterpieces crafted by skilled artisans of the time. Restoration work on the King Ting Study Hall was completed in 1991, restoring the building to its former glory.

Kun Ting Study Hall

Must-visit reason: The most renowned ancient private school in Ping Shan, Hong Kong