Sheung Cheung Wai

Sheung Cheung Wai

Sheung Cheung Wai is located in Ping Shan, Yuen Long, Hong Kong, and is the only walled village along the Ping Shan Heritage Trail. The village was established in the late 18th century by the Tang clan from Haau Tau Tsuen. Originally enclosed by green-brick walls, the village had a well-organized layout with houses arranged in rows, and the gate tower and ancestral hall situated along the central axis. Today, parts of the walls have been dismantled, but the gate tower, ancestral hall, and some ancient houses within the village have been preserved, still faintly reflecting the layout, structure, and character of a traditional walled village.

Upon entering Sheung Cheung Wai, you’ll be greeted by large red couplets. The lintel reads “Nanyang’s Blessings,” and the main door couplet says: “The upper grove stands tall and graceful, the jade wall shines with splendor.” The couplet at the ancestral hall reads: “Green hills bring wealth and prosperity, flowing water ushers in a season of fortune.” The best time to visit Sheung Cheung Wai is on a very hot or very cold day—once you step into the village, you’ll immediately appreciate the wisdom of its ancient builders: warm in winter, cool in summer, with ample lighting and well-planned space. Here, you can observe the typical layout of a walled village: within the square-shaped walls, houses are neatly arranged on both sides, built in uniform style and orientation. Entering through the gate tower, you’ll see a straight, relatively wide main street, at the end of which lies the small ancestral hall.

Near Sheung Cheung Wai, there is an ancient well, said to have existed more than two hundred years ago, even before the village was established. It was once the main source of drinking water for the villagers.

Sheung Cheung Wai

Must-visit reason: The only walled village along the Ping Shan Heritage Trail