Maohu Mountain Observation Post

Maohu Mountain Observation Post

The Maohu Mountain Observation Post is situated on Maohu Mountain in Tseung Kwan O, Sai Kung District, Hong Kong. Locals and hikers commonly call it the “Maohu Ruins Fort.” While the exact construction date remains uncertain, historical documents indicate that it was built prior to the British lease of the New Territories in 1898. It is thought to have been an observation post of the FOTAN Customs during the Qing Dynasty, used to observe the FOTAN Channel. Due to its uniqueness, the observation post has been designated as a Grade I Historic Building by the Antiquities and Monuments Office.

The Maohu Mountain Observation Post is closely linked to the FOTAN Customs. It was capable of monitoring the movement of ships entering and leaving the entire FOTAN area and its surrounding waters. It is believed that officials at the post communicated with the FOTAN headquarters and customs vessels using either signal lamps or fireworks.

The current ruins on Maohu Mountain include the lower section of a circular stone watchtower and a rectangular village-style stone house. Both structures were built from dark grey volcanic rock, likely quarried locally. The circular tower is believed to have been a lookout tower, where observers could monitor the FOTAN Channel unobstructed through its semicircular windows. Originally two stories high, the second floor of the tower has now collapsed. A stone staircase still leads up to where the second floor once stood. Historical photos show that the tower had an arched roof resembling a traditional Chinese hat, but this part of the structure no longer exists for unknown reasons. All doors and windows are missing, leaving only their stone frames. Debris from the collapsed building has been cleared away by the district council, with some pieces repurposed to build benches. The single-story building behind the tower is believed to have been the headquarters or residence of the officers stationed there, designed in the style of a local village house, which contrasts sharply with the circular tower. The ceiling of this building has now collapsed.

The design of the circular tower resembles ancient European coastal defense round stone forts or castles, which are extremely rare in Hong Kong. Similar circular towers can only be found in a few lighthouses and the time ball tower at the former Marine Police Headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui. Additionally, there are two watchtowers within the Stonecutters Island Barracks, but they are octagonal rather than circular. Many villages in the New Territories also had watchtowers, though these were typically built from brick and often square in shape.

Transportation Guide

Location: Maohu Mountain, Tseung Kwan O, Sai Kung District, Hong Kong

Getting There: Take bus route N691; or KMB routes 93A, 93K, 93M, 95M, 95, 98A, 98C, N293.