Tsang Tai Uk

Tsang Tai Uk

Tsang Tai Uk (also known as "Tsang Family Mansion", formerly called "Ha Shan Wai" or "Shan Sha Wai") is located next to Pok Hong Estate in Sha Tin, near the Lion Rock Tunnel. It is one of the best-preserved walled villages in the area and the largest surviving Hakka-style residence. The village once sheltered refugees during World War II, earning it the revered title of "Tsang Tai Uk".

Origins

Tsang Tai Uk is the residence of the Tsang family. It was built by Tsang Koon-man (also known as Tsang Sam-lei) starting in 1848 and took twenty years to complete, finishing in 1867. The origins of the Tsang family building this residence are as follows: 1. The Tsang family operated a stone quarry in Sai Wan Ho and ran the Sam Lei Quarry in Shau Kei Wan. After becoming wealthy, they built the walled village in Sha Tin for their clansmen to live in. 2. Tsang Koon-man was a fifth-rank official. Legend has it that a group of pirates robbed a fishing boat and obtained 16 jars of salted fish, which they came to sell. Tsang bought each jar for 800 coins. Later, he discovered that beneath the salted fish were layers of gold and silver, but the pirates never returned. He then used the treasure to build the residence.

Structure

Covering a total area of over 6,000 square feet, the structure adopts the architectural style of Tsang’s ancestral home in Wuhua — a fortress-like layout. The walls are made of granite, blue bricks, and premium timber, with three-story-high watchtowers at each of the four corners. These towers feature gun holes and lookouts to defend against bandit attacks. Originally, there was a moat surrounding the entire fortress, connected by a drawbridge, but it has since been filled in and the drawbridge removed.

The buildings within the village are mainly divided into upper, middle, and lower halls, separated by courtyards. These three halls are also referred to as three rows of upper and lower sections, connected with left and right wing rooms, forming a chessboard-like pattern. There are 99 residential units inside the walled village, symbolizing the auspicious meaning of longevity. The entrance to the walled village has three gates, with the central gate being the largest. Its arched top is surrounded by granite, and the stone plaque above the gate is inscribed with “Yi Guan Shi Ju” (meaning “a lineage dwelling through generations”). The gate is equipped with bolts made of rosewood and iron, along with an iron door. In front of the main hall, there are wooden plaques inscribed with “Da Fu Di” (meaning “official residence”) and stone plaques inscribed with “Xiang Zheng Wan Fu” (meaning “auspicious signs of boundless fortune”). There are also two wells in the courtyard. The architecture of Tsang Tai Uk exudes an official grandeur, combining defensive and anti-invasion elements, making it distinct from other walled villages in the New Territories.

Transportation Guide

Address: No. 2, Sha Tin Road, Sha Tin, Hong Kong (Sha Tsui Street)

Getting There: Take Bus Routes 170, 182P, 182; or KMB Routes 47X, 81K, 82M, 82S, 85A, 89B, N281.