Hong Kong Sam Tung Uk Museum

　　   The Sam Tung Uk Museum is a branch of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, located at No. 2 Kwu Uk Lane in Tsuen Wan, New Territories, near Tsuen Wan Station. It is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and offers free admission year-round. In 1981, the Hong Kong government declared Sam Tung Uk a declared monument, and renovation works were completed in 1987 to add museum facilities for public visits. The museum site covers approximately 2,000 square meters. In 1990, it was awarded the "Pacific Heritage Award" by the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

　　   Originally, Sam Tung Uk was one of the oldest walled villages in Hong Kong. It was established around the mid-18th century, in the 51st year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign during the Qing Dynasty (1786), by a branch of the Chen family from Guangdong. The Chen clan were Hakka people. Despite over a hundred years of history, Sam Tung Uk has been well preserved. In the 1970s, due to the construction of the Tsuen Wan Line of the MTR, villagers relocated from the original site. In 1987, after restoration by the former Regional Council, the site of the former village was converted into the Sam Tung Uk Museum and opened to the public.

　　   Architectural Features

　　   The Sam Tung Uk Museum is actually a Hakka village enclosed by protective walls. It consists of interconnected main halls, which serve as the living core of the village. The reason it is called "Sam Tung Uk" (Three Beam House) is that the structure is supported by three large main beams. The ancestral hall is situated at the very front of the house, decorated in an exquisitely ornate style. The decorations inside have been restored, displaying vivid colors true to their original appearance. The other two halls are more natural and rustic, serving as centers for the daily life of the simple villagers.

　　   The architectural style of Sam Tung Uk is unique and serves as a model for walled villages in the New Territories. The village has a rectangular layout, resembling a chessboard, with bilateral symmetry. Along the central axis are the front hall, middle hall, and ancestral hall, flanked by four separate living quarters. The side and rear wing rooms enclose the entire village. This architectural feature reflects the Hakka people's emphasis on clan heritage.

　　   The museum displays farming tools, furniture, kitchenware, and various household items from that period for visitors to view. Outside the house, there is also a fish pond, a threshing ground, and the guardhouse that once protected the entire village. It authentically portrays the old rural life of southern China.

　　   With its long history and uniquely distinctive architecture, Sam Tung Uk features a chessboard-like layout with bilateral symmetry. The central axis houses the front hall, middle hall, and ancestral hall, while four independent living spaces are flanked by wing rooms enclosing the village. The outstanding restoration work on Sam Tung Uk earned it the "Pacific Heritage Award" from the Pacific Asia Travel Association in 1990.

　　   Transportation Guide

　　   Address: No. 2 Kwu Uk Lane, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong.

　　   How to get there: Exit from Exit C or E of Tsuen Wan MTR Station, then follow the signs to No. 2 Kwu Uk Lane.