| Hong Kong is visited by millions of travelers each | | | | begins...) |
| year, but while most of them opt for places like | | | | A trip to the Central and Northern New Territories will |
| "Victoria Peak", "Tsim sha Tsui Waterfront" and | | | | normally start from the City of Sha Tin - The |
| "Ladies' Market", very few visitors know about the | | | | undeclared capital of the New Territories, where you |
| New Territories, a relatively vast area of nature | | | | can visit Hong Kong Heritage Museum: The largest |
| scenes, old-style villages, traditions and culture. | | | | museum in HK and a great place to capture the rich |
| This article will introduce you to the New Territories: | | | | history and culture of the region. |
| The largest area in Hong Kong. | | | | - The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, also in Sha |
| The name "New Territories" came about in 1898, | | | | Tin, is a "must visit" but there are quite a few steps |
| when Britain leased the area north of the Kowloon | | | | to climb... |
| Peninsula (including some islands) from Imperial China | | | | - Tsang Tai Uk, on the outskirts of Sha Tin, is one of |
| for 99 years, in order to enlarge the tiny colony of | | | | only a few traditional Hakka walled villages that still |
| Hong Kong and make it more "defendable"... | | | | exist. |
| The New Territories (or N.T as they are often | | | | - The Art Museum at the Chinese University of Hong |
| abbreviated), stretch from the Kowloon Peninsula in | | | | Kong, north of Sha Tin town, showcases the art of |
| the south, all the way to Sham Chun River in the | | | | China during the years, and boasts thousands of |
| north (Which is the border with the Republic of | | | | priceless exhibits like paintings, calligraphy, epigraphy |
| China) and can roughly be divided to three | | | | & rubbings, ceramics, bronze ware, jade ware, |
| geographical sections, namely: The Western New | | | | lacquer ware, ivories and what not... |
| Territories, The Central & Northern New Territories, | | | | - The Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees, not far from Tai Po |
| and the Eastern New Territories, including Sai Kung | | | | Market, are two old banyan trees that are reputed |
| Peninsula. | | | | for making wishes come true... |
| The Western New Territories can be accessed via | | | | - Plover Cove Country Park, one of Hong Kong's |
| Tsuen Wan, a once small fishermen village that has | | | | finest nature reserves, occupies an area of almost |
| become a modern town. The main tourist attractions | | | | 5,000 hectares northeast of Tai Po Market town, |
| in this part of the territories include: | | | | around the shores of the large freshwater reservoir |
| - Sam Tung Uk, in Tsuen Wan, is an old walled village | | | | after which it is named... The seaside village of Tai |
| that was restored and became a museum. | | | | Mei Tuk, where you can hire a boat, and "Bride's pool |
| - Chuk Lam Shim Yuen ("Bamboo Forest Monastery"), | | | | waterfall", deep inside the country park, are the |
| on the hill above Tsuen Wan town, is famous for its | | | | area's most prominent attractions. |
| "Precious Buddha" statues. | | | | - Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail is Hong Kong's second |
| - Yuen Yuen Institute, not far from Tsuen Wan, is | | | | "heritage trail" and just like the one at Ping Shan, it |
| the only temple in Hong Kong that is dedicated to | | | | also features a relatively easy walk between heritage |
| the three main Chinese faiths: Taoism, Buddhism and | | | | buildings, old temples, ancestral halls, traditional villages |
| Confucianism. | | | | and so on... |
| - Tai Mo Shan ("Big foggy mountain") is the highest | | | | Sai Kung Peninsula, on the easternmost part of the |
| mountain in Hong Kong. Rising to almost 1,000 m | | | | New Territories, is Hong Kong's largest green lung, |
| above sea level, it is part of a country park, with | | | | and boasts some lovely nature reserves (or country |
| very nice nature trails and observation points. | | | | parks, as they are called locally), as well as |
| - Kat Hing Wai is a 17th century walled village that still | | | | picturesque beaches, island dotted bays and, of |
| retains its old times spirit. | | | | course, the fishermen town of Sai Kung, where you |
| - Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve is an ornithologist | | | | can seat 'alfresco' by the waterfront and indulge on a |
| paradise. Occupying a relatively vast area of wetland | | | | great seafood meal... |
| around Inner Deep Bay, near the border with China, it | | | | - The islands of Port Shelter Bay are fantastic and |
| is one of the most popular stopovers for migratory | | | | can be accessed with a "Kaito" (taxi boat) from Sai |
| birds, on their way from North Asia to Australia. | | | | Kung Town |
| - Hong Kong Wetland Park is located on the edge of | | | | - "Sai Kung East Country Park" and "Sai Kung West |
| the Mai Po Marshes and is very well organized and | | | | Country Park", cover most of the peninsula, with a |
| accessible (unlike the nature reserve itself). It boasts | | | | total area of about 7,500 hectares, and boast some |
| a very impressive visitor's centre, where you can | | | | fantastic walking trails. Tai Long Wan (Big Wave |
| learn about marshlands and swamps. | | | | Bay), on the east side of the park, is one of the |
| - Ping Shan Heritage Trail, near Yuen Long town, is an | | | | most beautiful beaches in Hong Kong, but getting |
| easy-to-walk trail that passes through a cluster of | | | | there is a bit of a problem (to say the least). |
| walled villages, old temples and other heritage | | | | - In the northern section of the country parks, there |
| buildings. | | | | are two fantastic spots you might want to know |
| - Miu Fat Monastery, near Lam Tei Station, is a fairly | | | | about: The first is "Wong Shek", where there is a |
| beautiful Buddhist temple and a centre for the studies | | | | lovely Water Sports Centre, and the second is "Hoi |
| of Buddhism... It is well known for its rich and lavish | | | | Ha Village", on the shores of Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. |
| ornaments. | | | | One last thing before signing off on this article: |
| - Ching Chung Koon is one of the most beautiful | | | | Obviously, the New Territories have a lot to offer to |
| Taoist temples in Hong Kong, and can be found in | | | | the visitor, and a relatively short article like this one |
| the village of Ching Chung | | | | can only give you "a taste" of what is there to see |
| - Tuen Mun Town, at the westernmost end of the | | | | and do... |
| territories, is usually where the journey ends (or | | | | |