A Forgotten Hong Kong
The PEAK Singapore|September 2024
Located between Hong Kong's northeastern border and Shenzhen, the sleepy town of Sha Tau Kok is poised for transformation as it opens up to visitors.
SHAMILEE VELLU
A Forgotten Hong Kong

Today, I'm on a time-travel mission. First, I thread through the anonymous masses surging through Hong Kong's Admiralty train station, then catch the MTR to Sheung Shui Station, before boarding bus 78S. The hordes gradually thin out as I travel further, and just five other people join me on the bus. Finally, I disembark at a small terminal, where a policeman asks to see my special government permit before I go any further.

I've arrived in Sha Tau Kok, a historic town on Hong Kong's northeastern border with Shenzhen that's been described as "sleepy" and "mysterious". To that, I can add "unknown", with most Hong Kongers (including those I informally quizzed) oblivious to its existence. Since 1951, the town has been closed to the public, to deter illegal migrants and smugglers.

But it won't remain sleepy for long.

Thanks to the government's ambitious plans to redevelop the area into a vibrant tourism hub, Sha Tau Kok has been slowly opening up since 2022, and from January, up to 1,000 visitors a day can now apply for a special permit to enter the town.

A LIVING TIME CAPSULE

Sha Tau Kok's bucolic appearance today belies its heyday in the 90s, when it was a popular shopping spot for Chinese tourists seeking foreign goods like jewellery, watches, and clothing. Much of this was concentrated around Chung Ying Street, a shophouse-lined alley that's the official border between Hong Kong and mainland China and which is still off-limits for tourists today.

Sha Tau Kok was known for its large population of Hakka and Hoklo (Hokkien) fishermen, who were driven by Typhoon Wanda in 1962 into squatter settlements filled with stilt houses.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2024 من The PEAK Singapore.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2024 من The PEAK Singapore.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE PEAK SINGAPORE مشاهدة الكل
From Screen to Store
The PEAK Singapore

From Screen to Store

Heini Zachariassen, founder of global wine rating app Vivino on how its first retail store in the world brings data-driven curation to wine lovers.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
In the Dining Spotlight
The PEAK Singapore

In the Dining Spotlight

Renowned Dutch chef Sergio Herman, whose name has been associated with the Michelin Guide in the Netherlands and Belgium, is expanding his Asian footprint with his Singapore outpost, Le Pristine in Grand Hyatt Singapore.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
All for One
The PEAK Singapore

All for One

How would you navigate a corner if you were hearing-impaired or enjoy school if you were on the spectrum? These architects posit that inclusive design must be part of mainstream standards to improve overall living environments.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Pods and Swirling Staircases
The PEAK Singapore

Pods and Swirling Staircases

This quirky and playful home designed by Park Associates is shaped after its owners, a young family with three children.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Stories Behind the Kebava
The PEAK Singapore

Stories Behind the Kebava

Sufiyanto A. S., one half of the duo behind the Kebaya.Societe Instagram account, has had enough of seeing Malay identity erased and forgotten.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Good to Go
The PEAK Singapore

Good to Go

Driving classic Jaguars on the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit is all the magic a motorhead needs.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Seasons of the Snake
The PEAK Singapore

Seasons of the Snake

Japanese architect Tadao Ando once again works his magic for Bvlgari, with the Serpenti Tubogas as an artistic canvas for nature's cyclical transformation.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Phoenix Rising
The PEAK Singapore

Phoenix Rising

One gutsy retired pharmaceutical executive rescued two-century-old Swiss watchmaker Bovet, and today, its presence is stronger than ever in Southeast Asia.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Con Amore, Leggiero, Presto!
The PEAK Singapore

Con Amore, Leggiero, Presto!

Chan Weitian injects new insights into Presto Drycleaners, blending operational innovation with time-honoured values.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Preserving Paradise
The PEAK Singapore

Preserving Paradise

Gaya Island Resort takes eco-tourism beyond the expected, blending conservation efforts with authentic luxury.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024