Tung Chung Fort

Tung Chung Fort is a fort located near Tung Chung, on Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. Close to Tung Chung Road, the fort is surrounded by the villages of Sheung Ling Pei (上嶺皮) and Ha Ling Pei (下嶺皮). It has a companion Tung Chung Battery on the coast.

Tung Chung Fort
Native name
東涌古城, 東涌堡 or 東涌炮台
Tung Chung Fort
LocationLantau Island, Hong Kong
BuiltShun Hei era
Designated24 August 1979
Reference no.9
Tung Chung Fort is located in Hong Kong
Tung Chung Fort
Location of Tung Chung Fort in Hong Kong
Tung Chung Fort
Traditional Chinese東涌炮台
Simplified Chinese东涌炮台
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese東涌所城
Simplified Chinese东涌所城
Second alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese東涌寨城
Simplified Chinese东涌寨城
Entrance gate of Tung Chung Fort
Tung Chung Rural Committee Office and exhibition hall within Tung Chung Fort

History

Tung Chung Fort was originally built in the Shun Hei era (淳熙, 1174–1189) of the Southern Song dynasty. Smugglers on Lantau Island smuggled salt from the island to Canton City and attacked the government of the city. The government sent a navy led by King Leok Chin (經略錢) to fight against the smugglers. Three hundred soldiers were stationed in Tung Chung and built the Tung Chung Fort. After three years of peace, the soldiers were called back and 150 of them were transferred to build Kowloon Walled City, in which they later stayed.

During the Qing dynasty, many pirates, including the well known Cheung Po Tsai, chose the bay of Tung Chung as their base and made use of the fort. The Qing Government recovered the fort after the surrender of Cheung Po Tsai. In 1832 (or 1817 alternatively) the fort was rebuilt and garrisoned by the Right Battalion of Tai Peng to defend the coast from pirates until the lease of New Territories to Britain in 1898. The fort was then abandoned.

During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army occupied the fort.

Tung Chung Fort went through several transformations later. It served as a police station and then as Wa Ying College. Now, it is the base for the Rural Committee Office and the Tung Chung Public School.

In 1979, it was declared a monument and was refurbished in 1988.

Features
North gate

There are six still intact old muzzle-loading cannons, each resting on a cement base with enclosures made of granite blocks, which measure 70 by 80 metres (230 by 260 ft). Three arched gateways, each engraved with a Chinese inscription, are spaced along the walls.

Transportation

The fort can be reached from Mui Wo (Silvermine Bay) bus terminal by taking the no. 3 bus to the Tung Chung terminus and about a half mile walk from the bus stop in the direction of the fort. The fort can also be reached by taking the no. 13 or 14 bus and MTR. Permission is required to drive into the park.

See also

Further reading
  • Hayes, James W. (1964). "The Tung Chung Fort" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 4: 146–154. ISSN 1991-7295.
  • Siu, Anthony K.K. (1982). "More About the Tung Chung Fort" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 23: 305–307. ISSN 1991-7295.
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