Tung Chung

Since Hong Kong has over 200 islands and an area of over 425 square miles (1100 km), there's a lot for us to see and explore.  We live in Tung Chung (which sounds more like Duhng Choong) on Lantau Island.  Exploring in our own "backyard", we found some interesting history and culture.

During a beautiful Sunday afternoon walk, searching for the Tung Chung Fort, we discovered a quaint, little, Chinese village.

Situated along the water, the village included homes built on stilts, 

 people fishing,

and boats and canoes lining the pier.

 

Walking through this cute, old village, we felt like we'd stumbled upon a whole, new world.  The busy, chaotic, materialistic lifestyle of Hong Kong was not there.  It was quiet and peaceful and so inviting.  

 But, in the background, was the towering concrete jungle taunting and reminding us that we were still in fact in Hong Kong.

Eventually, we found our way over to the Tung Chung Fort.

It was built in the early 1800s to defend against pirates and break up the illegal trade of opium.  There a few canons,

arched doorways, 

a stone wall surrounding the fort,

barred windows,

outdoor artwork under the eaves, 

and beautiful, contrasting textures.

During World War II, the Japanese occupied the fort.  Since then, it's been a police station, a college, an office, and today it's a public school.  Not far from the Fort is the Tung Chung Battery site.  

Hong Kong is an interesting place with a mix of old and new, west and east, intense urban city and natural green areas.  We look forward to exploring more of this diverse place.