Newspaper cutting!!...recreation&country parks

南華早報
PPT5 | Special Report
2007-01-17







Sai Kung {A lush green district with spectacular views}




OVERVIEW Sai Kung is a former fishing village popular with expatriates and trendy locals who mix with indigenous villagers who have lived there for generations. What draws the lifestyle-conscious to this area is the vast expanse of greenery and the low density population. The area has two country parks - Sai Kung Country Park and Clear Water Bay Country Park. The heart of the district, Sai Kung town, continues its 100-year-old tradition as a marketplace for fishermen and villagers. The town's seafront is dotted with seafood restaurants and enthusiastic sampan operators offering ferry services for excursions to nearby shores. There are trendy cafes, bars and restaurants where people can enjoy a cappuccino alfresco while local retirees while away the hours on the benches of a public square a few yards away. DRIVING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT The area is connected by the trunk routes of Clear Water Bay Road in the south, and Hiram's Highway and Sai Sha Road in the north. Clear Water Bay Road branches off to the west and connects with Ngau Chi Wan, Choi Hung and Diamond Hill in Kowloon. The roads have only one lane going in each direction in most parts, so expect heavy, slow-moving traffic during peak hours and on weekends, when Sai Kung attracts hikers and sightseers. A comprehensive network of buses and mini buses connect various parts of Sai Kung with Tiu Keng Ling, Hang Hau, Po Lam, Choi Hung and Diamond Hill MTR stations. RECREATION Take a ferry from Sai Kung to play golf at Kau Sai Chau, the public golf course operated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Go sailing at Hebe Haven Yacht Club, where pleasure boats of all shapes and sizes moor. There is the opportunity to go hiking in Clear Water Bay Country Park or on the tracks of the High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung Country Park. Submerged in the reservoir are relics from 10 villages in the catchment area. Take a ferry and cruise to the other Sai Kung shores, where more beaches, temples and nature await to be explored. Get acquainted with Hakka customs and early rural life at Sheung Yiu Folk Museum, established by a Wong clan in the 19th century to preserve a slice of the village's history. Visit Che Kung Temple at Ho Chung and Tin Hau Temple at Fat Tong Mun. The incense at the historic temples burns strongly during major festivals on the lunar calendar. Arrange for visits to the Chong Hing Water Sports Centre, where an artificial freshwater lagoon is located for sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, rowing and paddle boating, or the Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre, a holiday resort frequented by schools and youth groups. Visit Lions Nature Education Centre - Hong Kong's first nature education centre with informative displays for learning about nature. The most popular attractions in Sai Kung are its beaches, some more accessible than others. Silverstrand Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Second Beach are the beaches most favoured by local residents. Further out, Tai Long Wan, or Big Wave Bay, is dotted by untouched white sand beaches. To get there, trek across Sai Kung Country Park along the MacLehose Trail, or travel by boat. SCHOOLS Clearwater Bay School, an English Schools Foundation international school, is near the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). It provides 720 places for children aged between 5 and 11 years. Further north in Ma On Shan, the ESF's newest private international school, Renaissance College, was opened in August last year, providing places for 2,100 primary and secondary students. It offers the International Baccalaureate programmes with an emphasis on English and Chinese languages. There are several other primary and secondary schools in Tseung Kwan O. HKUST's imposing campus overlooks Ngau Mei Hoi in Sai Kung.