Tsing Yi
Encyclopedia
Tsing Yi or Tsing Yi Island is an island
in the urban area of Hong Kong
, to the northwest of Hong Kong Island
and south of Tsuen Wan
. With an area of 10.69 km², the island has extended drastically by reclamation along almost all its natural shore and the annexation of Nga Ying Chau
and Chau Tsai
. Three major bays or harbours, Tsing Yi Lagoon, Mun Tsai Tong
and Tsing Yi Bay
in the northeast, have been completely reclaimed for new towns
.
The Island can be divided as four quarters
, the northeast quarter is a residential area
, the southeast quarter is Tsing Yi Town
, the southwest holds heavy industry
, and the northwest includes a recreation trail, a transportation interchange and some dockyards and ship building industry. The island is at the northwest part of Victoria Harbour
and part of its development is under the Law of Hong Kong, Chapter 531, the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance
.
, once abundant in nearby waters. People named the island after the fish. Tsing Yi Tam (青衣潭, lit. Tsing Yi Pool) or Tsing Yi Tam Shan (青衣潭山, lit. Tsing Yi Pool Hill) also appeared on some early Chinese maps.
The Island was also known as Chun Fa Lok (春花落) once upon a time, which means the fall of spring flowers, or Chun Fa Island, on some Western maps. Now, Chun Fa Lok is still a place name or a former village on the southeast corner of the island. A government document in Ming Dynasty
named the water near Chun Fa Lok Chun Fa Yeung (春花洋). The Ming navy defeated fleets of pirates there.
In some historical sources, Tsing-I Island is used instead of Tsing Yi Island, and Chung-Hue Island instead of Chun Fa Island.
, together with Kwai Chung
Town, is part of Tsuen Wan New Town
in the Kwai Tsing District
in the New Territories
. Although Tsing Yi Island is a de facto outlying island, it is not accordingly included in the Islands District.
Historically, Tsing Yi Island, with Kwai Chung, were usually in the same administration unit of Tsuen Wan
because of their proximity and close-knit neighbourhood. Unlike Kwai Chung, however, whose village
s are part of Tsuen Wan Rural Committee
, Tsing Yi Island has its own, Tsing Yi Rural Committee
. The rural committee
was politically significant until the establishment of a District Council and Regional Council (now-abolished), and even less significant since the urban population grew much larger than the rural population.
has grown to nearly 50 times this size; the 2001 Census
calculating that the population of the island was 193,432 in 55,478 household
s. In an estimation in 2007, there are about 200,400 people. It is expected to grow to 203,300 in the near future. Most of the population live in Tsing Yi Town
.
in the south and Liu To Shan in the north east. Small plain can be found surrounding the former Tsing Yi Lagoon in island northeast. The rocks on the island are mainly granite
and were exposed due to extensive housing, industrial and infrastructure construction. Although the island is not fallen in the administration of country park
, most of the hilly area remains green. The Tsing Yi Peak climbs to 334 metres and is a barrier separating industrial west and residential east.
. In 1997 a once lost endemic plant, Hong Kong croton
, was found in the woodland beneath the highest peak, Tsing Yi Peak
, on the island.
, vegetables and pineapple
s, while fishermen lived in huts connected by plank walkways in the small harbour of Tsing Yi Tong
which stretched far back into the island. Many fishermen also lived on their junk
s and boats all the time, fishing in the nearby waters. Even as late as the 1970s, Tsing Yi Tong resembled Tai O
with its characteristic stilt houses
and water vehicles. Like many other fishing villages in Hong Kong, the Tsing Yi dwellers worshipped Tin Hau
, the goddess of mercy and the sea. A Tin Hau Temple
was built on the shore of Tsing Yi Tong. At the birthday of Tin Hau, fishermen of all nearby waters would come to the Temple for celebrations. The temple was white in color and thus people call it Pak Miu (白廟, lit. White Temple).
From the 1920s onwards, a Chinese company built lime
factories on the present site of Greenfield Garden. It is the earliest known industry on the island. The lime industry continued to flourish during the 1950s, and a tanning factory was also founded at the same period. After World War II
, other heavy industries moved in as well. In the 1960s, several oil companies moved their oil storage depots onto the island, likewise a China Light and Power
power station
, and a Green Island Cement
cement plant. Meanwhile, some small shipbuilding
companies started their business in Tsing Yi, and remain on the north side of the Island. In the 1970s, six large-scale companies on the island collectively built the Tsing Yi Bridge
to connect Tsing Yi Town and Kwai Chung
Town over the Rambler Channel
. The bridge was soon transferred to the Hong Kong Government, remaining the sole road connection to the island for more than ten years. Several industrial buildings for light industries were constructed beside the bridge afterward. Several dockyards moved to the west shore of the island at the end of the 1970s.
It is noteworthy that Wok Tai Wan
on the Tsing Yi Island was once a paradise for nudists during the 1950s, and hence Tsing Yi was once synonymous with nudism in Hong Kong.
After the establishment of the Tsing Yi Bridge, the Hong Kong Government commenced an extensive new town
project on the island. Cheung Ching Estate, Cheung Hong Estate and Mayfair Gardens
were consequently built in heaps. The vicinity of the Mobil
oil storage depot to Mayfair Garden and Cheung Ching Estate once aroused enormous concern for the safety of the residents. Some social workers and residents urged the government to relocate the storage facilities. The government decided to halt the last phase of the Mayfair Garden development scheme. The storage facility remained at the same location until Container Terminal 9
was on the Government's agenda.
Later on, the tenor of town development shifted northward. Two fisherman harbours, Tsing Yi Tong and Mun Tsai Tong
were reclaimed
for residential use. Many fishermen were relocated from their boats parked in the typhoon shelter to the Ching Tao House, a new residential block on land, of Chueng Ching Estate. The land inhabitants were put together into several designated areas so as to re-build their villages. The primary sectors had all died out owing to the drastic town development. Tsing Yi Estate, Cheung On Estate, Cheung Fat Estate, Ching Tai Court and Tsing Yi Garden were built after all reclamations were accomplished. Ching Wah Court was built adjoining to Cheung Hong Estate.
At the same time, Tsing Yi Bridge was seriously overburdened and its structure was unable to cope with ever-increasing traffic. There was only a one-way road in each direction on the bridge. Traffic congestion
became the burning problem in the community, and subsequently aroused protest. Finally, Tsing Yi North Bridge
, a connection to Tsuen Wan
Town was built to ease off the congestion, as well as to accommodate the local residential population boom.
Tsing Yi was continually under further development and Greenfield Garden, Serene Garden, Broadview Garden, and Cheung Hang Estate were constructed.
The final decision to relocate Hong Kong International Airport
spurred a new series of development: Airport Railway
, Ting Kau Bridge
to Ting Kau
and North New Territories
, Tsing Ma Bridge
to Ma Wan
and Lantau Island
, Rambler Channel Bridge
to Kowloon
and Hong Kong Island
, Duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge
on the south side of Tsing Yi Bridge.
On the island, new residential projects, Tivoli Garden, Grand Horizon, Mount Haven, Villa Esplanada
, Tierra Verde
, and Cheung Wang Estate were completed. The final part of reclaimed land near the shore had been laid waste for almost a decade until Tsing Yi Promenade
was built in 2004. Local Hong Kong cultural pursuits of Chinese music and dancing, walking and Chinese exercise are in evidence in most evenings.
During 2000 to 2004 Container Terminal 9 was built on the reclaimed southwest shore of the island, together with resident blocks, Rambler Crest
. Nearby, and well within sight of Central. Victoria
, a controversial new dioxin burning plant was also put into operation during 2004, arousing much concern for the residents of Tsing Yi and Hong Kong island.
Within the island:
, is served by MTR
Tung Chung Line and Airport Express
. It is also the only rail station on the island.
There are 9 bus termini on the island:
was the only public transport
to mainland Hong Kong. Tsing Yi Pier
was built near Tsing Yi Town
before the reclamation. The pier followed the change of shoreline owing after reclamation, and moved to the waterfront
near Greenfield Garden.
Hovercraft service between Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi and Central was provided by the former Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
. After the franchise of the company came to an end, Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry took over the route and operated it.
All ferry services ceased with rapid development of road and rail transport, especially MTR
Tung Chung Line with its station just a few hundred metres away from the ferry pier. It no longer takes residents to Tsuen Wan
and Central
. The pier is now open to the public, and continues to be used as a drop-off point for fishermen and tourists, and as a mooring site for Government boats.
, a primary school founded by villagers and businessmen on the island. In post-World War II era, Hong Kong Government provides 9-year free education to all children from primary one to secondary three. The public school is then mainly funded by the Government. Another school for the children of fishermen, Tsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary School, was founded by Fish Marketing Organisation. In 1977, Cheung Ching Estate, the first public housing estates on the island, marked the beginning of the new town on the island. To accommodate new schooling children, three primary schools and Buddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial College, the first secondary school on the island, were built with the estate. More schools were erected when new estates were completed. In 1999, a post-secondary college, Hong Kong Technical College (Tsing Yi), was completed and provides vocational training for all adults in Hong Kong. In 2000s, the number of schooling children began to drop and the several schools are facing the fatal fate.
Numerous schools are founded on Tsing Yi Island, namely:
operates two general out-patient clinics on the island in Tsing Yi Town
. The first one is Tsing Yi Cheung Hong Clinic in Cheung Hong Estate and another is Tsing Yi Town Clinic near Tsing Yi Garden.
There is also one maternal and child health centre, Tsing Yi Maternal and Child Health Centre, on the island. It is just next to Tsing Yi Cheung Hong Clinic.
There is at least one private clinic in each housing estate.
In town planning, Tsing Yi Hospital was supposed to be built near Cheung Hang Estate but the plan was put off owing to financial difficulty of Hospital Authority
.
s. Cheung Fat Shopping Centre, by Hong Kong Housing Authority
was once the largest shopping centre and was later supplanted by MTR Corporation
's Maritime Square
, as the shopping focus of the island.
, located on the west side since 1980.
People practise T'ai Chi in Tsing Yi Promenade
near Maritime Square
in Tsing Yi Town
in the early morning hours. Some gather and practise dancing in the playground near Tsing Yung House of Cheung Ching Estate.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the urban area of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, to the northwest of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
and south of Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan is a bay in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong, opposite to Tsing Yi Island across Rambler Channel. The market town of Tsuen Wan emerged for the surrounding villages and fleets of fishing boats in the area. The town is around the present-day Tsuen Wan Station of the MTR...
. With an area of 10.69 km², the island has extended drastically by reclamation along almost all its natural shore and the annexation of Nga Ying Chau
Nga Ying Chau
Nga Ying Chau , or Cap Island, was an island off the northeast shore of Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong, separated by a small harbour, Mun Tsai Tong, and Tsuen Wan is at its northeast, just across the Rambler Channel. When the small harbour was reclaimed for the development of new town, the island...
and Chau Tsai
Chau Tsai
Chau Tsai was a small island off the southern shore, Nam Wan Kok, of Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong. It was also known as Chun Fa Rock , or Chung Hue Shik on some historical documentations...
. Three major bays or harbours, Tsing Yi Lagoon, Mun Tsai Tong
Mun Tsai Tong
Mun Tsai Tong or Moon Tsai Tong was a harbour located between northeast Tsing Yi Island and Nga Ying Chau of Hong Kong. It was reclaimed for the development of a new town on Tsing Yi Island in 1980s...
and Tsing Yi Bay
Tsing Yi Bay
Tsing Yi Bay was a bay at the east side of Hong Kong's Tsing Yi Island, beside Rambler Channel, which is approximately Tsing Yi Park nowadays. The whole bay was reclaimed for the development of new town. Before reclamation, it was surrounded by places known as Tsing Leng Tsui , Sheung Ko Tan , Ha...
in the northeast, have been completely reclaimed for new towns
New towns of Hong Kong
The area of Hong Kong is very mountainous and many places in the New Territories have limited access to roads. Hong Kong started developing new towns in the 1950s, to accommodate booming populations. In the early days the term "satellite towns" was used. The very first new towns included Tsuen Wan...
.
The Island can be divided as four quarters
Quarter (country subdivision)
A quarter is a section of an urban settlement.Its borders can be administratively chosen , and it may have its own administrative structure...
, the northeast quarter is a residential area
Residential area
A residential area is a land use in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas.Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single family housing, multi-family residential, or mobile homes. Zoning for residential use may permit...
, the southeast quarter is Tsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town is located on the eastern coast of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong and is part of the Tsuen Wan New Town. It is based on the Tsing Yi Hui in the past and includes all the flat land surrounding, including the reclaimed land from Tsing Yi Lagoon.The urban development of the northern part of...
, the southwest holds heavy industry
Heavy industry
Heavy industry does not have a single fixed meaning as compared to light industry. It can mean production of products which are either heavy in weight or in the processes leading to their production. In general, it is a popular term used within the name of many Japanese and Korean firms, meaning...
, and the northwest includes a recreation trail, a transportation interchange and some dockyards and ship building industry. The island is at the northwest part of Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent...
and part of its development is under the Law of Hong Kong, Chapter 531, the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance
Protection of the Harbour Ordinance
The Protection of the Harbour Ordinance, Cap. 531, is an ordinance in the Hong Kong Law that aims to limit land reclamation in Victoria Harbour.-Content:The ordinance states, in section 3, that:...
.
Name
Tsing Yi (青衣) iterally means "green (or blue) clothes", but is also a kind of fish, probably blackspot tuskfishBlackspot tuskfish
The green wrasse or blackspot tuskfish or Tsing Yi , , is a wrasse found in coral reefs in the South China Sea and Southeast Asia including Australia. It belongs to the Labridae family and its body is greenish grey.It is commonly caught by Cantonese fishers. It is also bred in Hong Kong...
, once abundant in nearby waters. People named the island after the fish. Tsing Yi Tam (青衣潭, lit. Tsing Yi Pool) or Tsing Yi Tam Shan (青衣潭山, lit. Tsing Yi Pool Hill) also appeared on some early Chinese maps.
The Island was also known as Chun Fa Lok (春花落) once upon a time, which means the fall of spring flowers, or Chun Fa Island, on some Western maps. Now, Chun Fa Lok is still a place name or a former village on the southeast corner of the island. A government document in Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
named the water near Chun Fa Lok Chun Fa Yeung (春花洋). The Ming navy defeated fleets of pirates there.
In some historical sources, Tsing-I Island is used instead of Tsing Yi Island, and Chung-Hue Island instead of Chun Fa Island.
Administration
Tsing Yi TownTsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town is located on the eastern coast of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong and is part of the Tsuen Wan New Town. It is based on the Tsing Yi Hui in the past and includes all the flat land surrounding, including the reclaimed land from Tsing Yi Lagoon.The urban development of the northern part of...
, together with Kwai Chung
Kwai Chung
Kwai Chung is a town in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Together with Tsing Yi Island, it is part of the Kwai Tsing District of Hong Kong. Kwai Chung is the site of the container port. It is also part of Tsuen Wan New Town. In 2000, it had a population of 287,000...
Town, is part of Tsuen Wan New Town
Tsuen Wan New Town
Tsuen Wan New Town is a new town in Hong Kong. It spans over Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and the eastern part of Tsing Yi Island. Traditionally, the officials of Tsuen Wan managed the area of proper Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi Island, Ma Wan and Northeast Lantau Island.In 1982 the Tsuen Wan...
in the Kwai Tsing District
Kwai Tsing District
Kwai Tsing is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It consists of two parts - Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Island. Kwai Tsing is part of the New Territories. It had a population of 477,092 in 2001...
in the New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
. Although Tsing Yi Island is a de facto outlying island, it is not accordingly included in the Islands District.
Historically, Tsing Yi Island, with Kwai Chung, were usually in the same administration unit of Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan is a bay in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong, opposite to Tsing Yi Island across Rambler Channel. The market town of Tsuen Wan emerged for the surrounding villages and fleets of fishing boats in the area. The town is around the present-day Tsuen Wan Station of the MTR...
because of their proximity and close-knit neighbourhood. Unlike Kwai Chung, however, whose village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s are part of Tsuen Wan Rural Committee
Tsuen Wan Rural Committee
Tsuen Wan Rural Committee is an rural committee representing the interest of villages in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung, Hong Kong.Note that Tsing Yi Island and Ma Wan has its own rural committees, Tsing Yi Rural Committee and Ma Wan Rural Committee respectively....
, Tsing Yi Island has its own, Tsing Yi Rural Committee
Tsing Yi Rural Committee
Tsing Yi Rural Committee is a rural committee dealing with matters of the villages on the Tsing Yi Island in Hong Kong. Its office is on the Fung Shue Wo Road, near Chun Kwan Temple. In the early days, the rural committee only served the indigenous inhabitants. Before the development of new...
. The rural committee
Rural committee
Rural committee is a body representing the welfare of indigenous residents in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The chairman of each rural committee is the representative in the Heung Yee Kuk, and is ex-officio member of a district council....
was politically significant until the establishment of a District Council and Regional Council (now-abolished), and even less significant since the urban population grew much larger than the rural population.
Population
There were about 4,000 people on the island when the British took the New Territories around 1898. In the following one hundred years, the populationPopulation
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
has grown to nearly 50 times this size; the 2001 Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
calculating that the population of the island was 193,432 in 55,478 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s. In an estimation in 2007, there are about 200,400 people. It is expected to grow to 203,300 in the near future. Most of the population live in Tsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town is located on the eastern coast of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong and is part of the Tsuen Wan New Town. It is based on the Tsing Yi Hui in the past and includes all the flat land surrounding, including the reclaimed land from Tsing Yi Lagoon.The urban development of the northern part of...
.
Geography
Tsing Yi Island is a hilly island with Tsing Yi PeakTsing Yi Peak
Tsing Yi Peak or Sam Chi Heung is a hill with three peaks occupying the southern half of the Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. The hill is situated on the western half of Victoria Harbour. Its peaks are good locations to observe the harbour and the channels among harbour islands...
in the south and Liu To Shan in the north east. Small plain can be found surrounding the former Tsing Yi Lagoon in island northeast. The rocks on the island are mainly granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
and were exposed due to extensive housing, industrial and infrastructure construction. Although the island is not fallen in the administration of country park
Country park
A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...
, most of the hilly area remains green. The Tsing Yi Peak climbs to 334 metres and is a barrier separating industrial west and residential east.
Nature
The hilly area of the island largely remains intact and is designated as a green beltGreen belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
. In 1997 a once lost endemic plant, Hong Kong croton
Hong Kong croton
Croton hancei, the Hong Kong croton, is a species of Croton which is endemic to Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under the Forestry Regulations Cap. 96A....
, was found in the woodland beneath the highest peak, Tsing Yi Peak
Tsing Yi Peak
Tsing Yi Peak or Sam Chi Heung is a hill with three peaks occupying the southern half of the Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. The hill is situated on the western half of Victoria Harbour. Its peaks are good locations to observe the harbour and the channels among harbour islands...
, on the island.
History
In the early days, the inhabitants on the island were mostly farmers and fishermen. The major population concentrated in the northeast portion of the island. Farmers grew riceRice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, vegetables and pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
s, while fishermen lived in huts connected by plank walkways in the small harbour of Tsing Yi Tong
Tsing Yi Tong
Tsing Yi Lagoon , or Tsing Yi Tong, was a lagoon in east shore of Tsing Yi Island in Hong Kong. Its water came from a stream of the nearby valley Liu To and its outlet was Tsing Yi Bay. It acted as the shelter for nearby boat people, especially after large-scale reclamation in Tsuen Wan and Kwai...
which stretched far back into the island. Many fishermen also lived on their junk
Junk (ship)
A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages...
s and boats all the time, fishing in the nearby waters. Even as late as the 1970s, Tsing Yi Tong resembled Tai O
Tai O
Tai O is a fishing town, partly located on an island of the same name, on the western side of Lantau Island in Hong Kong.-Geography:On the main part of Lantau Island, a river splits to the north and west and at this fork lies the island referred to as Tai O. Two pedestrian bridges cross the river...
with its characteristic stilt houses
Pang uk
Pang uk is a kind of stilt house found in Tai O, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Pang uk are built on water or on small beaches....
and water vehicles. Like many other fishing villages in Hong Kong, the Tsing Yi dwellers worshipped Tin Hau
Matsu (goddess)
Mazu , also spelt Matsu, is the indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron deity of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons...
, the goddess of mercy and the sea. A Tin Hau Temple
Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong
Over 70 temples are dedicated to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. They include:* Tin Hau temple, located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. It is a declared monument. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it .* The Tin...
was built on the shore of Tsing Yi Tong. At the birthday of Tin Hau, fishermen of all nearby waters would come to the Temple for celebrations. The temple was white in color and thus people call it Pak Miu (白廟, lit. White Temple).
From the 1920s onwards, a Chinese company built lime
Lime (mineral)
Lime is a general term for calcium-containing inorganic materials, in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides predominate. Strictly speaking, lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. It is also the name for a single mineral of the CaO composition, occurring very rarely...
factories on the present site of Greenfield Garden. It is the earliest known industry on the island. The lime industry continued to flourish during the 1950s, and a tanning factory was also founded at the same period. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, other heavy industries moved in as well. In the 1960s, several oil companies moved their oil storage depots onto the island, likewise a China Light and Power
China Light and Power
The CLP Group and its holding company, CLP Holdings Ltd , is a Hong Kong electric company that businesses in a number of Asian markets and Australia....
power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
, and a Green Island Cement
Green Island Cement
Green Island Cement is a Hong Kong company that sells cement.It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings.- History :The company was founded at Ilha Verde in Macau in 1887.- External links :*...
cement plant. Meanwhile, some small shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
companies started their business in Tsing Yi, and remain on the north side of the Island. In the 1970s, six large-scale companies on the island collectively built the Tsing Yi Bridge
Tsing Yi Bridge
Tsing Yi Bridge is the first bridge to the Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong. It crosses Rambler Channel, connecting Tsing Yi Island and Tsing Chau of Kwai Chung. The bridge spans 610 metres and is 26 metres high...
to connect Tsing Yi Town and Kwai Chung
Kwai Chung
Kwai Chung is a town in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Together with Tsing Yi Island, it is part of the Kwai Tsing District of Hong Kong. Kwai Chung is the site of the container port. It is also part of Tsuen Wan New Town. In 2000, it had a population of 287,000...
Town over the Rambler Channel
Rambler Channel
Rambler Channel is a body of water in Hong Kong that separates Tsing Yi Island from mainland Kowloon Peninsula, namely Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung in the New Territories...
. The bridge was soon transferred to the Hong Kong Government, remaining the sole road connection to the island for more than ten years. Several industrial buildings for light industries were constructed beside the bridge afterward. Several dockyards moved to the west shore of the island at the end of the 1970s.
It is noteworthy that Wok Tai Wan
Wok Tai Wan
Wok Tai Wan was a bay on the northwest coast of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. The beach in the bay was once nudist paradise. Its hardness to accessing the bay on foot, with high hills surrounded, or by small boat, with turbulence in the nearby sea, made it the idea place for nudists to swim and...
on the Tsing Yi Island was once a paradise for nudists during the 1950s, and hence Tsing Yi was once synonymous with nudism in Hong Kong.
After the establishment of the Tsing Yi Bridge, the Hong Kong Government commenced an extensive new town
New towns of Hong Kong
The area of Hong Kong is very mountainous and many places in the New Territories have limited access to roads. Hong Kong started developing new towns in the 1950s, to accommodate booming populations. In the early days the term "satellite towns" was used. The very first new towns included Tsuen Wan...
project on the island. Cheung Ching Estate, Cheung Hong Estate and Mayfair Gardens
Mayfair Gardens
Mayfair Gardens is the first private housing estate on Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong by Sun Hung Kai Properties, and was established between 1982 and 1984. There are 8 blocks of residence buildings all round the estate, namely Block 5 to 12....
were consequently built in heaps. The vicinity of the Mobil
Mobil
Mobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, was a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form ExxonMobil. Today Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with their own store or On...
oil storage depot to Mayfair Garden and Cheung Ching Estate once aroused enormous concern for the safety of the residents. Some social workers and residents urged the government to relocate the storage facilities. The government decided to halt the last phase of the Mayfair Garden development scheme. The storage facility remained at the same location until Container Terminal 9
Container Terminal 9
Container Terminal 9 or CT9 is the 9th container terminal in Hong Kong. It is located on Tsing Yi Island, facing Rambler Channel. It was the part of Kwai Tsing Container Terminals. The total site area is 1.5 square kilometres and the terminal itself comprises an area 0.68 km² and as long as...
was on the Government's agenda.
Later on, the tenor of town development shifted northward. Two fisherman harbours, Tsing Yi Tong and Mun Tsai Tong
Mun Tsai Tong
Mun Tsai Tong or Moon Tsai Tong was a harbour located between northeast Tsing Yi Island and Nga Ying Chau of Hong Kong. It was reclaimed for the development of a new town on Tsing Yi Island in 1980s...
were reclaimed
Land reclamation in Hong Kong
Land is in short supply in Hong Kong, and land reclamation has been conducted there since the mid-19th century.-Projects:One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50 to of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction...
for residential use. Many fishermen were relocated from their boats parked in the typhoon shelter to the Ching Tao House, a new residential block on land, of Chueng Ching Estate. The land inhabitants were put together into several designated areas so as to re-build their villages. The primary sectors had all died out owing to the drastic town development. Tsing Yi Estate, Cheung On Estate, Cheung Fat Estate, Ching Tai Court and Tsing Yi Garden were built after all reclamations were accomplished. Ching Wah Court was built adjoining to Cheung Hong Estate.
At the same time, Tsing Yi Bridge was seriously overburdened and its structure was unable to cope with ever-increasing traffic. There was only a one-way road in each direction on the bridge. Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
became the burning problem in the community, and subsequently aroused protest. Finally, Tsing Yi North Bridge
Tsing Yi North Bridge
Tsing Yi North Bridge is also called Tsing Tsuen Bridge which connects the Tam Kon Shan Interchange of Tsing Yi Island and Texaco Road Roundabout of Tsuen Wan, across the Rambler Channel. The bridge is built by the Japanese Firm, Maeda Co. and completed on 10th December, 1987...
, a connection to Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan is a bay in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong, opposite to Tsing Yi Island across Rambler Channel. The market town of Tsuen Wan emerged for the surrounding villages and fleets of fishing boats in the area. The town is around the present-day Tsuen Wan Station of the MTR...
Town was built to ease off the congestion, as well as to accommodate the local residential population boom.
The final decision to relocate Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
spurred a new series of development: Airport Railway
Airport Express (MTR)
The Airport Express is one of the lines of the Mass Transit Railway serving Hong Kong. It links the principal urban areas of Hong Kong to Hong Kong International Airport and the associated AsiaWorld-Expo exhibition and convention centre....
, Ting Kau Bridge
Ting Kau Bridge
Ting Kau Bridge is a 1,177-metre long cable-stayed bridge in Hong Kong that spans from the northwest of Tsing Yi Island and Tuen Mun Road. It is adjacent to Tsing Ma Bridge which also serves as major connector between the Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island and the rest of Hong Kong....
to Ting Kau
Ting Kau
Ting Kau is an area in west Tsuen Wan District, New Territories, Hong Kong. Ting Kau Village is a village near the shore. The beach nearby, Ting Kau Beach was once a popular beach in Hong Kong. The water quality affected by the treated water injected into Victoria Harbour.Ting Kau is also famous...
and North New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
, Tsing Ma Bridge
Tsing Ma Bridge
The Tsing Ma Bridge is a bridge in Hong Kong. It is the world's seventh-longest span suspension bridge, and was the second longest at time of completion. The bridge was named after two of the islands at its ends, namely Tsing Yi and Ma Wan . It has two decks and carries both road and rail...
to Ma Wan
Ma Wan
Ma Wan is an island of Hong Kong, located between Lantau Island and Tsing Yi Island, with an area of 0.97 km². Administratively, it is part of Tsuen Wan District....
and Lantau Island
Lantau Island
Lantau Island , based on the old local name of Lantau Peak , is the largest island in Hong Kong, located at the mouth of the Pearl River. Administratively, most of Lantau Island is part of the Islands District of Hong Kong...
, Rambler Channel Bridge
Rambler Channel Bridge
Cheung Tsing Bridge, formally Rambler Channel Bridge, is a bridge on Rambler Channel in Hong Kong, connecting Cheung Ching Tunnel on Tsing Yi Island and Kwai Chung section of Tsing Kwai Highway...
to Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
and Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
, Duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge
Duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge
Duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge or Duplicate Tsing Yi Bridge or Kwai Tsing Bridge is a bridge connecting Tsing Yi Island and Kwai Chung over the Rambler Channel of Hong Kong in parallel to Tsing Yi Bridge, which deteriorated owing to years of heavy usage...
on the south side of Tsing Yi Bridge.
On the island, new residential projects, Tivoli Garden, Grand Horizon, Mount Haven, Villa Esplanada
Villa Esplanada
Villa Esplanada is a private housing estate developed by Sun Hung Kai, China Resources and Cheung Kong on Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong. It locates on the relocated oil depots on the former island Nga Ying Chau. It is close to Ching Wang Court, Tsing Yi Station of MTR and Airport Express...
, Tierra Verde
Maritime Square
Maritime Square is a 4-storey shopping centre located on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It was built and is owned by the MTR Corporation Limited in conjunction with the opening of Tsing Yi station...
, and Cheung Wang Estate were completed. The final part of reclaimed land near the shore had been laid waste for almost a decade until Tsing Yi Promenade
Tsing Yi Promenade
Tsing Yi Promenade is a promenade along the northeastern seafront of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It was built in stages from 2001 to 2004....
was built in 2004. Local Hong Kong cultural pursuits of Chinese music and dancing, walking and Chinese exercise are in evidence in most evenings.
During 2000 to 2004 Container Terminal 9 was built on the reclaimed southwest shore of the island, together with resident blocks, Rambler Crest
Rambler Crest
Rambler Crest is a housing development on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong, which included a private housing estate, shopping mall and 3 hotels, namely Mexan Harbour Hotel , Rambler Garden Hotel and Rambler Oasis Hotel . It was developed by Cheung Kong Holdings...
. Nearby, and well within sight of Central. Victoria
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
, a controversial new dioxin burning plant was also put into operation during 2004, arousing much concern for the residents of Tsing Yi and Hong Kong island.
Public housing
| Name | Type | Inaug. | No Blocks | No Units | Associated developments | |
| Cheung Ching Estate | 長青邨 | Public | 1977 |
8 | 4,905 | |
||||
| Cheung Fat Estate | 長發邨 | Public | 1989 |
4 | 2,067 | Cheung Fat Estate Shopping Centre |
||||
| Cheung Hang Estate | 長亨邨 | Public | 1990 |
6 | 4,689 | |
||||
| Cheung Hong Estate | 長康邨 | Public | 1979 |
13 | 8,100 | |
||||
| Cheung On Estate | 長安邨 | Semi-Private | 1988 |
10 | 7,338 | |
||||
| Cheung Wang Estate | 長宏邨 | Public | 2001 |
7 | 4,273 | |
||||
| Easeful Court | 青逸軒 | Public | 2003 |
2 | 510 | |
||||
| Tsing Yi Estate | 青衣邨 | Public | 1986 |
4 | 930 | |
Tenants purchase/HOS/ PSPS/ Sandwich Class Scheme housing in Tsing Yi Town
| Name | Type | Inaug. | No Blocks | No Units | Associated developments | |
| Ching Nga Court | 青雅苑 | HOS | 1989 |
1 | 816 | |
||||
| Ching Shing Court | 青盛苑 | HOS | 1985 |
1 | 800 | |
||||
| Ching Tai Court | 青泰苑 | HOS | 1988 |
7 | 2,180 | |
||||
| Ching Wah Court | 青華苑 | HOS | 1986 |
6 | 2,460 | |
||||
| Ching Wang Court | 青宏苑 | HOS | 2001 |
2 | 576 | |
||||
| Serene Garden | 海悅花園 | PSPS | 1992 |
3 | 840 | |
||||
| Tivoli Garden | 宏福花園 | Sandwich Sandwich Class Housing Scheme Sandwich Class Housing Scheme was a scheme by the Hong Kong Housing Society for building apartments that were sold to middle-income families, i.e. sandwich class, at concessionary prices during the 1990s. The purchases were subject to a five-year resale restriction. The first development, Tivoli... | 1995 |
4 | 1024 | |
Private housing in Tsing Yi Town
| Name | Type | Inaug. | No Blocks | No Units | Associated developments | Developer | |
| Broadview Garden | 偉景花園 | Semi-Private | |
7 | -n/a- | | HK Housing Society |
|||||
| Grand Horizon | 海欣花園 | Private | 2000 |
5 | 1,432 | | Sun Hung Kai |
|||||
| Greenfield Garden | 翠怡花園 | Private | 1989 |
11 | 3,216 | Mall | Sun Hung Kai |
|||||
| Mayfair Gardens Mayfair Gardens Mayfair Gardens is the first private housing estate on Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong by Sun Hung Kai Properties, and was established between 1982 and 1984. There are 8 blocks of residence buildings all round the estate, namely Block 5 to 12.... | 美景花園 | Private | 1977 |
8 | -n/a- | | Sun Hung Kai |
|||||
| Mount Haven | 曉峰園 | Private | 1999 |
5 | 816 | | Sun Hung Kai |
|||||
| Rambler Crest Rambler Crest Rambler Crest is a housing development on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong, which included a private housing estate, shopping mall and 3 hotels, namely Mexan Harbour Hotel , Rambler Garden Hotel and Rambler Oasis Hotel . It was developed by Cheung Kong Holdings... | 藍澄灣 | Private | |
5 | 1560 | > Hutchison Whampoa | ||||
| Villa Esplanada Villa Esplanada Villa Esplanada is a private housing estate developed by Sun Hung Kai, China Resources and Cheung Kong on Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong. It locates on the relocated oil depots on the former island Nga Ying Chau. It is close to Ching Wang Court, Tsing Yi Station of MTR and Airport Express... | 灝景灣 | Private | 1997 |
10 | -n/a- | |
Consortium | ||||
| Tierra Verde Maritime Square Maritime Square is a 4-storey shopping centre located on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It was built and is owned by the MTR Corporation Limited in conjunction with the opening of Tsing Yi station... | 盈翠半島 | Private | |
12 | 3700 | Maritime Square Maritime Square Maritime Square is a 4-storey shopping centre located on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It was built and is owned by the MTR Corporation Limited in conjunction with the opening of Tsing Yi station... , Tsing Yi MTR Tsing Yi (MTR) Tsing Yi is an interchange station on the Tung Chung Line of MTR and Airport Express on Tsing Yi Island in Hong Kong. On the Tung Chung Line, it is located between Sunny Bay Station and Lai King Station. On the Airport Express, it is between Airport Station and Kowloon Station. The livery of... | MTR Corp, Hutchison |
|||||
| Tsing Yi Garden | 青怡花園 | Private | 1986 |
7 | 1,520 | podium arcade | Cheung Kong |
Villages in the Tsing Yi area
- Chung Mei Lo Uk Village (涌美老屋村)
- Fishermen's Village (漁民村)
- Fung Shue Wo Resite Village (楓樹窩新村)
- Lam Tin Resite Village (藍田村)
- St. Paul Village (聖保祿村)
- Sun Uk Resite Village (新屋村)
- Tai Wong Ha Resite Village (大王下村)
- Tsing Yi Hui (青衣墟)
- Tsing Yi Lutheran VillageTsing Yi Lutheran VillageTsing Yi Lutheran Village is a village on Tsing Yi Island. It locates near Chung Mei Village.-Temples:There are several temples that was moved together with former resident in Tsing Yi Town....
- Tsing Yu Resite Village (青裕新村)
- Yim Tin Kok Resite (鹽田角村)
- Sai Shan VillageSai Shan VillageSai Shan Village is a village on the Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong. The village was beneath the valley of Sai Shan and Tsing Yi Peak near Mayfair Gardens and Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education . A stream runs from the valley was water source for agriculture in the village...
Hotels
There are three hotels in Tsing Yi Town, at the east of Tsing Yi Island, facing the marvellous view of Rambler Channel and the container terminals. They are:- Mexan Harbour Hotel,
- Rambler Garden Hotel and
- Rambler Oasis Hotel.
Bridges
There are eight bridges connected to the island.- Tsing Yi BridgeTsing Yi BridgeTsing Yi Bridge is the first bridge to the Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong. It crosses Rambler Channel, connecting Tsing Yi Island and Tsing Chau of Kwai Chung. The bridge spans 610 metres and is 26 metres high...
to Kwai ChungKwai ChungKwai Chung is a town in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Together with Tsing Yi Island, it is part of the Kwai Tsing District of Hong Kong. Kwai Chung is the site of the container port. It is also part of Tsuen Wan New Town. In 2000, it had a population of 287,000...
Town and KowloonKowloonKowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
. - Kwai Tsing Bridge (Duplicate Tsing Yi South BridgeDuplicate Tsing Yi South BridgeDuplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge or Duplicate Tsing Yi Bridge or Kwai Tsing Bridge is a bridge connecting Tsing Yi Island and Kwai Chung over the Rambler Channel of Hong Kong in parallel to Tsing Yi Bridge, which deteriorated owing to years of heavy usage...
) to Kwai ChungKwai ChungKwai Chung is a town in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Together with Tsing Yi Island, it is part of the Kwai Tsing District of Hong Kong. Kwai Chung is the site of the container port. It is also part of Tsuen Wan New Town. In 2000, it had a population of 287,000...
Town and KowloonKowloonKowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
. - Tsing Tsuen Bridge (Tsing Yi North BridgeTsing Yi North BridgeTsing Yi North Bridge is also called Tsing Tsuen Bridge which connects the Tam Kon Shan Interchange of Tsing Yi Island and Texaco Road Roundabout of Tsuen Wan, across the Rambler Channel. The bridge is built by the Japanese Firm, Maeda Co. and completed on 10th December, 1987...
) to Tsuen WanTsuen WanTsuen Wan is a bay in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong, opposite to Tsing Yi Island across Rambler Channel. The market town of Tsuen Wan emerged for the surrounding villages and fleets of fishing boats in the area. The town is around the present-day Tsuen Wan Station of the MTR...
Town. - Ting Kau BridgeTing Kau BridgeTing Kau Bridge is a 1,177-metre long cable-stayed bridge in Hong Kong that spans from the northwest of Tsing Yi Island and Tuen Mun Road. It is adjacent to Tsing Ma Bridge which also serves as major connector between the Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island and the rest of Hong Kong....
to Tuen MunTuen MunTuen Mun is a town near the mouth of Tuen Mun River and Castle Peak Bay in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It was one of the earliest settlements in Hong Kong which can be dated back to the Neolithic period. In the more recent past, it was home to many Tanka fishermen who gathered at the Castle...
Town and Yuen Long TownYuen Long TownYuen Long Town is located in the district centre of Yuen Long District, New Territories, Hong Kong. It is the heart of Yuen Long and Yuen Long New Town, with a population of around 200,000.- Geography :Yuen Long Town is located in the centre of Yuen Long...
(Route 3). - Cheung Tsing Bridge to KowloonKowloonKowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
and Hong Kong IslandHong Kong IslandHong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
(Route 3). - Tsing Ma BridgeTsing Ma BridgeThe Tsing Ma Bridge is a bridge in Hong Kong. It is the world's seventh-longest span suspension bridge, and was the second longest at time of completion. The bridge was named after two of the islands at its ends, namely Tsing Yi and Ma Wan . It has two decks and carries both road and rail...
to Ma WanMa WanMa Wan is an island of Hong Kong, located between Lantau Island and Tsing Yi Island, with an area of 0.97 km². Administratively, it is part of Tsuen Wan District....
and Lantau IslandLantau IslandLantau Island , based on the old local name of Lantau Peak , is the largest island in Hong Kong, located at the mouth of the Pearl River. Administratively, most of Lantau Island is part of the Islands District of Hong Kong...
(Route 8). - Tsing Lai BridgeTsing Lai BridgeTsing Lai Bridge is a rail bridge for MTR and Airport Express over Rambler Channel of Hong Kong, linking Tsing Yi Station and Lai King Station, as its name reflects the first word of each station.-External links:...
to Lai King StationLai King (MTR)Lai King is an MTR station located in Lai King, Kwai Tsing District, Hong Kong. The station is served by Tsuen Wan Line and Tung Chung Line , providing cross-platform interchanges between platforms 1 and 3 , and between platforms 2 and 4 .-History:Lai King was opened in 10 May 1982, originally as...
(dedicated MTR viaduct) - Stonecutter's Bridge to Stonecutter's Island, KowloonKowloonKowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
and Sha TinSha TinSha Tin, also spelled Shatin, is an area around the Shing Mun River in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Sha Tin District.-Geography:...
Town (Route 8).
Within the island:
- Liu To BridgeLiu To BridgeLiu To Bridge is a bridge over the valley of Liu To, Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It is part of Tsing Yi Road West. Built between 1985 and 1987, it spans and is a 3-span bridge with dual 2-lane road...
(a part of Tsing Yi West Road)
Railway
Tsing Yi Station, at the northeastern part of Tsing Yi Island, in Tsing Yi TownTsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town is located on the eastern coast of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong and is part of the Tsuen Wan New Town. It is based on the Tsing Yi Hui in the past and includes all the flat land surrounding, including the reclaimed land from Tsing Yi Lagoon.The urban development of the northern part of...
, is served by MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
Tung Chung Line and Airport Express
Airport Express (MTR)
The Airport Express is one of the lines of the Mass Transit Railway serving Hong Kong. It links the principal urban areas of Hong Kong to Hong Kong International Airport and the associated AsiaWorld-Expo exhibition and convention centre....
. It is also the only rail station on the island.
Bus transport
Tsing Yi is served by an extensive bus network, with routes terminating at different parts of Hong Kong.There are 9 bus termini on the island:
- Cheung Ching (長青)
- Cheung Hang (長亨)
- Cheung Hong (長康)
- Cheung On (長安)
- Cheung Wang (長宏), formerly known as "Tsing Yan" (青欣)
- Mayfair GardensMayfair GardensMayfair Gardens is the first private housing estate on Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong by Sun Hung Kai Properties, and was established between 1982 and 1984. There are 8 blocks of residence buildings all round the estate, namely Block 5 to 12....
(美景花園) - Tsing Yi Railway Station (青衣鐵路站)
- Tsing Yi Estate (青衣邨)
- Tsing Yi FerryTsing Yi PierTsing Yi Pier or Tsing Yi Ferry Terminus is a ferry pier on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It is the replacement of Tsing Yi Town old pier that was buried in reclamation. There were ferries to Tsuen Wan and Central...
(青衣碼頭)
Pier
Before the completion of Tsing Yi Bridge, ferryFerry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
was the only public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
to mainland Hong Kong. Tsing Yi Pier
Tsing Yi Pier
Tsing Yi Pier or Tsing Yi Ferry Terminus is a ferry pier on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It is the replacement of Tsing Yi Town old pier that was buried in reclamation. There were ferries to Tsuen Wan and Central...
was built near Tsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town is located on the eastern coast of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong and is part of the Tsuen Wan New Town. It is based on the Tsing Yi Hui in the past and includes all the flat land surrounding, including the reclaimed land from Tsing Yi Lagoon.The urban development of the northern part of...
before the reclamation. The pier followed the change of shoreline owing after reclamation, and moved to the waterfront
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
near Greenfield Garden.
Hovercraft service between Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi and Central was provided by the former Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited , HYF, is a ferry company founded in 1897 in Hong Kong. It is commonly known as Yaumati Ferry...
. After the franchise of the company came to an end, Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry took over the route and operated it.
All ferry services ceased with rapid development of road and rail transport, especially MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
Tung Chung Line with its station just a few hundred metres away from the ferry pier. It no longer takes residents to Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan is a bay in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong, opposite to Tsing Yi Island across Rambler Channel. The market town of Tsuen Wan emerged for the surrounding villages and fleets of fishing boats in the area. The town is around the present-day Tsuen Wan Station of the MTR...
and Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
. The pier is now open to the public, and continues to be used as a drop-off point for fishermen and tourists, and as a mooring site for Government boats.
Religious buildings
- Tin Hau TempleTin Hau temples in Hong KongOver 70 temples are dedicated to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. They include:* Tin Hau temple, located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. It is a declared monument. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it .* The Tin...
; the temple was originally located near Tsing Yi Tong. Upon reclamation of Tsing Yi, it was moved to Ha Ko Tan (下高灘), near today's Chung Mei Lo Uk Village. - Chun Kwan TempleChun Kwan TempleChun Kwan Temple is a temple dedicated to Chun Kwan on Tsing Yi Island in Hong Kong. Chun Kwan was a commoner who had combatted pirates during South Sung Dynasty. The original temple was built on the waterfront 100 years ago. It was moved to present location on the junction of Tsing Yi Heung...
; the temple was relocated near Tsing Yi Police StationTsing Yi Police StationTsing Yi Police Station , once also known as Tsing Yi Division Police Station is the only police station on the Tsing Yi Island in Hong Kong. The station is located at Tsing Yi Heung Sze Wui Road, situated between Tsing Yi Police Married Quarters and Tsing Yi Fire Station, below Chung Mei Tsuen...
. - Tsing Tak Tong Tat-more Temple; the BodhidharmaBodhidharmaBodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th/6th century AD. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Ch'an to China, and regarded as the first Chinese patriarch...
temple in Tsing Yi Lutheran VillageTsing Yi Lutheran VillageTsing Yi Lutheran Village is a village on Tsing Yi Island. It locates near Chung Mei Village.-Temples:There are several temples that was moved together with former resident in Tsing Yi Town....
. - St. Thomas the Apostle ChurchSt. Thomas the Apostle ChurchSt. Thomas the Apostle Church is a Catholic church surrounded by Tsing Yi Estate, Tsing Yi Park, Tsing Yi Garden and Broadview Garden on the Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong and the building was completed on 4 July 1999. The church was formed on 3 July 1982 for the community of Tsing Yi Island...
; the Catholic church building, near Tsing Yi Estate and Tsing Yi ParkTsing Yi ParkTsing Yi Park is a public park on the Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong with Tsing Yi Estate, Tsing Yi Garden, Broadview Garden and St. Paul's Village in its proximity.-External links:*...
, was completed in July 1999. - Tsing Yi Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; The church is near Maritime SquareMaritime SquareMaritime Square is a 4-storey shopping centre located on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It was built and is owned by the MTR Corporation Limited in conjunction with the opening of Tsing Yi station...
and St. Pauls Village. - Tai Yam Neong Neong Temple (太陰娘娘廟); Taoist temple, worshipping the GoddessGoddessA goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
of MoonMoonThe Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, Sheung NgoChang'e (mythology)Chang'e, Ch'ang-O, Chang-Ngo or Sheung Ngo , originally known as Heng'e or Heng-O , is the Chinese goddess of the Moon. Unlike many lunar deities in other cultures who personify the Moon, Chang'e only lives on the Moon...
(嫦娥), located in Tsing Yi Lutheran Village. - Tai Wong Temple (大王古廟), Taoist temple in Tsing Yi Lutheran Village.
- Tsing Lam Church (青霖堂), Protestant church by the side of Fishermen's Village and St. Paul's Village; the buildings were formally "Fish Marketing Organisation Tsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary SchoolTsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary SchoolTsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary School was a school for the children of the fishermen on the Tsing Yi Island in Hong Kong, founded by Fish Marketing Organisation. Fishermen's Children's Primary Schools reflected marked that fishing once was an important industry in Hong Kong and there was...
".
Education
In the early days, education on the Tsing Yi Island was mostly private. The first public school on the island is Tsing Yi Public SchoolTsing Yi Public School
Tsing Yi Public School is the first primary school on the Tsing Yi Island in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The school was founded in 1938 when the Island was largely fishing villages. Upon the island's development, the school was moved to a standard school building in Cheung Hong Estate in...
, a primary school founded by villagers and businessmen on the island. In post-World War II era, Hong Kong Government provides 9-year free education to all children from primary one to secondary three. The public school is then mainly funded by the Government. Another school for the children of fishermen, Tsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary School, was founded by Fish Marketing Organisation. In 1977, Cheung Ching Estate, the first public housing estates on the island, marked the beginning of the new town on the island. To accommodate new schooling children, three primary schools and Buddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial College, the first secondary school on the island, were built with the estate. More schools were erected when new estates were completed. In 1999, a post-secondary college, Hong Kong Technical College (Tsing Yi), was completed and provides vocational training for all adults in Hong Kong. In 2000s, the number of schooling children began to drop and the several schools are facing the fatal fate.
Numerous schools are founded on Tsing Yi Island, namely:
Primary schools
- CNEC Lui Ming Choi Primary School
- Father Cucchiara Memorial School
- HKCSCA Cheung Chi Cheong Memorial Primary School
- HKSYIC&IA Chan Lai So Chun Memorial School
- Delia (Man Kiu) English Primary School
- PLK Castar Primary School
- PLK Chan Yat Primary School
- SKH Ho Chak Wan Primary School
- SKH Tsing Yi Estate Ho Chak Wan Primary School
- SKH Tsing Yi Chu Yan Primary School
- Tsing Yi Public SchoolTsing Yi Public SchoolTsing Yi Public School is the first primary school on the Tsing Yi Island in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The school was founded in 1938 when the Island was largely fishing villages. Upon the island's development, the school was moved to a standard school building in Cheung Hong Estate in...
- Tsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary SchoolTsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary SchoolTsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary School was a school for the children of the fishermen on the Tsing Yi Island in Hong Kong, founded by Fish Marketing Organisation. Fishermen's Children's Primary Schools reflected marked that fishing once was an important industry in Hong Kong and there was...
(closed) - Tsing Yi Trade Association Primary School
- Tsuen Wan Trade Association Primary School
- TWGHs Chow Yin Sum Primary School
- TWGHs Wong See Sum Primary School
- YCH Chiu Tsang Hok Wan Primary School
Secondary schools
- Buddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial CollegeBuddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial CollegeBuddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial College is the first secondary school on the Tsing Yi Island in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Located in Cheung Ching Estate, the school was founded by Hong Kong Buddhist Association in September, 1978 with buildings from Hong Kong Government and funds from Yip...
- Caritas St. Joseph Secondary SchoolCaritas St. Joseph Secondary SchoolCaritas St. Joseph Secondary School is vocational training secondary school in Tsing Yi Estate, Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It was formerly, Caritas St. Joseph Prevocational School , a prevocational school established in Tsuen Wan by Caritas Hong Kong in 1961 and moved to the island in 1989...
- CCC Yenching CollegeCCC Yenching CollegeThe Church of Christ in China Yenching College , or CCC Yenching College, Yenching College in short is a co-education secondary school in Nga Ying Chau of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong...
- LST Leung Chik Wai Memorial School
- PLK Tsing Yi Secondary School (Skill Opportunity) (closed)
- PLK 1983 Board of Directors' College
- Queen's College Old Boys' Association Secondary School
- TWGHs S. C. Gaw Memorial College
Medical services
The Department of HealthDepartment of Health (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong's Department of Health is responsible for healthcare policies and the provision of basic healthcare services. The public hospitals are managed by the Department's Hospital Authority...
operates two general out-patient clinics on the island in Tsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town is located on the eastern coast of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong and is part of the Tsuen Wan New Town. It is based on the Tsing Yi Hui in the past and includes all the flat land surrounding, including the reclaimed land from Tsing Yi Lagoon.The urban development of the northern part of...
. The first one is Tsing Yi Cheung Hong Clinic in Cheung Hong Estate and another is Tsing Yi Town Clinic near Tsing Yi Garden.
There is also one maternal and child health centre, Tsing Yi Maternal and Child Health Centre, on the island. It is just next to Tsing Yi Cheung Hong Clinic.
There is at least one private clinic in each housing estate.
In town planning, Tsing Yi Hospital was supposed to be built near Cheung Hang Estate but the plan was put off owing to financial difficulty of Hospital Authority
Hospital Authority
The Hospital Authority is a statutory body managing all the public hospitals and institutes in Hong Kong. It is managed by the Hospital Authority Board and is under the monitor of the Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong Government. Its chairman is Mr...
.
Shopping
All public and private housing estates on the island have their own shopping centres or marketMarket
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
s. Cheung Fat Shopping Centre, by Hong Kong Housing Authority
Hong Kong Housing Authority
The Hong Kong Housing Authority is the main provider of public housing in Hong Kong. It was established in 1973 under the Housing Ordinance and is an agency of the Government of Hong Kong...
was once the largest shopping centre and was later supplanted by MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation Limited is a company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Index. MTR owns and runs the Hong Kong MTR metro system, and is also a major property developer and landlord in Hong Kong...
's Maritime Square
Maritime Square
Maritime Square is a 4-storey shopping centre located on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It was built and is owned by the MTR Corporation Limited in conjunction with the opening of Tsing Yi station...
, as the shopping focus of the island.
Shipbuilding
Tsing Yi is home to Hong Kong United DockyardHong Kong United Dockyard
Hong Kong United Dockyard or simply United Dockyard is a dockyard in Shek Wan, on the Tsing Yi Island of Hong Kong. HUD was formed in 1973 from the merger of Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock and Taikoo Dockyard . It is jointed owned by Hutchison Whampoa and Swire...
, located on the west side since 1980.
Leisure facilities
- Tsing Yi Swimming PoolTsing Yi Swimming PoolTsing Yi Swimming Pool is a public swimming pool on Tsing Yi Island, New Territories, Hong Kong. It is near the east shore of the island, between Maritime Square and Tsing Yi Sports Ground. Currently it is managed by Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong Government....
- Tsing Yi Sports GroundTsing Yi Sports GroundTsing Yi Sports Ground is a sports ground on Tsing Yi Island, New Territories, Hong Kong. It is built near the east coast of the island, between Tivoli Garden and Tsing Yi Swimming Pool. It consists of a Tartan track and a football pitch...
- Fung Shue Wo Indoor Recreation Centre
- Tsing Yi Indoor Recreation Centre
- Cheung Fat Indoor Recreation Centre
- Tsing Yi Public LibraryTsing Yi Public LibraryTsing Yi Public Library is a public library on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It is classified as Major District / District Libraries under the system of Hong Kong Public Libraries...
- Tsing Yi ParkTsing Yi ParkTsing Yi Park is a public park on the Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong with Tsing Yi Estate, Tsing Yi Garden, Broadview Garden and St. Paul's Village in its proximity.-External links:*...
- Tsing Yi Nature TrailTsing Yi Nature TrailTsing Yi Nature Trail , also known as Kwai Tsing Reunification Health Trail is a hiking trail on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong....
- Tsing Yi PromenadeTsing Yi PromenadeTsing Yi Promenade is a promenade along the northeastern seafront of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It was built in stages from 2001 to 2004....
People practise T'ai Chi in Tsing Yi Promenade
Tsing Yi Promenade
Tsing Yi Promenade is a promenade along the northeastern seafront of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It was built in stages from 2001 to 2004....
near Maritime Square
Maritime Square
Maritime Square is a 4-storey shopping centre located on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It was built and is owned by the MTR Corporation Limited in conjunction with the opening of Tsing Yi station...
in Tsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town
Tsing Yi Town is located on the eastern coast of Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong and is part of the Tsuen Wan New Town. It is based on the Tsing Yi Hui in the past and includes all the flat land surrounding, including the reclaimed land from Tsing Yi Lagoon.The urban development of the northern part of...
in the early morning hours. Some gather and practise dancing in the playground near Tsing Yung House of Cheung Ching Estate.
See also
- Islands of Hong Kong
- List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
- List of villages in Hong Kong#Tsing Yi Rural Committee
- My Home Purchase PlanMy Home Purchase PlanMy Home Purchase Plan is one of the public housing initiatives of Hong Kong. This plan enables eligible citizens to purchase homes by way of "rent-and-buy". The Plan aims to provide assistance to potential sandwich class home buyers who are able to repay mortgages in the long term but currently do...