Tung Chung Road
Encyclopedia
Tung Chung Road is a two disjointed-section road and also the only road connecting the north and south coast of Lantau Island
. The first section is a short road linking a former pier and Wong Nai Uk in Tung Chung
. The second is a long and hilly section connecting Tung Chung in the island north to Cheung Sha in the island south. The two section were previously connected until the completion of replacement road Chung Yan Road in Tung Chung New Town.
The short section is featured with historical Tung Chung Battery
, a military coastal defence in Ming dynasty
. It runs along the a river Ma Wan Chung and ends in Chung Yan Road.
The long section is a long, steep, narrow and winding road. Due to physical constraints, it is open only to buses, taxis and permit-bearing vehicles only and speed limit is set to 30 km/h. It is too dangerous for double-decker bus
to run on and only "single-deckers" are used in the bus services. It starts near Ma Wan New Village and joins Chung Yan Road near a river before proceeding upwards to the valley between Sunset Peak
and Lantau Peak
. It reaches its highest point at a pass in Pak Kung Au
(also known as Tung Chung Au) then follows a steep downhill path. The southern end joins South Lantau Road
in Cheung Sha.
Prior to completion of the new section in 2009 (see below), numerous parts consisted of a single lane only; when two oncoming vehicles approached, one had to find a passing place to stop and let the other pass.
Because of limited capacity, the Transport Department opens the road only to buses, taxis and holders of a permit, issued to residents and business of South Lantau and other people who can demonstrate a legitimate reason.
The nature of Tung Chung Road preserved the rural landscape in the southern Lantau. There are bus routes from Tung Chung to various destinations like Cheung Sha, Mui Wo
, Shek Pik
and Tai O
in the island south. The road is a stage split of Lantau Trail
on the south slope of the island.
Following the opening, the old road section between Pak Kung Au
and Cheung Sha near Cheung Sha Bridge has been closed. Vehicles are diverted to the new road section between Pak Kung Au and San Shek Wan.
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...
. The first section is a short road linking a former pier and Wong Nai Uk in Tung Chung
Tung Chung
Tung Chung, meaning 'eastern stream', is an area situated on the north-western coast of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Tung Chung, currently one of the latest generation of new towns, was formerly a rural village around Tung Chung Wan, and along the delta and lower courses of Tung Chung River and Ma...
. The second is a long and hilly section connecting Tung Chung in the island north to Cheung Sha in the island south. The two section were previously connected until the completion of replacement road Chung Yan Road in Tung Chung New Town.
The short section is featured with historical Tung Chung Battery
Tung Chung Battery
Tung Chung Battery is a former battery located in Tung Chung, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It is close to Ma Wan Chung.Built in 1817, it is a companion of Tung Chung Fort of the south....
, a military coastal defence 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...
. It runs along the a river Ma Wan Chung and ends in Chung Yan Road.
The long section is a long, steep, narrow and winding road. Due to physical constraints, it is open only to buses, taxis and permit-bearing vehicles only and speed limit is set to 30 km/h. It is too dangerous for double-decker bus
Double-decker bus
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates...
to run on and only "single-deckers" are used in the bus services. It starts near Ma Wan New Village and joins Chung Yan Road near a river before proceeding upwards to the valley between Sunset Peak
Sunset Peak
Sunset Peak or Tai Tung Shan is the third highest peak in Hong Kong. It is situated on Lantau Island within Lantau South Country Park and Lantau North Country Park and stands at a height of 869 m above the sea level. The second highest Lantau Peak is on the western part of the island....
and Lantau Peak
Lantau Peak
Lantau Peak or Fung Wong Shan is the second highest peak in Hong Kong. It is situated on Lantau Island, with a height of 934 m above sea level...
. It reaches its highest point at a pass in Pak Kung Au
Pak Kung Au (Islands)
Pak Kung Au , also known as Tung Chung Gap, Tung Chung Au , is a mountain pass along Tung Chung Road on Lantau Island, Hong Kong....
(also known as Tung Chung Au) then follows a steep downhill path. The southern end joins South Lantau Road
South Lantau Road
South Lantau Road is a road on the southern side of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Being the major road on the island, the road connects Mui Wo in the east to Shek Pik in the west. Majority portion of the road is along the southern shore of the island...
in Cheung Sha.
Prior to completion of the new section in 2009 (see below), numerous parts consisted of a single lane only; when two oncoming vehicles approached, one had to find a passing place to stop and let the other pass.
Because of limited capacity, the Transport Department opens the road only to buses, taxis and holders of a permit, issued to residents and business of South Lantau and other people who can demonstrate a legitimate reason.
The nature of Tung Chung Road preserved the rural landscape in the southern Lantau. There are bus routes from Tung Chung to various destinations like Cheung Sha, Mui Wo
Mui Wo
Mui Wo is a rural town on the eastern coast of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The main beach in Mui Wo is known as Silver Mine Bay .-History:...
, Shek Pik
Shek Pik
Shek Pik is an area located along the southwestern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. When the Shek Pik Reservoir was built, villages at Shek Pik were demolished and the villagers were relocated to other parts of Lantau Island and to Tsuen Wan...
and 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...
in the island south. The road is a stage split of Lantau Trail
Lantau Trail
The Lantau Trail , opened on 4 December, 1984, is a long-distance footpath on Lantau Island in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The 70 km trail is circular, starting and finishing in Mui Wo. The Lantau Trail has good visitor facilities along the way, and the route is well marked. There are...
on the south slope of the island.
New section
On 6th February 2009, the improved Tung Chung Road section between Lung Tseng Tau and Cheung Sha near San Shek Wan on Lantau Island was fully opened from 10am. The new road is a dual carriageway wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other and has fewer sharp turns.Following the opening, the old road section between Pak Kung Au
Pak Kung Au (Islands)
Pak Kung Au , also known as Tung Chung Gap, Tung Chung Au , is a mountain pass along Tung Chung Road on Lantau Island, Hong Kong....
and Cheung Sha near Cheung Sha Bridge has been closed. Vehicles are diverted to the new road section between Pak Kung Au and San Shek Wan.