Flow with Tai Po

Chai Kek

Originating from the hills of Tai Mo Shan, the 10-km Lam Tsuen River flows to Chai Kek in the middle to upper reaches. Compared to the artificial channels downstream, the watercourse in Chai Kek is closer to its natural state, meandering and winding. The character "乪" is a pictogram that depicts "a winding river flows around the fields." This area nurtures a rich riverine ecosystem, including Günther's Frog, Gold Barb, the Hong Kong Newt (listed as "near threatened"), etc.

Together with ecological guides from Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong, artist Wallace Yiu Chun-wa will lead members of the public to learn about the ecosystem of the stream near Chai Kek and to create clay pottery coasters.

She Shan Village

Artist Wallace Yiu Chun-wa is inspired by the She Shan Fung-shui Woodland, which spans over 5 hectares and is the most renowned woodland in Tai Po. Wallace Yiu produces rubbings of eight trees in the Woodland, including a camphor tree that is more than 400 years old. The work captures a lasting impression of the vibrant vegetation.

Lam Tsuen

The story of the Lam Tsuen River is undoubtedly intertwined with Lam Tsuen. Settlements in the village began as early as the Southern Song Dynasty, and it is now home to over 20,000 residents. In addition to its rich cultural heritage, which includes landmarks such as Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees and Tin Hau temple, the beautiful Lam Tsuen River is one of the rivers in Hong Kong with significant ecological value.

Artist Chan Ting is a “kaifong” of Lam Tsuen. After a field observation with the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, she encountered a “bird neighbour” in the village. This becomes her inspiration for an audio-visual installation titled "Daydreaming Birdwatching House." Together with Rose Li, a Cantonese opera expert, Chan presents a fanciful tale about egrets dancing with a Cantonese opera actress along the Lam Tsuen River, featuring elements of ecological field recordings, music, speech, and film.

Tai Po Arts Centre

As a neighbour of the busy Po Heung Bridge and the Lam Tsuen River, Tai Po Arts Centre is a must-see location for both residents and visitors. Here you may meander around the giant inflatable coral reefs designed by artist Ho Yuen-leung, delve into the fanciful tales about Lam Tsuen told by artist Chan Ting, and pick up a zine by Miki Ho that chronicles the life stories of long-time Tai Po “kaifongs.”

Kwong Fuk Bridge

Three bridges in the area distinguished by their red pillars and green tiles are Kwong Fuk Bridge, Tai Wo Bridge and Kam Wo Bridge. They are essential routes for many residents of Tai Po travelling between the two banks of the Lam Tsuen River. The seats on the bridges are always fully occupied, filled with neighbours chatting, enjoying the scenery and taking a break.

Artist Wallace Yiu Chun-wa replicates the look of the trees in the She Shan fung-shui woodland with clay slabs on the pillars of Kwong Fuk Bridge, bringing a glimpse of the scenic fung-shui woodlands upstream to the downstream community.

Fu Shin Street

As early as 1892, Fu Shin Street began to flourish as a lively open-air market, originally known as "Tai Wo Market." Over the past century, it has remained bustling and vibrant, featuring a wide array of shops, from fruit stalls and Chinese and Western grocery stores to dried seafood and herbal medicine shops, including many well-established brands. To this day, it remains one of the busiest places in Tai Po. The Tai Po Seven Alliances, which were instrumental in the construction of Fu Shin Street Market, even constructed a Man Mo Temple within the market. The temple has enjoyed a thriving patronage, witnessing the passage of over a century.

Tai Wong Yeh Temple

Located in Yuen Chau Tsai, the Tai Wong Yeh Temple was built in the mid-Qing Dynasty. Originally situated on an island, the temple houses three deities who have protected the Hoklo fisherman of Tai Po for centuries: the God of Land, the God of Water, and the God who prevents plagues. In modern times, fishermen gradually moved ashore, and the land reclamation projects in the late 1970s connected Yuen Chau Tsai to the mainland, transforming the island into part of the land. But still, the Tai Wong Yeh Temple stands by the sea, overlooking the tranquil ocean.

Tolo Harbour

The waters around Tolo Harbour once served as an important habitat for various local corals. However, urban development has led to a drastic decline in the number of corals on the seabed.  The Coral Academy from the School of Life Sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong has been actively working in recent years to rehabilitate the corals in Tolo Harbour.

Focusing on the several reefs under rehabilitation in Tolo Harbour, artist Ho Yuen-leung creates large-scale inflatable installations composed of environment-friendly materials. This creates an underwater coral world at the Tai Po Arts Centre for visitors to enjoy the charm of corals.