Tuen Mun

History

During the Tang dynasty (618907), a navy town, Tuen Mun Tsan () was established in Nantou, which lies across Deep Bay. Tuen Mun and the rest of Hong Kong were under its protection. A major clan, To (), brought the name Tuen Mun to the area. They migrated from Jiangxi on the Chinese mainland and established a village, Tuen Mun Tsuen (), late in the Yuan dynasty (1272–1368). As more and more villages were established, the village was renamed Tuen Mun Tai Tsuen (), which means "large village" in Chinese. As yet more villages were established, a market town of Tuen Mun Hui () was established. This town lies where present-day Tuen Mun Kau Hui is situated, which name means "old market", as opposed to San Hui or "new market". Tuen Mun remained an important town for coastal defence purposes until the start of British rule in 1898. When the British took over the New Territories from the Qing government in this year, the area was renamed Castle Peak, and Tuen Mun Hui to Castle Peak Market () or Tsing Shan Hui. The name Tuen Mun, however, continued to be used by those living in the area. In the more recent past, Tuen Mun was home to many Tanka fishermen who gathered at Castle Peak Bay. In 1965, "Castle Peak New Town" was planned. It was later renamed Tuen Mun New Town and constructed from 1970 onwards with many buildings on the reclaimed land of the former Castle Peak Bay. The name was officially changed back to Tuen Mun in 1972. The first public housing estate built in the town was Castle Peak Estate, opened 1971. As of 2024, serious hill fires have been reported in Tuen Mun.

Geography

Tuen Mun is located in the west of Hong Kong's New Territories. It is sandwiched between two mountains, Castle Peak (583 m) from the west and Kau Keng Shan (507 m) from the east. Tuen Mun Trail contains 2 segments. One starts from Hoh Fuk Tong College in San Hui connected with the end of MacLehose Trail through to Yeuk Mung Yuen (若夢園) till Prime View Garden. Another starts from "Yeuk Mung Yuen" to Fu Tei. It opens up the hills flanking the town, seeing the broad view of picturesque Tuen Mun from the lookout points.

Most-observed species

• Red-whiskered Bulbul

  Pycnonotus jocosus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  19,984
• Spotted Dove

  Spilopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) · Aves
  18,815
• Oriental Magpie-Robin

  Copsychus saularis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  15,909
• Black-collared Starling

  Gracupica nigricollis (Paykull, 1807) · Aves
  15,609
• Light-vented Bulbul

  Pycnonotus sinensis (Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  15,600
• Little Egret/Western Reef-Heron

  Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  14,922
• Black Kite

  Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  14,922
• Crested Myna

  Acridotheres cristatellus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  13,765

Most recent

• M 3.8 — 2020-01-04
  14 km SW of Tai O, Hong Kong
• M 3.8 — 2010-11-19
  4 km NNW of Haikuotiankong, China