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Hong Kong > Hong Kong Guide > District Guides > Tai Po
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 Tai
Po district in the New Territories includes public housing, purpose
built luxury residential complexes and traditional villages.
Covering the area fringing Tolo Harbour on the north eastern
coast of the New Territories, much of the land in the district is rural
and green.
While most of the land in Tai Po is rural farmland the majority of
the district's 320,000 residents live in government housing estates in
the heavily urbanised town of Tai Po Market.
Tai Po's expat population opt to live in village houses or
accommodation in luxury developments such as Casa Marina and The
Beverly Hills and Hong Lok Yuen.
Attractions
Expats living in Tai Po's village houses are attracted by low rents,
large houses and less urban surrounds. It's a more outdoor lifestyle.
Many houses have car parks and a yard or garden.
Life in Tai Po's villages means a chance to enjoy a slower paced, more
rural way of life. Unlike urban Hong Kong, traditions and festivals are
still a part of village life, and major events such as Chinese New Year
are celebrated with firecrackers and lion dances.
Aside from the easy access to the mountains and hiking trails, some
villages have basketball courts and limited recreational facilities.
Downside
Today's New Territories village does not comply with a romantic image
of a Chinese village. Houses are often tiled concrete boxes, commonly
referred to as "Spanish villas" that are built in close proximity to
one another to maximise utilities. Some villages are little more than
sprawling houses in abandoned farmland with no discernable central
community area.
The New Territories villages are not subject to the same regulations as
the rest of Hong Kong, and are often not built to any standard but the
builder's. Things such as plumbing tend to go wrong, and when they do
battles with landlords and agents can be frustrating.
More space and the outdoors can be great for young children, but
isolating for full time parents. Young people in Tai Po complain about
the lack of facilities and say the only thing for them to do in the
area is "go somewhere else".
Accommodation
An agreement between the government and indigenous New Territories'
residents provides the male descendants of 19th century villagers with
a 700-square-foot plot of land and the right to build a house of no
more than three floors.
The Spanish villa model has been adapted for Hong Kong by its canny
villagers. Each floor is typically 700 square feet, and a flat roof
provides additional outdoor space. Many houses are configured for one
or two apartments per floor, but some can be rented as an entire house.
Village house accommodation is relatively cheap per square foot when compared to
luxury developments in the New Territories, and significantly cheaper
than Hong Kong Island.
Shops
ParknShop and Wellcome supermarkets are located in the urban areas in
the district. The main shopping centre is at Tai Po Centre. Near Tai Po
Market KCR station, Uptown Plaza has shops and a Fortress (electrical goods) store.
The new town at Tai Po Market retains some of the market character of
the original town with market stalls and an indoor market. It is a
fairly impoverished area and products and prices are geared to local
residents.
For a greater selection of shops and restaurants, Tai Po residents are a half hour away from Sha Tin or Kowloon Tong malls.
Eating Out
Within a fifteen minute drive or bus trip from most houses in Tai Po
you can find Cantonese, Indian and Thai restaurants. Prices are
generally cheap and food is often good but establishments are low key
with functional décor.
Connections
The Tai Po district is served by the KCR East Rail, Tolo highway and
Tai Po road. There are two KCR stations within the district – Tai Po
Market and Tai Wo, with bus connections throughout the district.
Travelling by public transport from Tai Po to Hong Kong takes from 50
minutes to one hour. By car, journey time is 30 to 40 minutes.
The border with Shenzhen in mainland China is an easy 20-minute journey from Tai Po.
Schools
English speaking children aged 5 to 11 can attend Sha Tin Junior
School, an ESF primary school in Sha Tin. A school bus runs through Tai
Po, and picks up pupils close to home, by arrangement. Secondary school
age pupils are eligible for the ESF's Sha Tin College.
Hong Lok Yuen International School is an independent primary school located within the Hong Lok Yuen residential development.
Useful Links
http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/tp/english/welcome.htm
http://www.wb.com.hk/asp/goto.asp?Location=casaMarinaIEng
http://www.lamtsuen.com
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