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. The village name means large inlet, referring to outlet for the waterways (Tai O Creek and Tai O River) merges as it moves through Tai O.

Geography

On the southwest part of Lantau Island, Tai O River splits to the north (as Tai O Creek) and west and at this fork lies the island referred to as Tai O. Two pedestrian bridges cross the river on its northern and western forks. The village is located mostly on the banks of the river. The western and northern parts of the island facing the South China Sea are uninhabited.

History

Nearby archaeological sites date back to the Stone Age, but permanent, and verifiable, human settlement here is only three centuries old. Stories that would be impossible to substantiate have Tai O as the base of many smuggling and piracy operations, the inlets of the river providing excellent protection from the weather and a hiding place. In early 16th century, Tai O was once occupied shortly by Portuguese during the Battle of Tamão, the remains is known as Fan Kwai Tong (番鬼塘, "Foreign devil pond") today.

Tai O is one of five villages of Lantau that were resettled when the coastal restriction of the Great Clearance was lifted in 1669. The other villages are Tung Sai Chung, Lo Pui O, Shek Pik and Mui Wo.

At nearby Fan Lau, a fort was built in 1729 to protect shipping on the Pearl River. Smuggling of guns, tobacco, drugs and people remains a documented illegal activity both into and out of mainland China.

When the British came to Hong Kong, Tai O was known as a Tanka village. The Battle of Ty-ho Bay, a naval engagement fought in 1855, involved British and United States naval forces in a joint operation against Chinese pirates.

At the time of the 1911 census, the population of Shek Tsai Po of Tai O was 118; the number of males was 71. The population of Tai O, both land and boat based, was 7,661; the number of males was 4,318.

thumb|270x270px|Tai O in 2024

During and after the Chinese Civil War, Tai O became a primary entrypoint for illegal immigration for those escaping from the People's Republic of China. Some of these immigrants, mostly Cantonese, stayed in Tai O, and Tai O attracted people from other Hong Kong ethnic groups, including Hoklo (Hokkien) and Hakka.

Tai O has a history of salt production. In 1940, it was recorded that the Tai O salt marshes were covering and that the production has amounted to 25,000 piculs (1,512 metric tons) in 1938.

Currently the fishing lifestyle is dying out. While many residents continue to fish, it barely provides a subsistence income. There is a public school on the island and most young people move away when they come of age. In 2000, a large fire broke out destroying many residences.<!-- The government of the HKSAR had proposed a new town on the site but it met with grassroots opposition. Plans for a container cargo terminal, a theme park, and residential towers have all been proposed. There is a large land reclamation project on the Lantau side.--><!-- SEE TALK PAGE Talk:Tai O#New town, theme park, container port, land reclamation, etc. THANKS-->

Points of interest

centre|thumb|900px|Stilt houses ([[pang uk) in Tai O]]

centre|thumb|900px|Aerial panorama

centre|thumb|900px

thumb|[[Yeung Hau Temple in Tai O]]

Heritage

Graded buildings in Tai O include:

  • Yeung Hau Temple, built in 1699 (Declared monument)
  • Old Tai O Police Station (Grade II)
  • Kwan Tai Temple, Kat Hing Back Street. Built in 1741. (Grade II)
  • Tin Hau Temple, Kat Hing Back Street. Built in 1772, it is connected to the left of Kwan Tai Temple.
  • Fong Bin Yuen. (Grade III)
  • No. 23 Kat Hing Back Street. (Grade III)
  • Shek Lun Kok, No. 33 Kat Hing Back Street. (Grade III)
  • No. 46-48 Kat Hing Street, pre-war shophouses. (Grade III)
  • Wing Hing Petrol Station, No. 99C Kat Hing Back Street. (Grade III)

Other historical buildings include:

The traditional salted fish and shrimp paste are sold at storefronts in Tai O. For a small fee, some residents will take tourists out on their boats along the river and for short jaunts into the sea. Many tourists come to Tai O specifically to take these trips to see Chinese white dolphins, also known as "Pink Dolphins". It is also a good place to see the sunset.

Old Tai O Police Station, a Grade II historic building, has been turned into a boutique hotel called Tai O Heritage Hotel by Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation. The hotel has nine rooms and a restaurant. The hotel has been open and operational since 2012.

Tai O Rural Committee Historic and Cultural Showroom, located within the centuries-old fishing village of Tai O, exhibits relics of the local community's past, including fishing tools and dismantled old structures. The showroom was founded by the Tai O Rural Committee and all the items in its collection were donated by local residents.

Education

thumb|[[Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College]]

There are two kindergartens, one primary school and one secondary school. They are Church of Christ in China (CCC) Tai O Primary School (中華基督教會大澳小學) and Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College.

Most of Lantau Island, Tai O included, is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 98, which contains multiple aided schools on Lantau Island, including CCC Tai O Primary School; no government primary schools are in this net.

Hong Kong Public Libraries operates Tai O Public Library.

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File:The Church of Christ in China Tai O Primary School (Hong Kong).jpg|Church of Christ in China (CCC) Tai O Primary School

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Transport

thumb|Bus terminus in Tai O

thumb|Shek Tsai Po Ferry Pier and former [[Old Tai O Police Station|Tai O Police Station.]]

Tai O can be reached by bus (New Lantau Bus) from the following places:

  • Mui Wo – Bus no. 1
  • Tung Chung – Bus no. 11
  • Ngong Ping – Bus no. 21

There are ferry piers on Tai O, close to Tai O Bus Terminus. It operates daily as the following routes connecting Tai O:

  • Tuen Mun (Tuen Mun Ferry Pier) – service by Fortune Ferry
  • Tung Chung (Tung Chung New Development Ferry Pier) – service by Fortune Ferry
  • Sha Lo Wan – operated by Fortune Ferry

People

  • Cilla Kung, actress and singer; was born and raised in Tai O.

A 1998 Hong Kong drama A Place of One's Own by TVB starring Adia Chan and Mariane Chan is set in Tai O.

A 2021 Hong Kong drama Ossan's Love by ViuTV starring Edan Lui and Anson Lo is set in Tai O.

See also

  • List of islands and peninsulas of Hong Kong
  • List of villages in Hong Kong
  • Battle of Ty-ho Bay (1855)
  • Fu Shan
  • Tung O Ancient Trail
  • Leung Uk, a village in the vicinity of Tai O

References

Further reading

  • Liu Tik-sang, Siu-woo Cheung, Tai O; Study of Local History, No. 2. Hong Kong: Joint Publishing Company Ltd., 2006.
  • Page on Tai O by The Economist
  • History of the Salt Industry and Tai O
  • Boat anchorage
  • "Review of Egretries in Hong Kong", in Hong Kong Biodiversity, Issue No. 14 March 2007, pp. 1–6.
  • Delineation of area of existing village Kat Hing Back Street (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
  • Delineation of area of existing village Kat Hing Street (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
  • Delineation of area of existing village Nam Tong Sun Tsuen (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
  • Delineation of area of existing village Shek Tsai Po (East) (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
  • Delineation of area of existing village Shek Tsai Po (West) (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
  • Delineation of area of existing village Tai O Country Side (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
  • Delineation of area of existing village Tai O Market Street (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
  • Delineation of area of existing village Tai O Tai Ping Street (I) (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
  • Delineation of area of existing village Tai O Tai Ping Street (II) (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
  • Delineation of area of existing village Tai O Wing On Street (I) (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
  • Delineation of area of existing village Tai O Wing On Street (II) (Tai O) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)