Walled village in Hong Kong
Village in Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
Wing Lung Wai (Chinese: 永隆圍; lit. 'Perpetuating Prosperity') is a walled village located in the Kam Tin area of Yuen Long District, in Hong Kong. Three other walled villages, Kat Hing Wai, Tai Hong Wai, and Kam Hing Wai are located nearby and were built around the same time.[1]
History
The village was founded by Tang Siu-kui (鄧紹舉) and his clansmen in the Chenghua reign (1465-1487) of the Ming dynasty. The village was earlier called Sha Lan Mei (沙欄尾) or Wing Lung Wai (永龍圍; 'Everlasting Dragon'). The name was changed into the present name in 1905.[3]
The enclosing wall was built in the Kangxi reign (1661-1722) of the Qing dynasty to safeguard the village from bandits, privates and other enemies. The entrance gate, originally located at the front wall of the village, on its central axis, was later relocated to the south due to feng shui reasons, after establishment of the nearby the walled village Tai Hong Wai. The moat was reclaimed in the 1960s.[3]
Features
In the Chung Shing Temple (眾聖宮; 'Temple of All Saints'), the village shrine, eleven deities are worshiped, including Kwun Yam, Hung Shing and Che Kung.[4]
Kang Sam Tong (耕心堂) was built in Wing Lung Wai in the 1880s. It is an ancestral hall, and it also served as a study hall until 1926.[5]
Although the former watchtowers no longer exist, the northeast watchtower has some base structure left.[3]
Conservation
The entrance gate of Wing Lung Wai is a Grade II historic building. The Chung Shing Temple and the Kang Sam Tong are both Grade III historic buildings.[6]
