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Sha Tin
is a booming new town, and a witness to Hong Kong's urban development.
Lion Rock and Amah Rock, towering above the city centre, stand majestically
like two guarding angels.
As the name implies,
Lion Rock is a mountain whose large weathered rocks at the summit look
uncannily like the face of a lion, casting his regal eye over Kowloon.
On the lower slopes of the same mountain Amah Rock, also a composition
of weathered rocks, resembles a woman with a child on her back. Looking
down towards the open sea, she waits eagerly for the return of her husband.
 Che
Kung Miu is one of several famous temples in Sha Tin. Che Kung was a well
respected general in the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279). A courageous warrior,
he led his troops to settle riots in Southern China, and earned a great
following. When a plague broke out at Sha Tin in the Ming Dynasty (AD
1368-1644), villagers paraded with Che Kung's statue and the disease was
cleared miraculously. They built the Temple to thank Che Kung for saving
their lives, and it has been very popular with worshippers ever since.
On the third day of every Lunar New Year, huge crowds gather to pay homage
to the well-loved deity. Wishes are made for a prosperous new year, and
if life has been a bit bumpy there is always the Che Kung Fan wheels.
It is said that turning the wheels will remove all bad luck and change
your fate for the better.
Sha Tin offers a fine
blend of new and old. Here, ancient monuments often rub shoulders with
modern facilities. To lovers of historic and cultural legacies, the Hong
Kong Heritage Museum is not to be missed. Opened in December 2000, this
museum complex run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is
set in a traditional Chinese quadrangle - a classic building style that
nevertheless reflects modern architectural techniques, and is an epitome
of cultural prestige and advanced technology. Featuring several exhibition
halls with rural themes, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is a vivid and
dramatic interpretation of Hong Kong's exciting history, arts and culture.
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Interesting
Stories of 18 Districts
