Tai Po
Introduction
Tai Po is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong, and the name can mean different things depending on how you use it. It may refer to the vicinity of the traditional market towns, to the Tai Po New Town, or to the entire Tai Po District.
The older settlement grew around two market towns on either side of the Lam Tsuen River: Tai Po Old Market, also known as Tai Po Kau Hui, to the north, and Tai Po Hui on Fu Shin Street to the south, near the old Tai Po Market railway station of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. Both became part of the Tai Po New Town in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Getting around
Tai Po is compact and well connected, with the waterfront, parks and older streets all within easy reach of one another. The town grew around two historic market settlements on either side of the Lam Tsuen River, and because the new town was planned to interact with the existing market area, the main stops and interchanges sit close to the older streets, so you rarely need to travel far to switch between modes. Central Tai Po is quite walkable, and many everyday needs, from shops to the public library in the Tai Po Complex, are within a comfortable stroll of the main transport stops. Beyond the town centre, though, the district stretches toward Lam Tsuen Valley and the coast, so you will want a bus, minibus or taxi rather than relying on foot alone. Rail is the fastest way to reach the city centre: Tai Po sits on the heavy-rail line running through the New Territories, with a station serving the town, and that line links into the MTR so you can ride out to most parts of Hong Kong without leaving the paid area. Note that Hong Kong's tram system is a Hong Kong Island feature and does not extend here. Buses are the workhorse of the town, run by operators including Citybus, Kowloon Motor Bus and Long Win Bus, with green minibuses filling in the smaller streets and villages; key corridors include Ting Kok Road, San Wan Road, Pak Wo Road, Lam Kam Road and the Lung Yeuk Tau section of Sha Tau Kok Road. Ferries operate in the area for the harbour and nearby islands, and taxis can be hailed on the street or picked up at ranks. Pay for nearly everything with the stored-value smart card used across Hong Kong, tapped on and off as you board and alight; cash is accepted on many buses but exact fare is expected, so keeping the card topped up saves fumbling. Arriving from the airport, take the airport rail service into the city and change onto the New Territories line, or opt for a taxi, ride-hailing car or slower airport bus.Three days in Tai Po
Day one: Base yourself in Tai Po, a district in the New Territories of Hong Kong, and start in Central Tai Po, the heart of Tai Po New Town. Wander Fu Shin Street and the surrounding streets of Tai Po Old Market, also known as Tai Po Kau Hui or Tai Po Hui, where the Lam Tsuen River runs through the market area. Tai Po Market is the name you will see on the MTR and on the old Canton Railway line, so it is an easy arrival point from Kowloon or Hong Kong Island. Both the MTR and buses serve the town, with Citybus, Kowloon Motor Bus and Long Win Bus routes running along Ting Kok Road, San Wan Road, Pak Wo Road and Lam Kam Road.
Day two: Head beyond the town into the Lam Tsuen Valley along Lam Kam Road, following the Lam Tsuen River upstream. Rail is not the only option here; buses and ferries connect different parts of the district, and you can pay as you go on the MTR or on the buses. Note that Tai Po Complex and the streets around Central Tai Po make a convenient starting point before you set off. If you prefer to stay closer to town, explore the older lanes of Tai Po Hui and Tai Po Old Market on foot.
Day three: Travel north towards Lung Yeuk Tau along Sha Tau Kok Road, or follow Ting Kok Road towards the waterfront. Arriving by MTR at Tai Po Market puts you within reach of the Lam Tsuen River and the market streets, while buses along San Wan Road and Pak Wo Road link the new town with the older settlements. It is a district where the New Territories feel close at hand, with the river, the market and the valley all within a short ride of each other.