Yuen Long

Introduction

Yuen Long is a town in the western northern New Territories of Hong Kong. Its neighbours shape the character of the area: to the west lie Hung Shui Kiu, Tin Shui Wai, Lau Fau Shan and Ha Tsuen; to the south, Shap Pat Heung and Tai Tong; to the east, Au Tau and Kam Tin; and to the north, Nam Sang Wai.

Three days in Yuen Long

Day one: Start in Yuen Long proper, the market town at the heart of this part of the New Territories, and give yourself time to wander its streets and covered markets before heading out. From there you can loop through Ha Tsuen and Shap Pat Heung, two of the older settled areas that make up the wider Yuen Long district, then continue to Au Tau. Finish the day at Kam Tin, where the walled village and its surrounding lanes reward a slow walk.

Day two: Head west toward Lau Fau Shan on the coast, a fishing settlement known for its seafood and its views across the water toward the mainland. On the way back, stop at Hung Shui Kiu, a busy transport and industrial node, and then at Tin Shui Wai, a dense new town that feels a world apart from the older villages. If time allows, detour to Nam Sang Wai, where the wetland and river channels make for an easy, flat walk.

Day three: Spend the morning in Tai Tong, the wooded hill country south of the town, following its walking trails and taking in the views over the district. Return to Yuen Long for a final meal, then use the town as your base for the onward trip back into Hong Kong. Three days is enough to see how Yuen Long works as both a market town and a gateway to the villages, wetlands and hills of the northwestern New Territories.