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Pak Nai (Chinese:白泥) is awetland area, partly mud-bank, surrounded by mountain ranges, in theYuen Long District ofHong Kong facingDeep Bay (aka. Shenzhen Bay). Pak Nai makes up the coastline as Sheung Pak Nai (上白泥) and Ha Pak Nai (下白泥) geographically.
Pak Nai is famous for itsecosystem which comes with richbiodiversity, with rare species found offshore. In recent years, the public has paid concern to a controversial development proposal, which eventually was dropped under objections.
Besides its rich ecosystem, Pak Nai is known for its sunset views and historically-significant sites dating back to a couple thousand years ago.
For electoral purposes, Ha Pak Nai and Sheung Pak Nai are part of theHa Tsuen constituency.[citation needed]
Ha Pak Nai's 6-kilometer-long (3.7 mi) shoreline is wheremangroves, wetlands and mud banks are found. The mangroves in Ha Pak Nai harbour various species and are highlyconserved by environmentalists. The richbiodiversity of this area has prompted the government to designate it aSite of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).[1][2] Ha Pak Nai used to be anoyster bed, thus, There are still remains of oyster shells all over themudflat.[3]
Some species ofcrabs such asPerisesarma bidens,Ilyoplax tansuiensis,Uca arcuata andSesarma sinensis are commonly found in the offshoremud flat.[4]
Among all thecrabs found in the Ha Pak Nai area, thehorseshoe crab is one of the most highly conserved species.[citation needed] Horseshoe crabs originate from 450 million years ago and are called "living fossils". Because of thecopper in theirblood, which can be extracted to be applied in detectingbacteria, horseshoe crabs are highly valued in medicine.[5]
There are two major relics and one historical site found around the Pak Nai area, which are thesand dunes of the Chen's homeland, Wu's homeland and a fortified structure. TheAntiquities and Monuments Office found the Chen's relic in May, 1997, featuring a one-meter-high (3.3 ft) sand dune containing two culture levels.[6][7] The excavation team found 4postholes, 9 stone stoves, 3kilns and 1grave which it was the first time for Hong Kong excavating sun and moon utensils.[6] The Wu's relic was found in September, 1997 by the same excavation team. They found culture levels in three time periods, having rammed earth foundations, stone artifacts and more.[8]
A fortified structure at No.55 Ha Pak Nai, which is adeclared monument owing to its connection to therevolutionary movement of modern China under the leadership ofDr. Sun Yat-sen.Hsing Chung Hui (Revive China Society) members, who wereKMT, stationed at Lower Pak Nai for preparation of overturning the ruling ofQing authority and conductedbomb tests.[9] (Luo 1971:37) The structure was built by a core member of Hsing Chung Hui named Tang Yam-nam around 1910. It was the only solid evidence correlating the1911 revolution and its movement leaderSun Yat-sen and his comrades. The structure served for the surveillance across theDeep Bay coast under the Qing authority.[10]
Ha Pak Nai ("Ha" means "lower") is known as one of the best places for viewingsunset inHong Kong,[11] making it a beloved place of many photographers, tourists and dating couples.[12] The best sunset-viewing spots are the shores along Ha Pak Nai and the junction of Deep Bay Road and Nim Wan Road.[13] Nim Wan Road is a popular 5 km cycling route for locals.[4]
FormerHeung Yee Kuk chairmanLau Wong-fat applied for the development of Ha Pak Nai in 2007, but vigorous opposition led to withdrawal of the application.[14] In 2010, Lau hope to pass the assessment of theTown Planning Board by sharply reducing the scale of development and gave up building a golf course, as well as adding in more conservation features, in which thebutterfly-protection area was on the government's land instead of his, showing little commitment to conservation.[15] The Ha Pak Nai village representative complained that poor transportation arrangements ought to be fatal to the plan.[16] The government has already built facilities to introduce the fortified structure's information.[17]
In 2009 aShenzhen official noted that the construction of the Western Express Line, a proposed railway linking the Hong Kong and Shenzhen airports, might stop in Sheung Pak Nai.[18] However, the proposal has been shelved as a consultant hired by the Transport and Housing Bureau found that the line would cost "well in excess" of HK$110 billion and had poor financial viability and poor market demand.[19]
Located in the very west ofNew Territories, Pak Nai can be reached byminibus ortaxi. Minibus number 33, from Tai Fung Street in the center ofYuen Long, drops off at Pak Nai, beside the mud-bank.[20][21]
22°26′14″N113°56′54″E / 22.4371°N 113.9483°E /22.4371; 113.9483