Tai O 大澳 | |
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Village | |
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 Location of Tai O within Hong Kong | |
| Coordinates:22°15′16″N113°51′51″E / 22.2544°N 113.8642°E /22.2544; 113.8642 | |
| Country | China |
| Region | Hong Kong |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 1,200 (approx) |
| Tai O | |||||||||||||
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| Chinese | 大澳 | ||||||||||||
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Tai O (Chinese:大澳;Jyutping:daai6 ou3;Cantonese Yale:Daaih’Ou) is afishing town, partly located on an island of the same name, on the western side ofLantau Island in Hong Kong. The village name meanslargeinlet, referring tooutlet for the waterways (Tai O Creek and Tai O River) merges as it moves through Tai O.
On the southwest part ofLantau Island, Tai O River splits to the north (as Tai O Creek) and west and at this fork lies the island referred to as Tai O. Two pedestrian bridges cross the river on its northern and western forks. The village is located mostly on the banks of theriver. The western and northern parts of the island facing theSouth China Sea are uninhabited.
Nearby archaeological sites date back to theStone Age, but permanent, and verifiable,human settlement here is only three centuries old. Stories that would be impossible to substantiate have Tai O as the base of manysmuggling andpiracy operations, the inlets of the river providing excellent protection from the weather and a hiding place. In early 16th century, Tai O was once occupied shortly byPortuguese during theBattle of Tamão, the remains is known as Fan Kwai Tong (番鬼塘, "Foreign devil pond") today.
Tai O is one of five villages of Lantau that were resettled when the coastal restriction of theGreat Clearance was lifted in 1669. The other villages areTung Sai Chung,Lo Pui O,Shek Pik andMui Wo.[1]
At nearbyFan Lau,a fort was built in 1729 to protect shipping on thePearl River. Smuggling of guns, tobacco, drugs andpeople remains a documented illegal activity both into and out ofmainland China.
When theBritish came to Hong Kong, Tai O was known as aTanka village. TheBattle of Ty-ho Bay, a naval engagement fought in 1855, involved British and United States naval forces in a joint operation against Chinese pirates.
At the time of the 1911 census, the population of Shek Tsai Po of Tai O was 118; the number of males was 71. The population of Tai O, both land and boat based, was 7,661; the number of males was 4,318.[2]
During and after theChinese Civil War, Tai O became a primary entrypoint forillegal immigration for those escaping from the People's Republic of China. Some of these immigrants, mostlyCantonese, stayed in Tai O, and Tai O attracted people from other Hong Kong ethnic groups, includingHoklo (Hokkien) andHakka.
Tai O has a history ofsalt production. In 1940, it was recorded that the Tai Osalt marshes were covering 70 acres (28 ha) and that the production has amounted to 25,000piculs (1,512metric tons) in 1938.[3]
Currently the fishing lifestyle is dying out. While many residents continue to fish, it barely provides a subsistence income. There is a public school on the island and most young people move away when they come of age. In 2000, a large fire broke out destroying many residences.[4] The village is now mostly squatters huts and dilapidated stilt houses.
Graded buildings in Tai O include:[5]
Other historical buildings include:[5]
Also known as the "Venice of Hong Kong", Tai O is a tourist spot for both foreigners and residents of other parts of Hong Kong, despite damage by a fire in July 2000.[4] Thepang uks, a kind ofstilt house, built right over the waterway are still quite scenic. Acable ferry tended by local women used to be quite popular with visitors, but it was replaced with a steel pedestrian bridge in October 1996.[9]
The traditionalsalted fish andshrimp paste are sold at storefronts in Tai O. For a small fee, some residents will take tourists out on their boats along the river and for short jaunts into the sea. Many tourists come to Tai O specifically to take these trips to seeChinese white dolphins, also known as "Pink Dolphins". It is also a good place to see the sunset.
Old Tai O Police Station, a Grade II historic building, has been turned into a boutique hotel calledTai O Heritage Hotel by Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation. The hotel has nine rooms and a restaurant. The hotel has been open and operational since 2012.[10]
Tai O Rural Committee Historic and Cultural Showroom, located within the centuries-old fishing village of Tai O, exhibits relics of the local community's past, including fishing tools and dismantled old structures. The showroom was founded by the Tai O Rural Committee and all the items in its collection were donated by local residents.
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There are two kindergartens, one primary school and one secondary school. They areChurch of Christ in China (CCC) Tai O Primary School (中華基督教會大澳小學) andBuddhist Fat Ho Memorial College.
Most of Lantau Island, Tai O included, is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 98, which contains multiple aided schools on Lantau Island, including CCC Tai O Primary School; no government primary schools are in this net.[11]
Hong Kong Public Libraries operates Tai O Public Library.[12]
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Tai O can be reached by bus (New Lantau Bus) from the following places:
There are ferry piers on Tai O, close to Tai O Bus Terminus. It operates daily as the following routes connecting Tai O:
A 1998 Hong Kong dramaA Place of One's Own byTVB starringAdia Chan andMariane Chan is set in Tai O.
A 2021 Hong Kong dramaOssan's Love byViuTV starringEdan Lui andAnson Lo is set in Tai O.[14]
