Skating Yuen Long's Industrial Area

If it weren't for us shipping our rollerblades back to Hong Kong, we would have never really taken it upon us to explore the Tung Tau Industrial area of Yuen Long.  Over the weekend, we went to the OTHER SIDE of the Long Ping MTR Station and took to one of the biking lanes around that area.

There are a lot of big industrial buildings in the Tung Tau Industrial Area, like the San Miguel Brewery.

I wonder if they give tours.

That's what my father would probably be saying.

Actually, when we used to take road trips over summer holidays, we used to all get in to the van and look out for tourist attraction signs.  I remember discovering the Jelly Belly Factory tour down in California that way.

A Bus Barn

A Beverage Building

Because it was the weekend, there was absolutely no traffic and no people around the Industrial area…apart from a few weekend workers who were smoking outside.  But, there were no bikers on the trails, which was awesome because we had the trails to ourselves.

Though the roads are a bit covered in debris and are bumpy in a few areas, it was a pretty all right ride. It was at quite a slow pace because we had to watch out for the debris.  But, along the way, there are quite a few interesting things to see.  So, quite a scenic route.

A Shrine at the Side of the Parking Lot

Parked Semi-s

A Roof Top Garden

The Tung Tau Industrial Area is a ways away from the core of the town, but some of the street signs we passed were Wang Lee Street and Wang Lok Street.  They are easily viewable on Google Maps!  These routes went pretty straight for a few blocks before intersecting with another street or dead ending.

Main Road Back to the Long Ping MTR Station

On the way back to the Long Ping MTR Station, there is a village that separates the Tung Tau Industrial Area from the main part of Yuen Long.  It's a good landmark for getting your bearings back to the MTR Station.

NOTE:  This area goes from sidewalk to really cracked up biking trails.  It's probably the area that we had to be the most careful of not tripping over concrete.

The Yuen Long "River" is also down along this street back to the Long Ping MTR Station.  We crossed over to skate around that area and check out if there were good biking trails to skate on.

Like most of the trails around here, they are pretty choppy, so you have to really take the time to wander around and see where they lead to.

It was a good morning's exploration.

Illegally Riding in the Waterway

Overall Thoughts:

1.  The Industrial Area doesn't make for a great skate if you like going faster than walking pace

2.  There is some debris and cracks along the biking paths

3.  The trail isn't so continuous, so you would have to skate on the roads or sidewalks

4.  It was a good workout

5.  It was interesting to see what the Industrial Area was about

Th Long Ping Estate

Afterwards, we headed over to the Yuen Long West Bus Terminus for some good ole congee and rice rolls.  This is the same place that has a dai pai dong in the evenings.

The menu is basic, cheap, and cheerful.

The atmosphere is cool and quiet.

The rice rolls are pretty good…especially when doused in soy sauce and other condiments.

The congee fills the stomach to satisfaction.

It's always fun to treat yourself to a fun meal after a morning's exercise.

Biking Yuen Long #2

When most people think of Hong Kong, they see Victoria Harbour and all those beautiful skyscrapers that line it.  I wanted to share some of the New Territories with you all.

The New Territories is where I live.  It's quite a train ride out of the heart of the city, but it is so spacious and luscious with greenery.

I thought it would be nice to share a bit of what we saw whilst riding around on our bikes.  

***Wonderful Finds Along Our Bike Ride***

1.  I love how people reuse materials out here.  Below, there is a huge complex that was reconstructed out of freight boxes.

2.  Along the hillsides, you can see that there are some burial grounds resting in the sunshine.

3.  Here is a lovely monument to the red and green taxis.

4.  Below, another beautiful example of reusing materials.  Who knew rust could be so unbelievably lovely!

5.  Out in the New Territories, there are still a lot of villages that are intact.  Finding them so remote is amazing.  

6.  The ride out here makes me feel like I'm not really in Hong Kong anymore.  It could be the village houses?  It could be the fact that everyone drives here?  It could be the telephone polls, which I FEEL ARE SO RARE to see these days?

7.  Lastly, we spotted a clay pig at someone's driveway.  I wondered if it was a feng shui thing.

Most of the outskirts of the Yuen Long area are industrial spaces.  There are a lot of villages out here as well, but most places seem to be construction machinery places, auto part places, and the like.  It's really interesting to see a different part of Hong Kong.

Temple Under a Big Tree

Have you ever biked out along a road, not knowing where you were going, but suddenly discover something so awesome and amazing?

That's what happened this week.  

My husband and I were out biking around Yuen Long.  We were riding along the road and discovered the Temple Under a Big Tree (Tai Shue Ha Tin Hau Temple a.k.a. 百年榕樹護蔭).

The temple can be found along Tai Shu Ha Road East.  

It's a fully functioning Tin Hau Temple.  Fun Fact:  Hong Kong, an incredibly long time ago, used to be comprised of fishing villages.  Because most families made their livelihoods fishing, they prayed to the goddess of the seas, Tin Hau, for protection.

The temple was named as such because of the huge banyan tree that sits in the courtyard.  There is a lovely rest area that runs long the base of the tree.  It's a beautiful place to sit, reflect, and people watch.

Fun Fact:  This basin (pictured below) can be found along the fence that blocks off the banyan tree.  The sign above the basin read:  Turn Your Luck Around Wash.  Supposedly, if you rub both sides of the basin with your hands, then splash some water on hands, then you will have good luck.

Reading up on this place online, the suggested way to reach this temple is by catching mini bus 73 from Tai Tong Road (which is in the middle of Yuen Long town).

Riding away from this temple that afternoon was sort of bittersweet.  It's like a mirage in a desert.  It just sprang up on us and it was truly a lovely surprise.  I wonder if I'll ever happen upon it again.

I really love finding Tin Hau temples around this City.  There are said to be over 100 temples dotted along different districts.  I'm glad to have been to some really touristy ones as well as some really local ones (like those of Yuen Long area).

Biking Yuen Long - Tuen Mun

Awhile ago, I mentioned that Yuen Long was THE PLACE for bike riding because there are loads of trails that lead to other places in the New Territories.  The trails go through old villages, past places like The Wetland Park, and runs along rivers, the Light Rail, and industrial areas...it's a great way to explore the New Territories (West Side).

Because the weather is getting cooler, I asked my friend to go on a bike ride with me.  I thought I would go along the Light Rail from the Shui Pin Wai stop towards the general direction of Tuen Mun.  

If you don't have a bike, there are various places in Yuen Long to rent a bike.  We rented bikes right under Long Ping MTR Station.  They were $50 HKD for the day and we just had to return the bikes by 8pm.  We also got a complimentary bottle of water for our ride.

A safe ride out, in my opinion, is to follow the Light Rail.  

The bike path is as smooth as it can be.  I tried skateboarding out here and it wasn't the most pleasant, but there were smooth patches along the way.  The bike paths were quite free from bike traffic, which made it great for us.  We took our time and snapped a few shots of "Yuen Long - Tuen Mun 2014".

"Yuen Long - Tuen Mun 2014"??

Explanation:  I always get sentimental over the changes in life.  A lot of the time, I see old photographs of Hong Kong and am just in awe at how much changed.  Anyhow, today was one of those days when I felt like being one of those people to capture Yuen Long - Tuen Mun in the late summer/early autumn of 2014.

Stream near Hung Sui Kiu

Cool paintings along the path

Bike shop

An abandoned building along the path

The Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery

The NEW Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery right next to the old building

Our bike ride ended at the Monastery.  It was a good two hours out though.  I think, my next bike riding destination will be out to The Wetland Park.  That ride is smoother and also ends in an air-conditioned "Park".