Tai Long Wan (Sai Kung District)

Tai Long Wan (Chinese: 大浪灣; lit.: 'Big Wave Bay')[1] is a 3 kilometer-wide bay on the east coast of the Sai Kung Peninsula in Sai Kung District, Hong Kong.[2] Considered one of the most beautiful places in Hong Kong, it is a popular surf destination.

For other places with the same name in Hong Kong, see Tai Long Wan.
View of Tai Long Wan and Sharp Peak (centre left). The beach in the foreground is Ham Tin Wan. Further beaches beyond the small peninsula are Tai Wan and Tung Wan.
Cafes at Ham Tin Wan.
Tai Chau and Tsim Chau islets in Tai Long Wan.
Tai Wai (大圍) section of Tai Long Tsuen.
Immaculate Conception Chapel in Tai Long Tsuen.

Geography

There are four main beaches along the bay:

  • Sai Wan (西灣; 'West Bay'), also informally called Tai Long Sai Wan
  • Ham Tin Wan (鹹田灣; 'Salty Field Bay')
  • Tai Wan (大灣; 'Big Bay')
  • Tung Wan (東灣; 'East Bay')

The beaches are not gazetted and do not offer lifeguard services or shark nets that are common elsewhere in Hong Kong.

Three tiny islands, Tsim Chau (尖洲), Tai Chau (大洲) and Lan Tau Pai (爛頭排), sit picturesquely near the centre of the bay.

History

Artifacts of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages were found in the archaeological site at Ham Tin.[2] Tai Long Tsuen (大浪村), a village near Ham Tin Wan, was established over 250 years ago.[3]

Villages

There are several small villages in the area, including:

  • Tai Long Tsuen (大浪村), the oldest one, the largest in scale
  • Ham Tin Tsuen (鹹田村)
  • Lam Uk Wai (林屋圍)
  • Cheung Uk Wai (張屋圍)
  • Tai Wan Tsuen (大灣村)

The latter three have become ruins.[3]

Geology

Columnar-jointed volcanic rocks characterize the coastline in the south of Tai Long Wan, formed by the cooling and contraction of hot ash during the volcanic eruption in Cretaceous Period. Cliffs in Tai Long Wan are formed in the columnar-joint fine-grained tuffs. These give rise to high, steep cliffs that are commonly penetrated by sea caves and natural sea arches.

Conservation

Tai Long Wan is located within the Sai Kung East Country Park.[4] It was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1979.[2][5] It also forms an important part of Hong Kong Global Geopark, High Island volcanic rock region.

The Immaculate Conception Chapel in Tai Long Tsuen has been listed as a Grade III historic building.[6]

Access

Section 2 of the Maclehose Trail, one of the most popular hiking trails in Hong Kong, runs through impressive peaks, uplands, peninsulas and bays around Tai Long Wan.

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See also

References
  1. Hong Kong Outdoors: Big Wave Bay
  2. RTHK: The Miracles of the Ocean – Tai Long Wan (Big Wave Bay), Sai Kung
  3. Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal: Tai Long Tsuen, Sai Kung
  4. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: Sai Kung East Country Park
  5. WWF HK Factsheet No. 16 Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Hong Kong
  6. Antiquities Advisory Board. List of the 1,444 Historic Buildings with Assessment Results

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