1. The History
Little information about this place on the web. The Chinese characters above the entrance gates and arches translate loosely as "The Bamboo Garden". The ensemble of buildings are most likely to be a "Klan" complex. In the past extended families in HK were like mini-tribes and they often lived together in one community. The village of Ma Wat Wai where this place is situated itself was established by the Tang Klan during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing dynasty. In the 1970s and 1980s there was a great deal of mass-migration from HK to the UK and Canada. Hence it is likely the klan may have decided start a new life abroad so the centre was no longer needed so they locked the place up and left it. That said some of the buildings look like they have been in use in recent years. Done a search and they are not listed.
2. The Explore
This was a bit of a stealth explore at the end of a long day when the light was fading. Came here in the past and the buildings were all locked up. To my delight this time the main hall door was wide open so it was definitely worth the revisit. Nothing seems to have changed since I was here a couple of year’s ago apart from the increasing creep of the undergrowth.
3. The Pictures
Hello again old friend:
img1997
Presumably that is the ‘fire escape’ bridge:
img2020
The courtyard has a few more weeds:
img1998
img2000
And the garden has gone to pot:
img2001
But the broom is still there;
img2003
Most importantly – this door is now open:
img1999
img2018
This main hall will have to wait for another day:
img2002
So in we go. This bit looks a bit like a school:
img2009
And these look like some sort of educational texts:
img2008
Here’s a dusty Technics organ. Wonder if it still works:
img2014
Up-stairs is what appears to be a place of worship:
img2010
Nice view over the main hall:
img2011
OK, there goes the light. That’s it for this time:
img2017
Little information about this place on the web. The Chinese characters above the entrance gates and arches translate loosely as "The Bamboo Garden". The ensemble of buildings are most likely to be a "Klan" complex. In the past extended families in HK were like mini-tribes and they often lived together in one community. The village of Ma Wat Wai where this place is situated itself was established by the Tang Klan during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing dynasty. In the 1970s and 1980s there was a great deal of mass-migration from HK to the UK and Canada. Hence it is likely the klan may have decided start a new life abroad so the centre was no longer needed so they locked the place up and left it. That said some of the buildings look like they have been in use in recent years. Done a search and they are not listed.
2. The Explore
This was a bit of a stealth explore at the end of a long day when the light was fading. Came here in the past and the buildings were all locked up. To my delight this time the main hall door was wide open so it was definitely worth the revisit. Nothing seems to have changed since I was here a couple of year’s ago apart from the increasing creep of the undergrowth.
3. The Pictures
Hello again old friend:
Presumably that is the ‘fire escape’ bridge:
The courtyard has a few more weeds:
And the garden has gone to pot:
But the broom is still there;
Most importantly – this door is now open:
This main hall will have to wait for another day:
So in we go. This bit looks a bit like a school:
And these look like some sort of educational texts:
Here’s a dusty Technics organ. Wonder if it still works:
Up-stairs is what appears to be a place of worship:
Nice view over the main hall:
OK, there goes the light. That’s it for this time:
