Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Ma Wan 1868

Ma Wan was once a quiet island just off Lantau where fishing was the main deal. That all changed when the new airport was built and as part of the transport infrastructure to serve it, a huge suspension bridge crossed here.
Hundreds of villagers were resettled out of their original homes in 1997 to make way for a private developer to build a tourism and cultural facility. That plan stalled for over 20 years but finally opened in March 2025, turning the former village buildings into a Disneyland-like theme park with a new coat of colourful paint.
I walked into the site along Fong Yuen Road to find the Ma Wan Heritage Centre. This was previously a study hall that was established in 1956 and now houses artifacts from archaeological excavations during the 1990s.

Ruins of a lime kiln from the Tang Dynasty as well as a brick kiln from the more recent Qing Dynasty were found.

After a short visit, I continued downhill along the path towards the sea. Soon, I could spot the repainted houses in all sorts of bright colours. Only a small number were open with shops and a large number of buildings were closed.

Tables and chairs have been set up along the waterfront to enjoy the bridge and sea views. There is a very small beach but I don't think these waters are swimmable.

The key feature around the former village is the huge mural decor on many buildings.

Inside the protected bay, they built a nice step-sloping area where you can sit down and enjoy the view. There are a small handful of fishing boats here, a far cry from what this fishing village used to be. Those residents have now moved to newer lowrise homes uphill.

There is a stone tablet with the inscription "Kowloon Customs" just behind a row of houses. It dates from the Qing Dynasty and is believed to mark the boundaries of customs stations, overseeing trade and collecting taxes on goods passing through. This spot used to be the Kap Shui Mun Customs House, which was established in the 1860s and 70s to control opium smuggling. It eventually closed in 1898.


Ma Wan was once a quiet island just off Lantau where fishing was the main deal. That all changed when the new airport was built and as part of the transport infrastructure to serve it, a huge suspension bridge crossed here. Hundreds of villagers were resettled out of their original homes in 1997 to make way for a private developer to build a tourism and cultural facility. That plan stalled for over 20 years but finally opened in March 2025, turning the former village buildings into a Disneyland-like theme park with a new coat of colourful paint. I walked into the site along Fong Yuen Road to find the Ma Wan Heritage Centre. This was previously a study hall that was established in 1956 and now houses artifacts from archaeological excavations during the 1990s. Ruins of a lime kiln from the Tang Dynasty as well as a brick kiln from the more recent Qing Dynasty were found. After a short visit, I continued downhill along the path towards the sea. Soon, I could spot the repainted houses in all sorts of bright colours. Only a small number were open with shops and a large number of buildings were closed. Tables and chairs have been set up along the waterfront to enjoy the bridge and sea views. There is a very small beach but I don't think these waters are swimmable. The key feature around the former village is the huge mural decor on many buildings. Inside the protected bay, they built a nice step-sloping area where you can sit down and enjoy the view. There are a small handful of fishing boats here, a far cry from what this fishing village used to be. Those residents have now moved to newer lowrise homes uphill. There is a stone tablet with the inscription "Kowloon Customs" just behind a row of houses. It dates from the Qing Dynasty and is believed to mark the boundaries of customs stations, overseeing trade and collecting taxes on goods passing through. This spot used to be the Kap Shui Mun Customs House, which was established in the 1860s and 70s to control opium smuggling. It eventually closed in 1898.

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