Ma Wan Chung is a close-knit fishing village that is on the coast of Tung Chung Bay. It takes less than 10 minutes to walk there from Yat Tung Estate in Tung Chung.
With a history of more than 1,000 years, this small village shows Hong Kong’s heritage. It is known for colourful murals and traditional stilt houses.
Carol Ho is a 24-year-old geologist. She is one of 15 youth ambassadors serving as tour guides under a project called Connect Ma Wan Chung. The project hopes to introduce the village’s stories and heritage to the public.
“I wanted to share these wonderful things with more people,” Ho said.
“In the city, you rarely see people stop to greet each other and have a chat. But in Ma Wan Chung, you’ll see villagers greeting the shop owner as they pass by the local store and chatting for a few moments. To me, the whole scene feels very loving and full of human warmth.”
A small community
Connect Ma Wan Chung is organised by the Hong Kong Community Heritage Foundation. The project is looking at the area’s history and ecology, and it is working with residents to explore conservation and sustainable tourism. Besides the 15 ambassadors, it has also brought in 10 young people to be tourism innovation researchers.
Ng, who asked to share only his surname, grew up in Tung Chung. Now, he owns a drinks store in Ma Wan Chung. He explained why this village is unique.
“Ma Wan Chung is one of the few relatively well-preserved small fishing villages. This village is special because fishermen have long been an important part of it,” the 37-year-old said.
“Even now, if you look beside the pier under the bridge, you can still see boats docked there. There’s even a boatyard, and an old man is still working there.”
Ng shared that many of his fond childhood memories are tied to this small village.
“This village was very beautiful. We used to swim here. Even now, some uncles and aunties still go swimming here,” Ng said. “We used to be ... running all over the hills.”
Planning for the future
Ng has lived in this area for his whole life, so he has seen how development affects residents. He explained the recent impact of the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and Tung Chung Promenade.
“When this bridge and the promenade opened, they didn’t consider the impact. I wouldn’t just say it’s over capacity; the usage rate is significantly higher than before,” Ng said. “These are actually pedestrian walkways, but many people assume they are cycling paths. It’s quite dangerous because there are many elderly people here.”
When the MTR’s Tung Chung line adds two more stations, Ng thinks there might be even more problems.
Paul Chan Chi-chuen is in charge of Connect Ma Wan Chung. He said it would be important for the village to prepare in case there are more tourists.
“As the MTR expands, this area’s tourism potential will grow,” he said. “That’s why we believe we have to plan ahead to help Ma Wan Chung maintain its original character and a vibrant community.”
The project uses technology to show the area’s cultural heritage and stories.
“Visitors can use our website to discover local history, hear villagers’ stories and explore coastal ecology and cultural sites,” Chan said.
“This interactive map isn’t just an information platform, but also a chance for co-creation. It brings together villagers, tourists and youth ambassadors to share experiences.”
