Kam Tin


Kam Tin, or Kam Tin Heung, is an area in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It lies on a flat alluvial plain north of Tai Mo Shan mountain and east of Yuen Long town. It was formerly known as Sham Tin. Administratively, it is part of Yuen Long District.
Many of Kam Tin's residents are from the Tang Clan, who are of the Punti culture, not Hakka as is often misattributed.

History

Kam Tin is the origin of the biggest indigenous Tang Clan in Hong Kong. The ancestor of indigenous Tang, Tang Hon Fat settled his family from Jiangxi to Sham Tin in 973.
During the reign of Wanli Emperor of Ming Dynasty, Sham Tin was renamed Kam Tin.

Features

, is the most famous walled settlement located in Kam Tin. It is a compact village consisting mainly of narrow row-houses and temples separated by small winding alleys. The wall was erected to fend off pirates and bandits who were common in the area in the last millennium. It was the site of a rebellion against British rule in 1899.
There is also the Yi Tai study hall in Kam Tin. It was built by the Tangs for the local students to study for the Chinese civil servants qualifications. It also houses a temple to the god of study, Man Cheung.

Transportation

Kam Tin is served by the Kam Sheung Road Station of the MTR.