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Ma On Shan (area)
Encyclopedia
Ma On Shan is a new town
along the eastern coast of Tolo Harbour
in the New Territories
of Hong Kong
. Although it was initially an extension of Sha Tin New Town
, it has been designed to have its own town centre
and is now classified as a separate new town in government reports. Administratively, it belongs to Sha Tin District
.
, which can be translated as "horse saddle mountain". The town is built on the strip between Tolo Harbour and Ma On Shan mountain. The north end of the town reaches the settlement of Wu Kai Sha
and the southern Tai Shui Hang.
development. The quarrying workers spoke a language which is a combination of various languages in Southern China
.
Development of public housing estates
commenced in the mid 1980s, with Heng On Estate completed in 1987, followed by Chevalier Garden in 1988. The Ma On Shan Line of the MTR
was opened in 2004.
. Connecting to Sunshine City Plaza are two other major shopping centres; Ma On Shan Plaza
and Sunshine Bazaar.
next to it, has been the symbol of the Ma On Shan Plaza.
, K-Swiss
, Adidas
, Giordano, and over fifty other shops, mostly specialising in women's fashion. Sunshine City Plaza also boasts a large 'Citistore' department store which sells many things: clothes, mattresses, beds, toys, electrical appliances, baggages and more.
Numerous restaurants abound in the plaza and as well as local Cantonese favourites; you will find McDonald's
and KFC
outlets as well as a Cafe de Coral
. A large "Wellcome
" supermarket is present as is a pharmacy, cosmetics shop, hairdressers and tea houses, bakeries, shoe-shops, sweet shops, book shops and a classic favourites, two HK "$10" shops.
The Ma On Shan Sports Ground
opens all week. Badminton courts and table-tennis tables abound, and the cost of a badminton court for one hour is around HK$
60. Students, however, receive a discount, and can book any facility for half-price, upon proof of their student status.
Near the sports centre is the Ma On Shan Public Swimming Pool. Adjacent to the pool is the 'SA Poolside Cafe', a cafe run by the Salvation Army, in which young disabled men and women have the opportunity to undertake training and work in the cafe. Supervised by an experienced team, the majority of the cafe's profits go towards the Salvation Army, and despite what one may be inclined to think, the food is excellent and cheap. The Public Library is near the Sports Centre and Swimming Pool, and there are free internet service and word-processing facilities.
The Ma On Shan Public Library
, completed in the 2000s, provides an alternative location for reading and research to the Sha Tin Public Library
.
, buses
and public light bus
es.
Taxis
: Ma On Shan is served by both green taxis (New Territories
taxis) and red taxis (Urban taxis).
The Ma On Shan Line of the MTR
was opened on December 21, 2004, and connects to the East Rail Line at Tai Wai Station. The stations of the Ma On Shan Line are:
The Ma On Shan Line ends at Tai Wai, where passengers can change to East Rail Line. The stop after Tai Wai is Kowloon Tong
, where passengers can then change from East Rail Line to Kwun Tong Line.
English Castle Language School, Ma On Shan
New towns of Hong Kong
The area of Hong Kong is very mountainous and many places in the New Territories have limited access to roads. Hong Kong started developing new towns in the 1950s, to accommodate booming populations. In the early days the term "satellite towns" was used. The very first new towns included Tsuen Wan...
along the eastern coast of Tolo Harbour
Tolo Harbour
Tolo Harbour , or Tai Po Hoi is a sheltered harbour in northeast New Territories of Hong Kong.-Geography:Tide Cove aka...
in the New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Although it was initially an extension of Sha Tin New Town
Sha Tin New Town
Sha Tin New Town is one of the new towns in Hong Kong. It is within the Sha Tin District, which covers the areas of Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Fo Tan, Tai Shui Hang, Ma On Shan, etc. With development started in the 1970s, it covers an area of 35.87 square kilometres . It presently has a population over...
, it has been designed to have its own town centre
Town centre
The town centre is the term used to refer to the commercial or geographical centre or core area of a town.Town centres are traditionally associated with shopping or retail. They are also the centre of communications with major public transport hubs such as train or bus stations...
and is now classified as a separate new town in government reports. Administratively, it belongs to Sha Tin District
Sha Tin District
Sha Tin District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. One of the 9 districts located in the New Territories, it covers the areas of Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Ma On Shan, Fo Tan, Siu Lek Yuen and Ma Liu Shui . The district has the highest population...
.
Geography
Ma On Shan is located by the west face of the twin peaks of Ma On ShanMa On Shan (peak)
Ma On Shan is saddle-shaped peak in east of Tolo Harbour in the New Territories of Hong Kong. With a peak of 702 metres , it stands among the ten highest mountains in Hong Kong. The mountain borders Sha Tin and Tai Po districts....
, which can be translated as "horse saddle mountain". The town is built on the strip between Tolo Harbour and Ma On Shan mountain. The north end of the town reaches the settlement of Wu Kai Sha
Wu Kai Sha
Wu Kai Sha , formerly known as Wu Kwai Sha or U Kwai Sha , is a place at the shore of Tolo Harbour, northwest of Ma On Shan in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It is famous for a campsite, Wu Kai Sha Youth Village of YMCA. Originally there were only a few villages like Wu Kwai Sha Village. It is...
and the southern Tai Shui Hang.
History
Deep inside the slope of Ma On Shan was an iron mine. The mine was long abandoned before the more recent new townNew towns of Hong Kong
The area of Hong Kong is very mountainous and many places in the New Territories have limited access to roads. Hong Kong started developing new towns in the 1950s, to accommodate booming populations. In the early days the term "satellite towns" was used. The very first new towns included Tsuen Wan...
development. The quarrying workers spoke a language which is a combination of various languages in Southern China
Northern and southern China
Northern China and southern China are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined...
.
Development of public housing estates
Public housing estates in Ma On Shan
This is a list of public housing estates This is a list of public housing estates This is a list of public housing estates (including Home Ownership Scheme (HOS), Private Sector Participation Scheme (PSPS), Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) in Ma On Shan, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong- Overview...
commenced in the mid 1980s, with Heng On Estate completed in 1987, followed by Chevalier Garden in 1988. The Ma On Shan Line of the MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
was opened in 2004.
Shopping centres
Whilst Ma On Shan is a relatively small town in the New Territories, it is well-known by Hong Kong residents and expatriates alike. The town features a three-story shopping centre, Sunshine City PlazaSunshine City, Ma On Shan
Sunshine City is a name of a sizeable private development in the core of the town of Ma On Shan in the Sha Tin District of Hong Kong. It was developed by Henderson Land Development, and contains a series of high-rise residential tower blocks and a series of shopping arcades...
. Connecting to Sunshine City Plaza are two other major shopping centres; Ma On Shan Plaza
Ma On Shan Plaza
Ma On Shan Plaza is a shopping centre in the town centre of Ma On Shan in the Sha Tin District of Hong Kong.-Location:Ma On Shan Plaza is located on Sai Sha Road, and is connected to the Sunshine City Plaza and the Ma On Shan Station of the MTR Ma On Shan Line by footbridges...
and Sunshine Bazaar.
Ma On Shan Plaza
Ma On Shan Plaza is a shopping centre in the town centre of Ma On Shan in the Sha Tin District. It is located on Sai Sha Road, and is connected to the Sunshine City Plaza and the Ma On Shan Station of the MTR Ma On Shan Line by footbridges. It is an associated shopping centre built together with the residential estate of Bayshore Towers, developed by Cheung Kong Holdings. The shopping centre has been famous of its indoor merry-go-round for the amusement of visitors who purchase items in any shops in the shopping arcade up to a certain amount. The merry-go-round, together with the water-operated clock towerClock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
next to it, has been the symbol of the Ma On Shan Plaza.
Sunshine City Plaza
Three floors of shops mean that Sunshine City Plaza is a one-stop place to buy almost anything. The majority of shops are clothing shops, including such well-known labels as Levi's, BauhausBauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
, K-Swiss
K-Swiss
K-Swiss, Inc. is an American footwear company based in Westlake Village, California. The company designs, develops, and markets a range of athletic shoes under the K-Swiss brand.- History :...
, Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
, Giordano, and over fifty other shops, mostly specialising in women's fashion. Sunshine City Plaza also boasts a large 'Citistore' department store which sells many things: clothes, mattresses, beds, toys, electrical appliances, baggages and more.
Numerous restaurants abound in the plaza and as well as local Cantonese favourites; you will find McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
and KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
outlets as well as a Cafe de Coral
Café de Coral
Café de Coral is a fast food restaurant group which owns and operates fast food chains and restaurants including Café de Coral, The Spaghetti House, Manchu Wok, Oliver's Super Sandwiches, Ah Yee Leng Tong and others. Founded in 1968, the Café de Coral group opened its first Café de Coral...
. A large "Wellcome
Wellcome
Wellcome is a supermarket chain owned by Jardine Matheson Holdings via its Dairy Farm subsidiary. The Wellcome supermarket chain is one of the two largest supermarket chains in Hong Kong, the other being PARKnSHOP. Wellcome also operates supermarkets in Taiwan under the Wellcome name...
" supermarket is present as is a pharmacy, cosmetics shop, hairdressers and tea houses, bakeries, shoe-shops, sweet shops, book shops and a classic favourites, two HK "$10" shops.
Private housing estates
Ma On Shan is an area with a high density of private housing estate. Some of the larger private housing estates in Ma On Shan are:- Monte Vista - built by Hutchison WhampoaHutchison WhampoaHutchison Whampoa Limited or HWL of Hong Kong is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. HWL is an international corporation with a diverse array of holdings which includes the world's biggest port and telecommunication operations in 14...
in 2000, and consists of 1,606 residential units. - Sunshine CitySunshine City, Ma On ShanSunshine City is a name of a sizeable private development in the core of the town of Ma On Shan in the Sha Tin District of Hong Kong. It was developed by Henderson Land Development, and contains a series of high-rise residential tower blocks and a series of shopping arcades...
- constructed by Henderson Land DevelopmentHenderson Land DevelopmentHenderson Land Development Co. Ltd. is a listed property company and a constituent of the Hang Seng Index. The company's principal activities are property development and investment, project management, construction, hotel operation, department store operation, finance, investment holding and...
in 5 phases during the 90's, contains more than 5000 residential units. - Villa Athena
- Vista Paradiso - built by Hutchison Whampoa in 1998, and consists of 2,032 residential units.
Public facilities
Ma On Shan Sports Ground
Ma On Shan Sports Ground （） is a multi-use sports ground built at 1 Hang Hong Road, Ma On Shan, Sha Tin, Hong Kong at a cost of HK$153 million. It opened in 1999. The sports ground is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong....
opens all week. Badminton courts and table-tennis tables abound, and the cost of a badminton court for one hour is around HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
60. Students, however, receive a discount, and can book any facility for half-price, upon proof of their student status.
Near the sports centre is the Ma On Shan Public Swimming Pool. Adjacent to the pool is the 'SA Poolside Cafe', a cafe run by the Salvation Army, in which young disabled men and women have the opportunity to undertake training and work in the cafe. Supervised by an experienced team, the majority of the cafe's profits go towards the Salvation Army, and despite what one may be inclined to think, the food is excellent and cheap. The Public Library is near the Sports Centre and Swimming Pool, and there are free internet service and word-processing facilities.
The Ma On Shan Public Library
Ma On Shan Public Library
The Ma On Shan Public Library is a public library located at 14 On Chun Street, Ma On Shan, Hong Kong. It was opened on 2 April 2005 and was built next to the Ma On Shan Park. It occupies an area of 2,200 square metres. It has a characteristic main building that is of cylindrical shape. The...
, completed in the 2000s, provides an alternative location for reading and research to the Sha Tin Public Library
Sha Tin Public Library
The Sha Tin Public Library is a public library located at 1 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China. It is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department....
.
Schools
- Renaissance College Hong KongRenaissance College Hong KongRenaissance College, Hong Kong is a co-educational, through-train, private independent international school in Ma On Shan, Hong Kong, serving primary, middle, and high school students . It is under the umbrella of English Schools Foundation...
http://www.renaissance.edu.hk - Hong Kong Taoist Association Shun Yeung Primary School http://www.syps.edu.hk
- Ma On Shan Ling Liang Primary School http://www.moslingliang.edu.hk/
- Tak Sun Secondary School http://www.tsss.edu.hk/
- Li Po Chun United World CollegeLi Po Chun United World CollegeLi Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong , established in 1992, is a sixth-form college in Hong Kong. It is a member of the United World Colleges....
http://www.lpcuwc.edu.hk - Po Leung Kuk Chong Kee Ting Primary School http://www.plkcktps.edu.hk
Transport
There are numerous modes of transport, including taxis, MTRMTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
, buses
Buses in Hong Kong
Bus services in Hong Kong have a long history. As of 2005, five companies operate franchised public bus services. There are also a variety of non-franchised public buses services, including feeder bus services to railway stations operated by MTR, and residents' services for residential estates...
and public light bus
Public light bus
A Public light bus is a common public mode of transport in Hong Kong. It mainly serves the area that standard Hong Kong bus lines cannot reach as efficiently. It is also colloquially known as a minibus or a van, defined as a kind of share taxi....
es.
Taxis
Taxicabs of Hong Kong
Taxicabs of Hong Kong provide a taxi system. Most taxis are independently owned and operated, but some are owned by taxi companies, and the drivers are employees....
: Ma On Shan is served by both green taxis (New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
taxis) and red taxis (Urban taxis).
The Ma On Shan Line of the MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
was opened on December 21, 2004, and connects to the East Rail Line at Tai Wai Station. The stations of the Ma On Shan Line are:
- Wu Kai Sha
- Ma On Shan
- Heng On
- Tai Shui Hang
- Shek Mun
- City One
- Sha Tin Wai
- Che Kung Temple
- Tai Wai
The Ma On Shan Line ends at Tai Wai, where passengers can change to East Rail Line. The stop after Tai Wai is Kowloon Tong
Kowloon Tong (MTR)
Kowloon Tong is a station on MTR's Kwun Tong Line and East Rail Line in New Kowloon, Hong Kong.Kowloon Tong Station serves Kowloon Tong and its vicinity, including Yau Yat Tsuen, the Festival Walk shopping centre, City University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University.This station...
, where passengers can then change from East Rail Line to Kwun Tong Line.
See also
- Ma On Shan (peak)Ma On Shan (peak)Ma On Shan is saddle-shaped peak in east of Tolo Harbour in the New Territories of Hong Kong. With a peak of 702 metres , it stands among the ten highest mountains in Hong Kong. The mountain borders Sha Tin and Tai Po districts....
- Ma On Shan Country ParkMa On Shan Country ParkSome of Hong Kong's most dramatic scenery is to be found within the boundaries of the Ma On Shan Country Park . The park was established on April 27, 1979. Located in the central neck of the Sai Kung peninsula in the eastern New Territories, this covers 28.8 km2...
- Ma On Shan ParkMa On Shan ParkThe Ma On Shan Park is a public park in Sha Tin District, Hong Kong. It is located at 12 On Chun Street in the town centre of Ma On Shan in the New Territories. It is situated next to the shopping centre of Ma On Shan Plaza. The natural scenery of Pat Sin Leng and Tolo Harbour can be viewed from...
- Ma On Shan PlazaMa On Shan PlazaMa On Shan Plaza is a shopping centre in the town centre of Ma On Shan in the Sha Tin District of Hong Kong.-Location:Ma On Shan Plaza is located on Sai Sha Road, and is connected to the Sunshine City Plaza and the Ma On Shan Station of the MTR Ma On Shan Line by footbridges...
- Ma On Shan RoadMa On Shan RoadMa On Shan Road is a major expressway in the new town of Ma On Shan in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The expressway extends northward from Tate's Cairn Highway near Tai Shui Hang along the eastern bank of Shing Mun River. It ends in the north when it joins Sai Sha Road near Wu Kai Sha...
English Castle Language School, Ma On Shan