Come And See The Monks. Review on Sha Tin

Sha Tin is in the New Territories, (the land north of Kowloon), above Hong Kong in China. They use the HK$, (7, 74 HK$=$1.00USD).

More than 40% of Hong Kong's population now lives in the New Territories. There are nine districts in the Territories, (the Islands, Kwai Tsing that include Kwai Chung & Tsing Yi Island, North, Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long.

Sha Tin is about 13 km(8 miles) north of Tsim Sha Tsui. The district is best known for horse racing. The Hoi Pa Village was originally a Hakka settlement. The site has now been developed into a park. We stayed at the Royal Park Hotel. It is on the Shing Mun River and the Sha Tin Central Park. We enjoyed our stay and I can highly recommend it to you. We didn't go to the race track because we preferred to tour.

What We Saw:

The Miu Fat Monastery was built in 1950. It features a Main Worship Hall there are three gold plated statues of the Buddha Sakyamuni. Inside are thousands of Buddhist images and paintings. It is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm. They also serve vegetarian meals.

There are so many ancient buildings still standing in the Yuen Long district. The best of these relics have been connected by the Ping Shan Heritage Trail. The Trail is about 1km long and meanders through the villages of Hang Mei Tsuen, Hang Tau Tsuen and Sheung Cheung Wai.

The only historic pagoda, is the Tsui Shing Lau, which was built about 1486 by Tang Ying-tung, a seventh-generation member of the Tang Clan.

Originally there were seven storeys but a severe storm some centuries ago badly damaged the upper floors and today only the lowest three remain. The building is hexagonal, and constructed of green brick and granite. You can spend an hour walking through orchards and rows of cultivated blooms, and receive a charmingly conducted lecture tour of the apiary to see how their honey is made. It will be an hour well spent.

The FanLing Apiary is near Fung Ying Seen Koon. at No.8, Butterfly Mountain Road, FanLing. Getting there: Yuen Yuen Institute was founded in 1950 and occupies 10 acres in the tranquil, beautiful environment of Sam Dip Tam. One of its many attractions includes a replica of Beijing's magnificent Temple of Heaven(Tian Tan). The Hall of Rocks Collection features rocks with interesting natural shapes, including those of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. The Tai Mo Shan Country Park is one of the most popular places for barbecues in the territory for Hong Kong people.

The park also includes Hong Kong's highest mountain called Tai Mo Shan Know locally as Big Hat or Big Mist Mountain. Man Mo Temple was built nearly a century ago by the Tsat Yeuk Community of Tai Po to mark the founding of Tai Wo Shi, (Tai Wo Market). The temple serves as a major center of worship for the Tai Po area. Mai Po Nature Reserve has over 50, 000 migratory water birds, including some 20% of the world’s population of the endangered Black-faced Spoonbill. Ma On Shan is a great place to go hiking. There are some great views once you get up there. One of the trails is over seven mountains. There is a legend about the seven mountains being brothers who were immortalized as mountains.

You do require a fair level of fitness to go up and down the hills. Also make sure you take plenty of water and food along as there is nothing up there unless you make your way back down. Shopping: We went to look at the New Town Plaza but I found better prices in the market stalls. I bought some lovely silk housecoats for my children and grandchildren. My husband bought a few silk shirts and I bought a silk purse and a cashmere shawl. We did enjoy sitting by the fountain and watching the "waters dance"! Eating: Every morning we had breakfast at the hotel. We ate at the Monastery of 10, 000 Buddhas that has a small dinning room.

The menu is in English. We shared some deep-fried taro "fish, "(fried bean curd) and some sweet-and-sour garoupa(not real fish)! The Yucca de Lac has a terrace and a garden that surrounds the property. My husband loves pigeon so he ordered that and I had some friend rice with sweet and sour vegetables.

At the New Town Plaza we had a dim sum lunch on the 6th floor at Maxim's Palace Chinese Restaurant. What You Should Know: Tourists in Hong Kong and the Territories for up to 6 months without getting a visa. You will need a passport and it is only valid up to 6 months before it expires. I never could understand why but every country uses this.

You special permission is needed to enter the border zone with China. Tipping: Most restaurants add a 10 per cent service charge but an additional 5 to 10 per cent may be given, where deserved. When a service charge is not automatic, 10 per cent is acceptable. Small tips may also be given to taxi drivers, bellboys, doormen and washroom attendants.

Thanks for reading my review.

©Lyla 2007