Tin Shui Wai

Tin Shui Wai (zh-ts|t=天水圍|s=天水围; Cantonese Jyutping: tin1 seoi2 wai4; Mandarin Pinyin: Tiānshuǐwéi) is located in the northwestern part of the New Territories, Hong Kong, in Yuen Long District. Originally a "gei wai" fish pond area, the ponds were reclaimed for the development of Tin Shui Wai New Town in the late 1980s. The new town is next to historic Ping Shan.

History and geography

The land of Tin Shui Wai did not exist at the beginning of 1900s while Ping Shan in the adjacent is by the sea. The water north of Ping Shan gradually became marshes and villages made use of it by coverting into pools and rice paddies. The pools became "gei wai" fish ponds where most of the residents were fishermen before new town development. Because of the decline in aquaculture, most of the fish ponds were abandoned. The Hong Kong Government developed the area into a new town by land reclamation.

Tin Shui Wai New Town is located in the northwestern part of New Territories. Its development began in 1987. A total area of about 430 hectares of land has been formed by reclamation of the low-lying areas. The Development Zone of 220 hectares, located in the southern part of the new town, has been developed to house about 200 000 people, complete with all infrastructure works and a full range of community facilities. An LRT line and new roads linking the new town to the trunk road network provide good communication with the Yuen Long and Tuen Mun districts and to the urban areas beyond.

Further expansion of the new town into the remaining areas to the north, known as the Reserve Zone with an area of 210 hectares commenced in July 1998. The infrastructure is completed in stages from 2000 to 2004 to cope with population intake of the housing developments. West Rail and extension of the LRT service to the Reserve Zone were also commissioned in late 2003. To the northeastern portion of the new town, a constructed wetland has been completed which serves as a buffer between the developments in the Reserve Zone and the Mai Po Nature Reserve. The constructed wetland has been further developed into a Hong Kong Wetland Park and opened to public in May 2006. The total planned population of Tin Shui Wai new town is about 306 000 and the current population is about 270 000. [ [http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/achievements/regional/regi_tinshuiwai.htm CEDD - About Us ] ]

ights

Parts of Tin Shui have a picturesque and tranquil environment. The Hong Kong Wetland Park, demonstrating the diversity of the Hong Kong's wetland ecosystem, is located in Tin Shui Wai. The 705 and 706 light rail stops there.

West Rail Line Station entrances/exits

* A: Public transport interchange, Hang Mei Tsuen
* B: Tin Shing Court, Tin Shui Wai Police Station
* C: Tin Yiu Light Rail Stop, Tin Yiu Estate
* D: Tin Yau Court, Tin Tsz Estate
* E1: Tin Shui Wai Light Rail Stop (Platform 1)
* E2: Tin Shui Wai Light Rail Stop (Platform 2)
* E3: Tin Shui Wai Light Rail Stop (Platform 3), Pagoda, Ping Shan Heritage Trail, Sheung Cheung Wai

Light Rail services

The Light Rail station belongs to Zone 4 for single-ride ticket. It is located at the north-eastern end of the West Rail station on ground level. Platforms 1, 2 and 3 can be reached by escalators at Exit E1, E2 and E3, respectively.

Housing

Public Housing Estate

*Tin Yiu (I) Estate
*Tin Yiu (II) Estate
*Tin Shui (I) Estate
*Tin Shui (II) Estate
*Tin Yuet Estate
*Tin Heng Estate
*Tin Wah Estate
*Tin Chak Estate
*Tin Heng Estate
*Grandeur Terrace
*Tin Tsz Estate
*Tin Wah Estate
*Tin Yan Estate
*Tin Yat Estate

ee also

* List of areas of Hong Kong
* List of villages in Hong Kong
* Yuen Long
* Tin Shui Wai New Town

References

External links

* [http://www.wetlandpark.com/en/index.asp Wetland Park]
* [http://www.housingauthority.gov.hk/en/interactivemap/districtmap/0,,1-347-3_3_1,00.html Map - Yuen Long (Public Housing Estate)]