Lai Chi Wo

Lai Chi Wo (Traditional Chinese: 荔枝窩，Hakka：Lit Zi Wo; Siyen Hakka dialect: Li-kó-teu) is a Hakka village near Sha Tau Kok, in the northeastern New Territories of Hong Kong. It is described as a "walled village" by some sources. Lai Chi Wo is located within the Plover Cove Country Park and near Yan Chau Tong Marine Park.

The History of Lai Chi Wo dated back to 400 years ago. It was once the largest and most prosperous Hakka walled-village in the North-Eastern part of New Territories. There were around 1,000 residents in the most prosperous period.

Around a hundred years ago, Lai Chi Wo village was once a poor village. At that time, a feng shui master suggested building 3 feng shui walls for the village to get rid of the evil spirits and keep the property safe inside the village. After the setting-up of the three walls, the village regained its prosperity as before.

In the recent years, most of the younger residents have moved out for a better living in town areas like Fanling and Tai Po, or emigrated to overseas, leaving the village with the older residents only. The original residents will, however, go back to the village whenever there are celebrations, like the Tai Ping Qing Zhao (the Bun Festival) once every 10 years.

Lai Chi Wo is now the 16th special region inside Hong Kong. This special region is legalised in 2004 and enacted in 2005. Moreover, it has become one of the frequent Hiking sites in Hong Kong. Local tours have developed their route to Lai Chi Wo, and the hikers will start their route from Wu Kau Tang near Tai Po or Luk Keng near Fanling. Hikers generally take Lai Chi Wo as a mid-way station.

As the name suggests, this area was once known for its lychee trees. But in the 1960s and 1970s villagers found it more profitable to plant Mandarins, which could fetch good prices towards Chinese New Year (as they are seen as auspicious), and lychee trees became scarcer. However, even the local villagers still can not confirm if the village got the name because of the lychee trees or another reason.

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Wikipedia