GBA Lifestyle News
Once a farmland, Sha Tin is located in the eastern New Territories and now boasts one of the city’s largest populations. Around 45 minutes out of the city, Sha Tin is the biggest of the government-initiated New Town projects from the 1970s. Peel away from the city and step into a world of museums, historical sights, religious establishments, hotels and Hong Kong’s biggest racecourse.
More from our neighborhood guide series.
Lung Wah Hotel opened its doors in 1951, becoming Sha Tin’s first postwar hotel. Over the years the establishment saw the likes of Bruce Lee and other famed Hong Kong celebrities walk through its doors. The hotel closed down in 1985 and fortunately left behind its celebrated restaurant. Famous for roasted pigeon, chicken congee and sansui (山水, “mountain water”) tofu, Lung Wah is an institution in its own right, sometimes selling over 5,000 pigeons a day. Word of warning: service can be on the grumpy side so don’t expect the red carpet.
22 Ha Wo Che Village, Sha Tin, 2602-2731, www.lungwahhotel.hk.
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Designed to educate and entertain, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is modeled after the traditional siheyuan (四合院), a compound of blended houses built around a central courtyard. The popular museum spans over 7,500 square meters and features 12 exhibition galleries with relics that express the art, culture and history of Hong Kong and the South China region. Be sure to look out for the collection by artist Hao Shao’ang, as well as the Bruce Lee: Kung Fu Art Life exhibition.
1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin, 2180-8188, www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk.
Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
Founded in 1949 and located at Po Fook Hill at Pai Tau Village, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is one of Hong Kong’s most famous and most visited buddhist temples. Picturesque and surrounded by nature, the monastery is built over two levels on a bamboo forest hillside and has five temples, four pavilions, one verandah and a pagoda, all steeped on a concrete path with exactly 431 steps. Take note of the 500 selfie-worthy life-size gilded Arhan statues on the way up. Try out the vegetarian restaurant, open daily from 10:30am to 5pm (but closed on Thursdays). The temple is located about 500 meters from the Sha Tin MTR station.
221 Pai Tau Village, Sha Tin.
Fotan Open Studios
The Fotan Open Studios takes place every January in several blocks of the industrial lofts in Fo Tan. The lofts have been converted into art studios and galleries, and are perfect spaces for browsing the works of dozens of artists, animators, filmmakers, fashion designers, comic illustrators and fashion designers. The Fotan artists community now contains over 100 studios and over 300 artists.
Wah Luen Industrial Centre, 15-20 Wong Chuk Yuen Street, Fo Tan, 9332-0424 www.fotanstudios.org.
The Wilson Trail
The Wilson Trail offers great views of the northern regions, and is a relatively easy hike to take, although it is does come in at two and a half hours long. The trail takes you through Lion Rock Country Park, passing through Amah Rock, a must-see. Begin at Section 6 of the hike, cross Tai Po Road and walk right for 200 meters. Top tip: Be careful of the monkeys.
Sha Tin 18
Serving Dongguan and Northern Chinese cuisine, Sha Tin 18 is located in the five-star Hyatt Regency. The restaurant boasts a number of open kitchens for diners to watch their meals being prepared, plus floor-to-ceiling windows as well as a roomy terrace for those who want to eat alfresco. Signatures include Peking duck, tossed mustard greens, Houjie pan-fried fish cakes, handmade noodles and dumplings, and homemade desserts. Great for special occasions, Sha Tin 18 can be a little on the pricy side so be ready to splash out.
4/F, Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin 18, Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin, 3723-1234, www.hongkong.shatin.hyatt.com.
Kam Sha Kok | 金沙角大牌檔
Hidden in a cooked food center in a housing estate in Sha Tin, popular dim sum restaurant Kam Sha Kok is an all-time favorite, previously converted from a dai pai dong. Retaining some of the old-school charm of Hong Kong’s street stalls, Kam Sha Kok serves up steaming, freshly made dim sum until it sells out, sometimes uploading dumplings by the thousands. In the evening, traditional Cantonese dishes like stir-fries are served. What’s more? Dim sum that hasn’t been sold by day’s end goes to the elderly homes nearby.
Kam Sha Kok, Shop 2, 3, 4, 6, Sha Kok Estate Food Centre, Sha Tin, 2692-2022.
LEVELthirty Lounge & Bar
LEVELthirty Lounge & Bar is located in the Courtyard Hong Kong Sha Tin, and serves wine, champagne and cocktails along with a dose of live music. The rooftop bar terrace on the 30th floor boasts panoramic views of Sha Tin, Ma On Shan and Tai Po . LEVELthirty is a great spot to unwind and enjoy specially curated Asian and western-style tapas cooked at the live cooking stations. Happy hours are in effect daily from 5pm to 8pm.
30/F, 1 On Ping Street, Sha Tin, 3940-888, www.marriott.com.
Tin Tin Bar
Tin Tin Bar, situated in a quiet corner of Hyatt Regency Sha Tin, comes complete with plush red velvet chairs and soothing soft lighting. A vocalist and keyboard player are on hand at 8pm every Tuesday to Sunday, performing tunes to go along with signature cocktails like the Pomelo 18, and a wide selection of single malt whisky. Tasty bar snacks are available with buy-one-get-one-free Happy Hour taking place every day from 5pm to 8pm.
18 Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin, 3723-1234, www.hongkongshatin.regency.hyatt.com.
Sha Tin is a massive piece of territory, but roughly speaking, to the east lies Sai Kung, the north: Tai Po, the west: Tsuen Wan, and the south: Wong Tai Sin and Sham Shui Po.
Depends on where you’re coming from and where you want to go, of course, but Sha Tin station can be reached on the East Rail Line:
