While Hong Kong is often seen as a safe cosmopolitan hub for exchange and innovation, its history as a crucial port-city also includes numerous invasions, both major and minor. These historical traces may not be evident, but a short hike can reveal a lesser-known defensive history. A good starting point is the 2000-year-old Tung Chung Fort and Battery.

Triumphed over the battles

Established during the 12th century of the Southern Song Dynasty, Tung Chung Fort was constructed to protect the realm from pirate and smuggler attacks. Supported by three hundred government-sent soldiers, the fort successfully deterred invaders, maintaining peace in the area for several centuries.

However, in the 19th century, the fort, no longer garrisoned, faced renewed threats from pirates, jeopardizing maritime travel. To counter this, Qing officials renovated and fortified the site by adding several batteries, specifically to protect merchant ships traversing the estuary of the Pearl River.

Rediscovered after a century

With the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the fort and batteries were abandoned. The site allegedly hosted Wa Ying College (華英中學) from 1937 to 1941, before the Japanese Army occupied it during WWII. After enduring countless wars and dynastic changes, the fort was repurposed into a police station before becoming a declared monument in 1988. Six of its cannons have been preserved for public viewing.

Chinese opera in the haunted school

At the entrance, you'll see a gigantic archway, engraved with the name of the fort. These are majestic structures that can be found in some history books. If you’re brave and adventurous, you can wander around the dilapidated school where the chairs and desks remain intact. Interestingly, the Chinese Opera Society is housed in the haunted campus, which is still running nowadays! Although many learners are the elderly, they might readily teach you to sing some songs.