close_game
close_game

Tourists are flocking to Hong Kong’s 300-year-old Kuk Po village for sustainable tourism

AFP | | Posted by Akanksha Agnihotri
Jan 24, 2025 08:32 PM IST

Hong Kong's Kuk Po village is seeing a rise in tourists drawn to its serene environment and historical significance.

Tourists in Hong Kong are flocking to the 300-year-old village of Kuk Po, whose decaying mansions and reed fields offer a respite from the city's famously frenetic pace. The seaside village was once home to Hakka people from southern China but was mostly abandoned in recent decades, even as gleaming high-rises sprang up in nearby Shenzhen across the Chinese border.

Kuk Po village draws visitors seeking calm amid Hong Kong's bustling city life.(AFP)
Kuk Po village draws visitors seeking calm amid Hong Kong's bustling city life.(AFP)

But Hong Kong's government is encouraging visitors to go off the beaten path and has loosened entry restrictions to the city's northernmost neighbourhood of Sha Tau Kok -- making it easier to visit Kuk Po via speedboat. On a recent January weekend, tourists thronged to the village's picturesque sights, surrounded on three sides by gentle valleys.

Unveiling Hong Kong's countryside charm

"When people talk about Hong Kong, it was about the skyline, the city area, the financial hub," Singaporean exchange student Kevin Choy, 24, told AFP. "Very rarely do people talk about the countryside," he said. “This side of Hong Kong is something that I never imagined.” Lilian Lee, whose family has deep roots in Kuk Po, said her parents returned there during the Covid pandemic to enjoy the charms of village life -- a choice that may resonate with stressed-out city-dwellers.

She started welcoming visitors into her family's two-storey ancestral home -- built nearly a century ago -- in 2022. "The world outside is very stressful and chaotic... but here you can relax and be at ease," the 30-year-old told AFP. "This is a beautiful environment that should be treasured (and) our family came together to share this place with more people."

Sustainable tourism and the future of Kuk Po

The Hakka -- whose name means "guest people" -- are known for their long history of migration and transformed Kuk Po into a market town, though its numbers dwindled after Hong Kong urbanised in the 1960s. Tour organiser Paul Chan said sustainable tourism was driving more tourists to visit the near-deserted town. "When the public is interested, it creates a virtuous cycle: for houses and monuments to be restored, and cultures to be revived," Chan said.

The Hong Kong government hopes eco-tours can promote nature conservation while generating cash for the city. Kuk Po was among the rural townships listed in a tourism policy blueprint last month. But despite the uptick in interest, Lee said it was difficult to financially sustain revitalisation efforts that include tours, tasting events and workshops, and that she hoped the city would invest more in sustainable tourism.

"I hope the village will not turn into a tourist attraction solely for sightseeing, but rather to follow an educational approach," she said. "Many villages and their histories in Hong Kong are gradually disappearing... I hope these things can be passed on."

rec-icon Recommended Topics
Share this article
Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!.

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.
See More
Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!.

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Sunday, February 09, 2025
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On