1. The History
Mui Wo Mui Wo is a town situated on the east coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It has a rich past with the first historical records dating back to 1277 and the Southern Song dynasty. The imperial court sought refuge in Silvermine Bay after fleeing south from the invading Yuan dynasty. The village was originally settled as far back as the 16th century (Ming Dynasty) by farmers. The village is located on Silvermine Bay, so named after its former silver mine. The town is also known for wild water buffalos that roam the village freely.
A silver and lead mine, close by to the Silvermine Waterfall, opened in March 1886 but had closed by 1898. Today, the tunnels have been sealed off for health and safety reasons and to prevent disturbance of the rare bat species of bats who now inhabit the former mine
A darker chapter in the village’s history came during World War, when between 19th and 27th August 1945 the Mui Wo massacre saw occupying Japanese soldiers kill at 9 people and arrest 300 villagers after Japan officially surrendered on 15th August 1945, ending the Second World War. The victims were beaten, tortured and some beheaded. Of the twelve Japanese soldiers responsible, three of them were hanged and the others jailed.
In 2011 its population was approximately 5,500. Mui Wo’s main connecting ferry is to Central (pier no.6).
2. The Explore
My main reason for visiting Mui Wo this summer was some unfinished business at the village’s Southern District Secondary school which had been empty since 2007. I’d happened across it pre-covid on a fleeting visit to Mui Wo back in August 2018 when I didn’t have the time to explore it. I rocked up again five years later and sure enough the massive school was still empty.
3. The Pictures
On arriving at the school, it became quickly apparent that it is now being used for storage:
And there was live-in on-site security. So discretion got the better sense of valour and I moved on to Plan B. Plan B was to revisit Yuen's Mansion, also known as "Yu De Li Wai". The old house was built in the 1920s out of granite. On the 18th December, 2009, it was assessed as a Grade II historic building. The complex of six buildings includes, amongst others, a main house, a former house and a barn. The house has now been restored as can been seen below:
Hence, here’s a few pictures from a previous visit back in 2018:
So on to Plan C. It was pretty much like what I did at Tai O (report HERE) i.e. looking round the village for dereliction to photograph. Fortunately, this proved more fruitful. The first thing of significance I came across was this derelict row of former village worker’s cottages:
Nothing spectacular, but interesting enough:
Pretty much full of old furniture and junk:
This old set of scales was interesting:
And the obligatory plant pots:
On Mui Wo’s extremities, I came across another of the watch towers:
Not too much inside:
Used for storage:
And a derelict house:
A quick peek at the silver mine. Knew this was going to be sealed up:
And finally, an abandoned toilet!
That's all folks. Just one more HK report to come and something a bit more impressive!
Mui Wo Mui Wo is a town situated on the east coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It has a rich past with the first historical records dating back to 1277 and the Southern Song dynasty. The imperial court sought refuge in Silvermine Bay after fleeing south from the invading Yuan dynasty. The village was originally settled as far back as the 16th century (Ming Dynasty) by farmers. The village is located on Silvermine Bay, so named after its former silver mine. The town is also known for wild water buffalos that roam the village freely.
A silver and lead mine, close by to the Silvermine Waterfall, opened in March 1886 but had closed by 1898. Today, the tunnels have been sealed off for health and safety reasons and to prevent disturbance of the rare bat species of bats who now inhabit the former mine
A darker chapter in the village’s history came during World War, when between 19th and 27th August 1945 the Mui Wo massacre saw occupying Japanese soldiers kill at 9 people and arrest 300 villagers after Japan officially surrendered on 15th August 1945, ending the Second World War. The victims were beaten, tortured and some beheaded. Of the twelve Japanese soldiers responsible, three of them were hanged and the others jailed.
In 2011 its population was approximately 5,500. Mui Wo’s main connecting ferry is to Central (pier no.6).
2. The Explore
My main reason for visiting Mui Wo this summer was some unfinished business at the village’s Southern District Secondary school which had been empty since 2007. I’d happened across it pre-covid on a fleeting visit to Mui Wo back in August 2018 when I didn’t have the time to explore it. I rocked up again five years later and sure enough the massive school was still empty.
3. The Pictures
On arriving at the school, it became quickly apparent that it is now being used for storage:
And there was live-in on-site security. So discretion got the better sense of valour and I moved on to Plan B. Plan B was to revisit Yuen's Mansion, also known as "Yu De Li Wai". The old house was built in the 1920s out of granite. On the 18th December, 2009, it was assessed as a Grade II historic building. The complex of six buildings includes, amongst others, a main house, a former house and a barn. The house has now been restored as can been seen below:
Hence, here’s a few pictures from a previous visit back in 2018:
So on to Plan C. It was pretty much like what I did at Tai O (report HERE) i.e. looking round the village for dereliction to photograph. Fortunately, this proved more fruitful. The first thing of significance I came across was this derelict row of former village worker’s cottages:
Nothing spectacular, but interesting enough:
Pretty much full of old furniture and junk:
This old set of scales was interesting:
And the obligatory plant pots:
On Mui Wo’s extremities, I came across another of the watch towers:
Not too much inside:
Used for storage:
And a derelict house:
A quick peek at the silver mine. Knew this was going to be sealed up:
And finally, an abandoned toilet!
That's all folks. Just one more HK report to come and something a bit more impressive!
