Published : 2025-01-19
As this year is the Year of the Snake, here is an introduction of a hidden gem in Hong Kong's Sai Kung which is related to snakes–Tai She Wan (大蛇灣). It is known as the "Maldives of Hong Kong".
Tai She Wan is not well-known, but it is a hot spot for boat trips, and there is a legend about "gold falling from the sky".
Tai She Wan: The "Maldives of Hong Kong"
Tai She Wan is located south of the High Island Reservoir (萬宜水庫) in Sai Kung. It is renowned for its clear waters and fine sands, earning the nickname "Maldives of Hong Kong".
It is a popular destination for boat trips. The rich coral beneath the water attracts many divers who come specifically to explore this area.
The name "Tai She Wan" was recorded as early as 1595, the 23rd year of Wanli (萬曆) reign period of the Ming Dynasty in China.
There is a village in the area called Tai She Wan Village, which is said to have a history of over 300 years. Most of the original residents there had the surname Zhang (張).
However, due to factors such as inconvenient transportation, most of the villagers have since moved away.
Reservoir worker discovered gold in Tai She Wan and bought the land
Many people have heard the mysterious legend of gold falling from the sky in Tai She Wan, as well as the two abandoned resort houses by the shore.
Hidden in the forest are the exposed mechanical parts of an elephant, a bald and fallen chimpanzee lying motionless... Everything in Tai She Wan seems to freeze time in a dreamy dimension, telling the story of a beautiful dream.
In the 1940s, there were rumours that after the end of World War II, a plane carrying a large amount of gold crashed on Mount Pak Ka Shan (柏架山) near Tai Tam Reservoir on Hong Kong Island.
Then a large amount of gold fell from the sky, and some of the treasure was discovered by a reservoir worker named Chan Fat (陳發).
The police immediately sealed off the site after the incident, prohibiting residents going up the mountain from picking up the gold, and conduct strict searches on people going down the mountain.
But Chan Fat still successfully hid the gold in the reservoir and took it away only after the mountain closure order was lifted.
Development of Tai She Wan into a resort centre ended in failure
Chan Fat, who became wealthy later, actively used gold to exchange for bricks, purchasing properties in multiple locations and becoming the largest landowner in Tai She Wan.
He once invested 2 million HKD to develop Shek Wan into a resort destination, building facilities such as dams and piers.
However, his investments in Tai She Wan did not yield satisfactory results.
It was reported that he wanted to build an artificial beach, but no matter how much he filled the seawall, the sand was always washed away.
The main reason for the failing of his grand plans was the government's continuous refusal to approve the reclamation project in Tai She Wan.
Chan Fat, who felt dejected, reportedly later entrusted the properties in Tai She Wan to a monk for safekeeping. However, strange and supernatural occurrences in Tai She Wan were never-ending.
For instance, guests at a collapsed hostel claimed that when they woke up the next morning, they found themselves lying in the grass.
Additionally, the caretaker often saw an elderly man, suspected to be "Dabogong" (大伯公,a term used by Hakka people to refer to the Earth God), appearing mysteriously.
Read more: Legend of Tuen Mun Qylin Stone and its "bleeding blood"
Mechanical animals from Rainforest Cafe ended up in Tai She Wan
Over the years, different people have developed Tai She Wan. For example, famous artiste Liza Wang (汪明荃) also opened a restaurant here. Later, the area transformed into the resort centre, which enjoyed a period of prosperity and popularity.
Inside the currently abandoned resort houses, there are some mechanical animals that may look familiar for Hong Kong residents. They all come from the once-famous "Rainforest Cafe", known for its unique jungle-themed dining experience.
Rainforest Café was one of the first tenants to move into Festival Walk (又一城) in Kowloon Tong in 1998. The brand, originating from the United States, was known for creating a dining environment reminiscent of a lush jungle filled with wildlife.
When it first opened, diners often had to wait hours for a table. Eating at the Rainforest Cafe became a dream for many children and a collective memory for middle-class kids in the 1980s and 1990s.
Currently, the Rainforest Cafe still has brands overseas, but its Hong Kong branch closed in 2003, leading to the brand's withdrawal from the city. Unexpectedly, the animal decorations from that time has ended up in Tai She Wan.
The once-vibrant gorillas, elephants, and giraffes, now weathered by sun and rain, have lost their former appearances. Their exteriors have peeled away, revealing mechanical skeletons, with some even lying on the ground.
Once being the focal points for childhood photos, they now became mere objects of curiosity for today's visitors.
