Published : 2025-03-19
In Hong Kong, Lung Tsun Stone Bridge (龍津石橋) was once the longest and most solid stone pier, serving as an important connection between Kowloon Walled City (九龍寨城) and the sea.
Lung Tsun Stone Bridge not only encapsulates the development changes of Kowloon Walled City, but also witnesses the political struggles between China and Britain before and after the opening of Hong Kong, holding significant historical importance.
Lung Tsun Stone Bridge closely linked to Kowloon Walled City
Located by the coast of Kowloon Bay, Lung Tsun Stone Bridge was built between 1873 and 1875, marking its 150-year history.
It is the essential route connecting the eastern gate of Kowloon Walled City to the sea, and the history of Lung Tsun Stone Bridge should be discussed starting from the Kowloon Walled City.
After the First Opium War in the 1840s, the Qing government was defeated, and an unequal "Treaty of Nanking" was signed in 1842 between China and Britain, resulting in Hong Kong Island being ceded to Britain.
To strengthen defence, the Qing government built the Kowloon Walled City in 1847, relocating military forces from the nearby Dapeng Bay (大鵬灣) to this location. The Walled City was overseen by a vice-general of the Dapeng Allied Troops, standing in confront the British Victoria City across the harbour.
After the defeat in the Second Opium War, the Qing government was forced to sign a series of unequal treaties, including the "Convention of Peking" (北京條約). In addition to losing the southern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, one of the significant concession was accepting the legalisation of the opium trade.
At that time, a significant amount of unreported opium were smuggled into the Mainland through Hong Kong to evade taxes, severely impacting the national fiscal revenue. To combat smuggling activities, the Qing government established the "Kowloon City Customs" in Kowloon Walled City in the 1870s and began constructing Lung Tsun Stone Bridge in 1873.
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"Lung Tsun" means a passage leading from city to coast
According to the Historical Study of Lung Tsun Bridge and Its Surrounding Area, submitted to the Antiquities and Monuments Office by Hong Kong historical researchers Chung Po-yin (鍾寶賢) and Ko Tim-keung (高添強), "Lung Tsun" means "passage gathering the dragon", referring to a channel that connects a city to a river or coastline.
In ancient China, when constructing cities and official buildings, geomancers were often invited to inspect the feng shui and measure the dragon veins to determine the best location for city gates, aiming to "gather the dragon's energy".
"Passage gathering the dragon" refers to the city gates and the bridges in front of them, commonly referred to as "Lung Tsun".
The Lung Tsun Bridge was originally a granite bridge measuring 200-metre-long and 2.6-metre-wide wide. In 1892, it was extended towards the sea with an additional 80-metre wooden bridge.
Lung Tsun Bridge was connected to the "Reception Pavilion" (also known as "Lung Tsun Pavilion"), which was a place for welcoming officials stationed at the Kowloon Walled City.
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Lung Tsun Stone Bridge boosts commercial development in Kowloon City
Politically, Lung Tsun Stone Bridge became the necessary water route for Chinese officials to enter the Kowloon Walled City after the Kowloon Peninsula was ceded.
As the longest and sturdiest stone pier in Hong Kong at that time, Lung Tsun Stone Bridge could accommodate large vessels, and the Kowloon City Customs used it as a base to impose taxes on concerned vessels.
Economically, the completion of Lung Tsun Stone Bridge further promoted commercial development in Kowloon City. Even before the bridge was built, the streets outside the Kowloon Walled City were already a bustling commercial area.
In the past, many vessels from South China would sail through Kowloon Bay and Lei Yue Mun (鯉魚門) to avoid the rougher seas in the southern part of Hong Kong Island. These ships often stop along the Kowloon Bay coast to replenish supplies.
Following the completion of Lung Tsun Stone Bridge, nearby commercial activities became even more prosperous.
Furthermore, the area around the Kowloon Walled City was lined with gambling dens, and numerous gamblers travelled daily by boat between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon City.
With the construction of the stone bridge, transportation became even more convenient, boosting the business of nearby teahouses, opium dens, and various essential goods shops.
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British military turned Kowloon Walled City to "ungoverned" area
In 1898, China and Britain signed "The Convention Between Great Britain and China Respecting an Extension of Hong Kong Territory" (《展拓香港界址專條》, the "Convention"), further placing the northern part of the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories under British colonial rule.
Under the vigorous efforts of the Qing government, the Kowloon Walled City remained under the administration of the Qing government, and the Lung Tsun Stone Bridge Pier continued to be used.
However, later on, the British encountered armed resistance from local villagers during the occupation of the New Territories.
In May 1899, the British side claimed that the incident was related to the officials in the Kowloon Walled City. They sent troops to occupy the Kowloon Walled City, drove away the Qing Dynasty officials and closed the Kowloon Customs, citing the supplementary explanation in the "Convention", which stated that the military defence of Hong Kong should not be interfered with.
Since then, the Kowloon Walled City no longer had Chinese officials stationed. In December of the same year, the British issued an Order in Council (樞密院令) declaring that "the Kowloon City is an important component of Her Majesty's Colony of Hong Kong", and it was gazetted the following year.
From then on, the Kowloon Walled City became a long-term focus of dispute between China and Britain. It began to evolve into an "ungoverned" area ("the Hong Kong Government does not dare to manage it, the British do not want to manage it, and the Chinese Government cannot manage it").
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Lung Tsun Stone Bridge buried under Kai Tak Airport and re-emerged in 2008
In 1928, the British Hong Kong Government dismantled part of Lung Tsun Stone Bridge and built the old Kowloon City Pier at the southern end of the bridge with reinforced concrete.
By the 1940s, Lung Tsun Stone Bridge was gradually buried due to the reclamation of Kowloon Bay and the expansion of Kai Tak Airport, and gradually faded from people's memory.
In 2008, during an archaeological exploration by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) for the Kai Tak Development Plan, the remains of Lung Tsun Stone Bridge were discovered at the northern apron of the former Kai Tak Airport. The piers and its history that had been buried for more than half a century were uncovered.
Currently, conservation work for the Lung Tsun Stone Bridge is still ongoing.
According to the plan, the ruins of the bridge will be transformed into a preservation corridor of about 320 metres in length and 30 metres in width, connecting the Kai Tak Station Square (啟德站廣場) with the pedestrian tunnel at Prince Edward Road East, leading to the Kowloon Walled City Park.
When completed, the public can closely observe the components of this century-old stone bridge and reminisce about its history.
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