Tsuen Wan

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For the district of Hong Kong, see Tsuen Wan District.

For the new town in Hong Kong, see Tsuen Wan New Town.

The day scene of Tsuen Wan across Rambler Channel (View taken from Tsing Yi Island)

Night scene of Tsuen Wan taken near Belvedere Gardens Estate. To the left is the still under construction Nina Tower

Tsuen Wan (traditional Chinese: 荃灣, formerly also Tsun Wan) is a bay in the New Territories, Hong Kong, opposite to Tsing Yi Island across Rambler Channel. A market town of the Tsuen Wan emerged for the surrounding villages and fleets of fishing boats in the area. The town is around the present-day Tsuen Wan Station of the MTR. It was extended as far as the reclamation proceeded.

[edit] History

In earlier days, it was known as Tsin Wan (淺灣) which means shallow bay, and later renamed to Tsuen Wan. Another name Tsak Wan (賊灣，客家話讀音Hakka dialect pronunciation: tshet wan), pirate bay, indicates the presence of pirates nearby long ago. In fact, the area around Rambler Channel was known as Sam Pak Tsin (三百錢), literally meaning three hundred coins. There was a legend that pirates would collect three hundred coins should one pass through the area.

[edit] Development

Apart from a market town, in 20th century, factories moved in gradually for its proximity to the urban in Kowloon. With construction of Castle Peak Road, motor vehicles could reach the town in addition to on foot and by boat. In 1950s, the Hong Kong Government developed the area with new town concepts. In the 1970s it was developed as part of the Tsuen Wan New Town. By 1971 the area housed 400,000 residents. It was one of the last area in Hong Kong to be developed without the "Colony Outline Plan"^[1].

[edit] Landmarks

Tsuen Wan has some special landmarks for tourists. The Discovery Park, one of Hong Kong's largest shopping centers along with an estate, is located in the heart of the town. There is a goldsmith street there where people can buy jewels conveniently. Other features include Tsuen Wan Shopping Plaza, Citylandmark, The Sam Tung Uk (三棟屋，Hakka dialect pronounced as:sam tung vuk) historical Museum, Tin Hau Temple and The Panda Hotel, one of the biggest hotels in Hong Kong. In addition, a new 80-storey tower towers over Tsuen Wan. The island of Ma Wan is also part of the Tsuen Wan district.

[edit] Schools

• Tsuen Wan Government Primary School
• Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School
• St. Francis Xavier's School Tsuen Wan
• Mary Of Providence Primary School (W.D.)

[edit] References

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Tsuen Wan