Sha Tin District 268914 224004365 2008-07-06T22:16:58Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Infobox HK District | official_name = Sha Tin District| image_logo = Shatin D.gif| image_map = Hong Kong Sha Tin District.svg| map_caption = Location in [[Hong Kong]] | google = http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=22.392806,114.218551&spn=0.058545,0.078359&t=k&hl=en | leader_title = [[District Council]] Chairman | leader_name = [[Wai Kwok Hung]], <small>[[justice of the peace|JP]]</small> | constituencies = 36| area_note = | area_magnitude = 1 E9 | area_total = 69.46 | area_land = | area_water = | population_as_of = 2006 | population_note = | population_total = 607,544 | population_density = 8,842 | latitude = 22°39' N | longitude = 114°21' E | website = [http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/st/english/welcome.htm Sha Tin District Council] | footnotes = | }} {{Chinese|t=沙田區|s= 沙田区|i=sa<sub>55</sub> tin<sub>11</sub> kœy<sub>55</sub>|y=sā tìhn kēui|j=saa1 tin4 keoi1 |p=Shātián Qū|l="sand field district" }} '''Sha Tin District''' is one of the [[districts of Hong Kong|18 districts]] of the [[Hong Kong|Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]] of the [[People's Republic of China]]. One of the 9 districts located in the [[New Territories]], it covers the [[list of areas of Hong Kong|areas]] of [[Sha Tin]], [[Tai Wai]], [[Ma On Shan]], [[Fo Tan]], [[Siu Lek Yuen]] and [[Ma Liu Shui]] (Ma Liu Shui is where [[Chinese University of Hong Kong|The Chinese University of Hong Kong]] is located). The district has the highest population. According to the 2001 census, it had a population of 628,634 in 2001, including about 27,000 people living in 48 [[List of villages in Hong Kong|indigenous village]]s. ==Overview== The Sha Tin District covers approximately 70 km² (27 [[Square mile|sq. mi]]), including the Sha Tin New Town and several country parks. Built mostly on reclaimed land in [[Sha Tin Hoi]], the well-developed Sha Tin New Town comprises mainly residential areas along the banks of the [[Shing Mun River|Shing Mun River Channel]]. In the early 1970s it was a rural township of about 30,000 people. After Sha Tin's first public housing estate, [[Lek Yuen Estate]], was completed in 1976, the settlement began to expand. Today, about 65% of the district's population live in public rental housing, housing under Hong Kong's [[Tenants Purchase Scheme]], or [[Home Ownership Scheme]] (HOS). Sha Tin has now become a major new community, including an extension at [[Ma On Shan (area)|Ma On Shan]], of about 640,000 people today. The total development area of the new town in Sha Tin and Ma On Shan is about 20 km² (8 sq. mi). The [[Hong Kong Government]] used to showcase Sha Tin as an achievement in building a modern new town. Visiting foreign dignitaries were often invited to tour Sha Tin and its housing estates. ==History== [[Tai Wai Village]], the oldest and largest [[Walled villages of Hong Kong|walled village]] in the town, was built in 1574. Sha Tin was a former market town at the present location of [[Sha Tin Centre Street]] and [[New Town Plaza]] shopping centre. Sha Tin was the second batch of satellite towns, or [[new town]], to be built in the New Territories, on [[Land reclamation|land reclaimed from the sea]]. Sha Tin was formerly named '''[[Lek Yuen]]''' (literally "Source of Trickling" or "Source of Clear Water"). ==Land use== [[Image:Sha Tin Shing Mun River.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Sha Tin and [[Shing Mun River]]]] In addition to the residential areas, there are four industrial areas for light industries: [[Tai Wai]], [[Fo Tan]], [[Siu Lek Yuen]] and [[Shek Mun]]. The [[Chinese University of Hong Kong]] is also located in Sha Tin. People typically travel there via the [[MTR]] [[East Rail Line]] and get off at the [[University Station (MTR)|University station]]. A minibus service operates on campus. Sha Tin is the location for [[Hong Kong]]'s second equestrian racecourse (the first and most famous being in [[Hong Kong Island]]'s [[Happy Valley, Hong Kong|Happy Valley]] - see [[Hong Kong Jockey Club]]), which has a capacity of up to 85,000. This course is to host the equestrian events during the [[2008 Summer Olympics]]. The Olympics are to be hosted by [[Beijing]]; there is concern over proper quarantine and disease monitoring in the Chinese capital. [[Penfold Park]] is located inside the racecourse and closed on race days. It is best accessed via the [[Fo Tan Station]]. [[Sha Tin Park]] is another major park located in Sha Tin. ==Shing Mun River== [[Image:ShaTin-ShingMunRiver-EarlyStageOfDevelopment.jpg|thumb|250px|Residential, commercial and industrial buildings with numerous village type developments has been built along the two sides of the [[Shing Mun River]] since the early stage of development of Shatin.]] {{main|Shing Mun River}} The Shing Mun River is a 7 km long, 200m wide channel originating at the Shing Mun Reservoir ([[Tai Mo Shan]] catchment) that runs as a river from the Tai Wai area, through the Sha Tin town centre to the [[Tolo Harbour]]. It has three main tributaries, namely [[Tai Wai Nullah]], [[Fo Tan Nullah]] and [[Siu Lek Yuen Nullah]]. Along the Shing Mun River are high-rise residential, commercial and industrial buildings with numerous village type developments scattered around. ==Transportation== Sha Tin District has the largest number of [[East Rail Line]] stations of any district in Hong Kong. It has five stations, namely [[Tai Wai Station|Tai Wai]], [[Sha Tin Station|Sha Tin]], [[Fo Tan Station|Fo Tan]], [[Racecourse Station (MTR)|Racecourse]] and [[University Station (MTR)|University]]. The [[Ma On Shan Line]] runs between [[Tai Wai Station|Tai Wai]], [[Che Kung Temple Station|Che Kung Temple]], [[Sha Tin Wai Station|Sha Tin Wai]], [[City One Station|City One]], [[Shek Mun Station|Shek Mun]], [[Tai Shui Hang Station|Tai Shui Hang]], [[Heng On Station|Heng On]], [[Ma On Shan Station|Ma On Shan]], and [[Wu Kai Sha Station|Wu Kai Sha]] stations. A network of cycle tracks throughout Sha Tin measures about 50 km long and is the longest cycle track network in Hong Kong. Increasing population in the town has exerted pressure on the transportation. Several construction plans have been launched to cope with the demand. The construction of Route T7 linking Ma On Shan Road to Sai Sha Road has been started on January 2001 and completed in 2005. The [[Route 8 (Hong Kong)|Route 8]] connecting [[Cheung Sha Wan]], [[Kowloon]] and Sha Tin is scheduled for construction at the end of 2003 and will complete at the end of 2007. The construction of the [[Ma On Shan Line]] (11.4 km long) began in December 2000 and was completed at the end of 2004. [[Tai Po Road]], [[Sha Lek Highway]], [[Sha Tin Road]], [[Lion Rock Tunnel]], [[Sai Sha Road]], [[Tate's Cairn Tunnel]], [[Tolo Highway]] and [[Shing Mun Tunnels]] already serve the Sha Tin District. ==Schools== *[[S.K.H. Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School]] *[[Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School]] *[[Hang Seng School of Commerce]] *[[Sha Tin Government Secondary School]] *[[Sha Tin Methodist Collage]] *[[POH Chan Kai Memorial College]] *[[Kwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School]] *[[Shatin Tsung Tsin Secondary school]] *[[Shatin Pui Ying College]] *[[Sha Tin College]] - The only [[English Schools Foundation]] high school in Sha Tin. *[[Buddhist Wong Wan Tin College]] *[[International Christian School of Hong Kong]] - to be completed in 2007 ==Hospitals== There are four [[List of hospitals in Hong Kong|hospital]]s in Sha Tin. * The [[Prince of Wales Hospital]], one of the centers of the 2003 [[SARS]] outbreak among health care workers; (Ward 8A) * The [[Sha Tin Hospital]]; * The [[Cheshire Home]]; and * The [[Union Hospital (Hong Kong)|Union Hospital]], a private hospital, where [[James Wong]] died. ==Tourist attractions== Local and tourist attractions in Sha Tin include, most famously, the [[Hong Kong Heritage Museum]], which is Hong Kong's newest and arguably best museum. The Museum was opened on [[16 December]] [[2000]] and includes 12 galleries, a cafe and museum shop. Other attractions include: * [[Sha Tin Racecourse]] * [[Che Kung Temple|Che Kung Miu]]. This expansion of the temple was built in Japanese style and has its own Wheel of Fortune. * [[Tao Fung Shan]] * [[Amah Rock]] * [[Tsang Tai Uk]] (曾大屋). An 1848 dwelling of granite, timber and green brick, with defence towers and a still-used ancestral hall. * [[Lion Pavilion]] (獅子亭) * [[New Town Plaza]] - a large shopping mall in Shatin * [[Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery]] (萬佛寺) * [[Shing Mun River]] * [[Lion Rock]] * [[Sha Tin Park]] (沙田公園). This popular park runs alongside the Shing Mun river channel (open daily 0700 - 2245). * [[Penfold Park]] * [[Sha Tin Town Hall]]. The number one cultural venue in the eastern New Territories, hosting cultural events and exhibitions. * [[Snoopy's World]]. Six zones of amusements on the third floor of the New Town Plaza, including Snoopy's House, a canoe ride and a museum of Peanuts characters (open daily, 1000-2200). ==See also== * [[List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong]] ==External links== * [http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/st/english/welcome.htm Sha Tin District Council] * [http://www.eac.gov.hk/pdf/distco/2007dc/dc2007r.pdf List and map of electoral constituencies (large PDF file)] * [http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/achievements/regional/regi_shatin.htm Sha Tin New Town] * [http://www3.ha.org.hk/pwh/Index_c.html Prince of Wales Hospital] * [http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/ Chinese University of Hong Kong] * [http://www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/ Hong Kong Heritage Museum] * [http://webserv1.discoverhongkong.com/eng/touring/hkiidistricts/ta_dist_shat1.jhtml/ Hong Kong Tourist Board's Sha Tin website] *[http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=22.397690,114.203911&spn=0.067291,0.111065&t=k&hl=en Satellite image of Sha Tin New Town by Google Maps] {{Hong Kong}} [[Category:Sha Tin District| ]] [[he:שא טין]] [[ja:沙田区]] [[no:Sha Tin-distriktet]] [[pl:Sha Tin]] [[pt:Sha Tin (distrito)]] [[sv:Sha Tin]] [[zh-yue:沙田區]] [[zh:沙田區]]