Hong Kong — Tung Chung Gun Battery 東涌小炮台 and Fu Tei Wan Lime Kiln, Tung Chung, Hong Kong

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d="5952">The Tung Chung Gun Battery was discovered in 1980 when undergrowth was being cleared. All that now exists of the battery are some low walls forming a corner. It is thought that the battery was built by the Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces in 1817 during the 22nd year of the Jiaqing Reign of the Qing Dynasty.</p><p id="08d5">The purpose of the battery, along with the Tung Chung Fort some 1,000 meters to the south, was to control the Lantau Channel through which all ships had to pass en route to Guangzhou. The battery is possibly one of two batteries built and mentioned in the Guangdong Annals.</p><figure id="4dae"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*NINq58m9CwrAKrRbdp-1sg.jpeg"><figcaption><b>Photo by Author — Tung Chung Gun Battery 東涌小炮台, Tung Chung, Hong Kong</b></figcaption></figure><p id="3868">In the late 18th century, Tai O and Tung Chung were the only safe anchorage near the Lantau Islands. However, there was no military presence in the area (the nearest fort was at Tai O, which only 30 soldiers manned), and Fan Lau Fort was too far away to be effective. Hence, the fort and battery at Tung Chung were built. The battery was commanded by the Dapeng Battalion and was manned by one officer and 30 soldiers.</p><p id="245b">The gun battery certainly gives a commanding

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view across the Lantau Channel.</p><figure id="2e32"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*iYi8RHqf_pQFprF_vTGSXw.jpeg"><figcaption><b>Photo by Author — view from Tung Chung Gun Battery 東涌小炮台, Tung Chung, Hong Kong</b></figcaption></figure><p id="0fa0">The Tung Chung Gun Battery, although small, is protected under local law.</p><p id="354e">As I left the Tung Chung Gun Battery, I came across an interesting find — Ma Wan Chung 馬灣涌.</p><p id="7998"><b>Foursquare:</b> <a href="http://4sq.com/I2eJoa">Tung Chung Gun Battery</a></p><p id="750e"><b>What3Words:</b> <a href="http://w3w.co/conceals.kebab.orders">conceals.kebab.orders</a></p><div id="49bf" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@NicksWanderings/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - Nick's Wanderings</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*wwuvajZmyuwTjHDT)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

A battery and a kiln in one visit

January 2017

When you wander around the modern centre of Hong Kong, you forget that Hong Kong has a history, and it was interesting to come across the Tung Chung Gun Battery 東涌小炮台 and the Fu Tei Wan Lime Kiln near Tung Chung.

There is not much to see of the battery or the kiln, but when there is not a lot of ‘old’ Hong Kong around, every little bit is important.

The Fu Tei Wan Lime Kiln was discovered on the coast at Fu Tei Wan on the island of Chek Lap Kok in the 1960s. The kiln was excavated in 1982, and the carbon dating of material on the floor dated to 610–880. The kiln was moved to its current location in 1991 by Gurkha Engineers during the construction of Hong Kong International Airport. The kiln was used for burning oysters and other shells to produce lime. The shell ash (lime) would then be used for waterproofing, painting houses and producing cement.

Photo by Author — Fu Tei Wan Lime Kiln, Tung Chung, Hong Kong

The Tung Chung Gun Battery was discovered in 1980 when undergrowth was being cleared. All that now exists of the battery are some low walls forming a corner. It is thought that the battery was built by the Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces in 1817 during the 22nd year of the Jiaqing Reign of the Qing Dynasty.

The purpose of the battery, along with the Tung Chung Fort some 1,000 meters to the south, was to control the Lantau Channel through which all ships had to pass en route to Guangzhou. The battery is possibly one of two batteries built and mentioned in the Guangdong Annals.

Photo by Author — Tung Chung Gun Battery 東涌小炮台, Tung Chung, Hong Kong

In the late 18th century, Tai O and Tung Chung were the only safe anchorage near the Lantau Islands. However, there was no military presence in the area (the nearest fort was at Tai O, which only 30 soldiers manned), and Fan Lau Fort was too far away to be effective. Hence, the fort and battery at Tung Chung were built. The battery was commanded by the Dapeng Battalion and was manned by one officer and 30 soldiers.

The gun battery certainly gives a commanding view across the Lantau Channel.

Photo by Author — view from Tung Chung Gun Battery 東涌小炮台, Tung Chung, Hong Kong

The Tung Chung Gun Battery, although small, is protected under local law.

As I left the Tung Chung Gun Battery, I came across an interesting find — Ma Wan Chung 馬灣涌.