View source for Chai Wan

{{Short description|Neighbourhood in Hong Kong}}
{{About||the MTR station|Chai Wan station|the district of Udon Thani Province, Thailand|Chai Wan district}}
{{Distinguish|Chai Wan Kok|Wan Chai}}

{{Coord|22.27|114.24|type:city(185000)|display=title}}

{{Chinese
|s = 柴湾
|t = 柴灣
|pic = Chai Wan Overview 201407.jpg
|picsize = 230px
|piccap = A view of Chai Wan (back), [[Siu Sai Wan]] (front) and the {{ill|Chai Wan Public Cargo Working Area|lt=Cargo Handling Basin|zh|柴灣公眾貨物裝卸區}} (front right)
|showflag = jp
|y = Chàaihwāan
|p = Cháiwān
|l = ''firewood bay''
}}

'''Chai Wan''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|tʃ|aɪ|_|ˈ|w|ɑː|n}}; {{zh|t=柴灣 }}), formerly known as '''Sai Wan''' (西灣),<ref>{{Cite web |last=香港經濟日報HKET |title=小西灣不簡單 從掌故軼聞尋快樂丹 |url=https://paper.hket.com/article/3054640/%E5%B0%8F%E8%A5%BF%E7%81%A3%E4%B8%8D%E7%B0%A1%E5%96%AE%20%E5%BE%9E%E6%8E%8C%E6%95%85%E8%BB%BC%E8%81%9E%E5%B0%8B%E5%BF%AB%E6%A8%82%E4%B8%B9 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=香港經濟日報HKET |language=zh-Hant}}</ref> lies at the east end of the urban area of [[Hong Kong Island]] next to [[Shau Kei Wan]]. The area is administratively part of the [[Eastern District, Hong Kong|Eastern District]], and is a mosaic of industrial and residential areas. The population was 186,505 in 2001.

{{TOC limit|2}}

==Geography==
[[File:Old Quarry Site Structures, Lei Yue Mun 02.jpg|thumb|Skyline of Chai Wan, extending from [[Island Resort (Hong Kong)|Island Resort]] in [[Siu Sai Wan]] (left) to Heng Fa Chuen (right), viewed from [[Lei Yuen Mun (Kowloon)]] across the [[Lei Yue Mun]] channel.]]

Chai Wan is built on [[Land reclamation in Hong Kong|land reclaimed]] from the bay and extends west from [[Lei Yue Mun]] in Heng Fa Chuen (see below) and east to [[Siu Sai Wan]]. [[Mount Collinson]] and [[Pottinger Peak]] on the south and [[Mount Parker (Hong Kong)|Mount Parker]] on the west, restrict further development. [[Shek O Country Park]] is at the south of Chai Wan.
{{Further|Pak Sha Wan (Chai Wan)}}

==Panorama==
[[File:Cw3.jpg|center|thumb|750px|{{center|Panorama of Chai Wan}}]]

==History==
The name "Chai" literally means firewood, while "Wan" means bay. Its naming possibly because of rich production of firewood in early days.

The book Lo Uk folk Museum stated it was possible there were inhabitants settled in Chai Wan during Northern Song and Southern Song dynasty. During that period, there were merchants bought water in Chai Wan before they continued their journey to Guangzhou, Fujian province, for instance
[[File:Sai-Wan-War-Cemetery-2016.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Sai Wan War Cemetery]]
[[File:Wah Ha Estate (full view).jpg|thumb|200px|right|Wah Ha Estate completed in 2016 is renovate from former Chai Wan Factory Estate]]
Chai Wan was formerly known as '''Sai Wan''' ({{zh|t=西灣|labels=no}}), meaning "West Bay". At the beginning of the 18th century, the area consisted of six villages: [[Dai Ping Village]], [[Law Uk]], [[Luk Uk]], [[Nam Uk]], [[Sai Village]], [[Sing Uk]].

In 1845, the British military built a fort and a barracks in Siu Sai Wan. In December 1941, the Japanese invasion of the island resulted in the [[Battle of Hong Kong]], with approximately 20 gunners executed at the Sai Wan Battery despite having surrendered. After the fort was closed in the 1980s, Sai Sau Wan become an area for new population.

In 1929, [[The Scout Association of Hong Kong|the Boy Scouts Association, Hong Kong Branch]] purchased land for the [[Chai Wan Campsite]] where [[Chai Wan Park]] is now situated. The land returned to [[Government of Hong Kong|Hong Kong Government]] for development in the early 1970s.

In 1952, the government began building low-income housing that gradually replaced rural villages in the area.

MTR Island line<ref>{{cite web|author1=Highway Department|title=Island Line|url=https://www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/existing/railway_network/isl/index.html|access-date=28 June 2017|archive-date=27 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427184224/https://www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/existing/railway_network/isl/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Eastern Corridor Phrase 3<ref>{{cite web|title=Roads in Hong Kong Island|url=https://www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/existing/road_network/hk.html|publisher=Highway Department|access-date=28 June 2017}}</ref> opened in 1985 and 1989 respectively, improving connection with rest of the Island and Hong Kong.

==Culture==
The [[Law Uk Folk Museum]] was formerly a village and is now a [[List of museums in Hong Kong|museum]], a branch of the [[Hong Kong Museum of History]].

==Housing==
This area has about 200-300 high rise buildings, most of them residential. It also has [[Public housing estates in Chai Wan and Siu Sai Wan|a number of public housing estates]].

===Heng Fa Chuen===
{{main|Heng Fa Chuen}}
{{Chinese|title=Heng Fa Chuen|s=杏花邨|t=杏花邨|pic=Heng Fa Chuen Hong Kong.jpg|picsize=220px|piccap=A bird's eye view of Heng Fa Chuen|showflag=j|j=Hang<sup>6</sup> Faa<sup>1</sup> Cyun<sup>1</sup>|y=Hahngfāchyùn|p=Xìnghuācūn|l=''Almond Flower Village''}} 
Heng Fa Chuen is a [[Private housing estates in Hong Kong|private residential estate]] in Chai Wan, jointly developed by [[MTR Corporation]] and [[Kerry Properties]]. Construction of the residential estate began on 13{{nbsp}}August 1977, ended on 26{{nbsp}}April 1982 and officially opened on 10 July 1982.

The area was reclaimed from Pak Sha Wan ({{zh|t=白沙灣|labels=no}}) and Lei Yue Mun Bay ({{zh|t=鯉魚門灣|labels=no}}). The current promenade along the shoreline was once a beach, surrounded by barren hills and vegetation. Further west, there was once a quarry, near to the site of the [[Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence]]. However, the quarry was decommissioned by the [[Hong Kong Government]], after it was mined out. The miners dispersed, with some moving to Chai Wan and settling in wooden houses. There were still traces of it when the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence was established.

In the early 1980s, when the [[Island line (MTR)|Island line]] of the MTR was being planned, the working name of the station was "Chai Wan Quay", according to the Freeman, Fox, Wilbur Smith & Associates ''Mass Transportation Study''. It became Heng Fa Chuen when MTR became the rightful developer of the land for the station and depot. Not only was the name changed, but also it was relocated to its present place from the old location near [[Chai Wan Ferry Pier|Chai Wan pier]]/[[Ming Pao]] Industrial Centre.

There are 6,504 apartments in 48 residential blocks<ref name="MTR">[http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/properties/urban_lines_hengfachuen.html MTR Properties website - Heng Fa Chuen]</ref> managed by [[MTR Properties|MTR Property Management]], with Paradise Mall, a shopping centre,<ref>[http://www.paradise-mall.com.hk/eng/index.asp Paradise Mall official homepage] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903172934/http://www.paradise-mall.com.hk/eng/index.asp |date=September 3, 2011 }} Retrieved 2011-09-17</ref> attached to it. The world's 11,000th [[McDonald's]] fast-food restaurant was opened at Heng Fa Chuen in 1989.<ref>[http://www.mcdonalds.com.hk/english/about/index.htm McDonald's Hong Kong website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226134558/http://www.mcdonalds.com.hk/english/about/index.htm |date=2007-02-26 }} Retrieved 2011-09-17</ref> In 2000, a [[PARKnSHOP]] supermarket replaced the existing [[Carrefour]] giant chain supermarket. This [[Carrefour]] store, which opened in December 1996, was the first one opened in Hong Kong. It is an item of note that the area used to be under the flightpath of planes landing on the southern side of [[Kai Tak Airport]]'s runway, and therefore most tower blocks had to be built lower than 20 floors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www2.consumer.org.hk/p253/resale_e.htm |title=Consumer Council - The Practice of Resale Price Maintenance in Hong Kong (September 2, 1997) |access-date=September 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008064855/http://www2.consumer.org.hk/p253/resale_e.htm |archive-date=October 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="The Standard">{{Cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/archive_news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=26758&sid=&con_type=1&archive_d_str=20000830 |title="500 to lose jobs as Carrefour quits SAR", ''The Standard'', August 30, 2000 |access-date=September 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130107165740/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/archive_news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=26758&sid=&con_type=1&archive_d_str=20000830 |archive-date=January 7, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Siu Sai Wan===
{{main|Siu Sai Wan}}
Siu Sai Wan is a newly developed residential area, located in the eastern part of Chai Wan. Notable landmarks in Siu Sai Wan include the largest sports ground on Hong Kong Island, the [[Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground]]<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/facilities/facilitieslist/facilities.php?ftid=38&did=2| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151231024545/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/facilities/facilitieslist/facilities.php?ftid=38&did=2| archive-date = 2015-12-31| title = Leisure and Cultural Services Department}}</ref> and one of the largest private housing estates on Hong Kong Island, [[Island Resort (Hong Kong)|Island Resort]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://islandresort.hk/about_island_resort |title=藍灣半島 &#124; Island Resort |access-date=2016-03-04 |archive-date=2016-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308052445/http://islandresort.hk/about_island_resort |url-status=dead }}</ref> The population is about 80,000.

{{wide image|Chai Wan 1.jpg|800px|Chai Wan, viewed from [[Hong Kong Buddhist Cemetery]]}}

==Economy==
The head office of [[Media Chinese]] is in the Ming Pao Industrial Centre ({{Zh|first=t|t=明報工業中心|s=明报工业中心}}) in Chai Wan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediachinesegroup.com/php/content.php?channel=contact&path=contact_01&lang=E|title=Contact Us|publisher=Media Chinese|accessdate=2021-01-27|quote=Hong Kong Address: 15/F, Block A, Ming Pao Industrial Centre, 18 Ka Yip Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong}} - [http://www.mediachinesegroup.com/php/content.php?channel=contact&path=contact_01&lang=T Traditional Chinese]: "香港柴灣嘉業街18號明報工業中心A座15樓" - [http://www.mediachinesegroup.com/php/content.php?channel=contact&path=contact_01&lang=S Simplified Chinese]: "香港柴湾嘉业街18号明报工业中心A座15楼"</ref>

==Education==
[[File:IslamicKasimtuetmemorialcollege.jpg|thumb|[[Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College]]]]
[[File:FrenchschoolChaiwan.jpg|thumb|[[French International School of Hong Kong]] Chai Wan Campus]]
Schools in the area include:
* [[Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.iktmc.edu.hk/eng/us_introduction.htm|publisher=Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College|access-date=2010-08-09|title=School profile|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308140747/http://www.iktmc.edu.hk/eng/us_introduction.htm|archive-date=2010-03-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Caritas Chai Wan Marden Foundation Secondary School
* {{ill|Chong Gene Hang College|zh|張振興伉儷書院}} (天主教喇沙會張振興伉儷書院)
* Cognito College (Hong Kong) (文理書院（香港）)
* [[HKUGA Primary School]]
* [[French International School of Hong Kong]] (Lycée Français International Victor Segalen) Chai Wan Campus
**The Chai Wan Campus of the French school is located in the former Meng Tak Catholic School in Chai Wan; this campus opened in September 2011 and houses primary school students.<ref>"[http://www.fis.edu.hk/web/Default.aspx?r=1&lang=en-gb&e=1399&h=2;5;-1 Campuses - Chai Wan]." ''[[Lycée Français International Victor Segalen]]''. Retrieved on 25 January 2015. "1 Cheung Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong"</ref>
* [https://guidepostmontessori.com/chai-wan Guidepost Montessori International Kindergarten (Chai Wan)]

In Heng Fa Chuen:
* [[Lingnan Secondary School]] (嶺南中學)
* The Salvation Army Ann Wyllie Memorial Primary School (救世軍韋理夫人紀念學校)
* The C. & M. A. Scholars' Kindergarten (上書房中英文幼稚園)
* St. Dominic Kindergarten (聖道明幼稚園)
* The Creative Kindergarten (啟思幼稚園)
* The Ruth Kindergarten (路德會幼稚園)

Chai Wan is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 16. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and two government schools: Shau Kei Wan Government Primary School and Aldrich Bay Government Primary School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/2023dpnet-16b.pdf|title=POA School Net 16|publisher=[[Education Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-09-12}}</ref>

[[Hong Kong Public Libraries]] operates the Chai Wan Public Library in the Chai Wan Municipal Services Building.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/locations/eastern/library/chai-wan.html|title=Chai Wan Public Library|publisher=[[Hong Kong Public Libraries]]|access-date=2025-10-12}}</ref>

==Cemeteries==
Mount Collinson has a range of cemeteries:
* [[Cape Collinson Chinese Permanent Cemetery]]
* [[Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery|Holy Cross Roman Catholic Cemetery]]
* [[Sai Wan War Cemetery]] (where the dead from the Second World War are buried)
* [[Cape Collinson Muslim Cemetery]]
* [[Hong Kong Buddhist Cemetery]]
* [[Cape Collinson Crematorium]]

==Transport==
[[File:MTR HFC (5).JPG|thumb|Half-height [[platform screen doors]] in [[Heng Fa Chuen station]].]]

===MTR===
Chai Wan is served by two stations of the [[MTR]] rapid transit railway, both on the [[Island line (MTR)|Island line]]:
* [[Chai Wan station]], the eastern terminus of [[Island line (MTR)|Island line]]
* [[Heng Fa Chuen station]], at Heng Fa Chuen

The Chai Wan Depot is located under blocks 1 to 18 of Heng Fa Chuen Estate and beside Heng Fa Chuen station. It houses trains serving on the Island line, and inspections of trains are carried out here.

===Expressways===
* [[Island Eastern Corridor]] along the shore, from Chai Wan to [[Causeway Bay]]. Chai Wan is its eastern terminus, ending at a large roundabout near the MTR station.

===Major roads===
* [[Chai Wan Road]]
* [[Tai Tam Road]]
* [[Siu Sai Wan Road]]
* [[Wing Tai Road]]
* [[Shing Tai Road]]

==See also==
* [[Chai Wan Kok]] (an area in [[Tsuen Wan]] with which it is easily confused)
* [[List of places in Hong Kong]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = [[Eastern District, Hong Kong|Eastern District]]
| North     = ([[Victoria Harbour]])
| Northeast = 
| East      = [[Tathong Channel]]
| Southeast = 
| South     = [[Southern District, Hong Kong|Southern District]]
| Southwest = 
| West      = [[Wan Chai District]]
| Northwest = 
}}

{{Eastern District, Hong Kong}}
{{Hong Kong Urban Areas}}
{{Reclaimed land in Hong Kong}}

[[Category:Chai Wan| ]]