View source for Yuen Long District

{{about|the district|the town area in the district|Yuen Long|the new town in Hong Kong|Yuen Long New Town}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Yuen Long
| official_name            = Yuen Long District
| native_name              = {{nobold|元朗區}}
| native_name_lang         = zh-Hant-HK
| type                     = [[Districts of Hong Kong|District]]
| image_skyline            = Yuen Long Skyline 201006.jpg
| image_caption            = Day view of the Yuen Long District skyline
| image_blank_emblem       = Yuen Long District Council logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type        = Official emblem
| blank_emblem_size        = 60px
| blank_emblem_alt         = 
| image_map                = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=10}}
| image_map1               = Hong Kong Yuen Long District.svg
| map_caption1             = Location of Yuen Long District within Hong Kong
| coordinates              = {{coord|22.44559|114.02218|type:adm2nd_region:HK|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type1        = Region
| subdivision_name1        = [[Hong Kong]]
| subdivision_type2        = Country
| subdivision_name2        = [[China]]
| subdivision_type         = Statutorily-defined area
| subdivision_name         = [[New Territories]]
| leader_title             = [[Yuen Long District Council|District Council]] Chairman
| leader_name              = Shum Ho-Kit{{update span|date=June 2024}}

| leader_title2            = [[Yuen Long District Council|District Council]] Vice-Chairman
| leader_name2             = Tang Ho-Nin
| parts_type               = [[List of constituencies of Hong Kong|Constituencies]]
| parts_style              = para
| p1                       = 39{{outdated inline|date=June 2024}}
| area_total_km2           = 138.56
| area_land_km2            = 138.56
| area_water_km2           = 
| area_note                = [[Lands Department]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/resources/mapping-information/hk-geographic-data.html|title=Hong Kong Geographic Data (As at October 2021)|date=January 2022|access-date=2022-08-04|work=[[Lands Department]], [[Hong Kong SAR]]}}</ref>
| population_as_of         = 2021<ref name="2021census">{{cite report|url=https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/data/stat_report/product/B1120106/att/B11201062021XXXXB01.pdf|title=2021 Population Census: Summary Results|work=[[Census and Statistics Department]], [[Hong Kong SAR]]|date=February 2022}}</ref>
| population_total         = 668,080
| population_density_km2   = 4,822
| population_note          = [[Census and Statistics Department]]<ref name="2021census" />
| timezone                 = [[Hong Kong Time]]
| utc_offset               = +8
| website                  = [http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/yl/english/welcome/welcome.html Yuen Long District Council]
| blank1_name_sec1         = Largest neighbourhood by population
| blank1_info_sec1         = [[Tin Shui Wai]] (286,232 – 2016 est)<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.bycensus2016.gov.hk/en/bc-dp-tpu.html|title=District Profiles|date=8 December 2017|access-date=15 April 2020|publisher=Hong Kong Government|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623232803/https://www.bycensus2016.gov.hk/en/bc-dp-tpu.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| blank1_info_sec2         = 269 [[Castle Peak Road#New Territories|Castle Peak Road – Yuen Long]]{{ill|‌|lt=|yue|%E5%85%83%E6%9C%97%E5%A4%A7%E9%A6%AC%E8%B7%AF|preserve=1}}, Yuen Long
| blank1_name_sec2         = Location of district office and district council
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| t = 元朗區
| s = 元朗区
| showflag = yj
| y = Yùhn lóhng kēui
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|j|yun|4|.|l|ong|5|-|k|eoi|1}}
| j = Jyun4 long5 keoi1
| p = Yuán lǎng qū
}}

'''Yuen Long District''' ([[Hong Kong Government Cantonese Romanisation|formerly]] '''Un Long''') is one of the [[districts of Hong Kong|district]]s of [[Hong Kong]]. Located in the northwest of the [[New Territories]], it had a population of 662,000 in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Social Welfare Department - District Profile |url=https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_district/page_yuenlong/sub_districtpr/ |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=www.swd.gov.hk}}</ref>

{{TOC limit|2}}

==Geography==
[[File:Tin Shui Wai South 20070901.jpg|240px|thumb|right|Tin Shui Wai New Town]]
Yuen Long District contains the largest alluvial plain in Hong Kong, the Yuen Long-Kam Tin plain. With an area of 144&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (56 square miles), the district covers many traditional villages including [[Ping Shan|Ping Shan Heung]], [[Ha Tsuen|Ha Tsuen Heung]], [[Kam Tin|Kam Tin Heung]], [[Fung Kat Heung]], [[Pat Heung]], [[San Tin|San Tin Heung]] and [[Shap Pat Heung]], as well as [[Yuen Long Town]] and [[Tin Shui Wai]].

Two [[new towns of Hong Kong|new town]]s have been developed within this district. [[Yuen Long New Town]] was developed from the traditional market town of [[Yuen Long Town]] from the late 1970s. [[Tin Shui Wai New Town]] has developed since the early 1990s and is built on [[Land reclamation in Hong Kong|land reclaimed]] from former fish ponds once common in the district.

==History==
According to archaeological findings, there were inhabitants settled in the district around 3,500 years ago. The ruling clan of the [[Tang Clan]] ({{zh|t=鄧氏家族}}) lived there in [[Kam Tin]]. Like [[Tai Po]], Yuen Long used to be a traditional [[market town]].

In 1898 the area of the modern day Yuen Long District was leased to the colonial British Hong Kong government by the [[Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory]]. A 6 day-war broke out between the British army and the militia from Tang and other villages. The iron doors of the walled villages of Tang were looted and brought to the UK as spoils of war.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hk.trip.com/blog/walled-villages-heritage-trails/ | title=【圍村文物徑】走訪500年歷史！8大香港圍村文物徑 吉慶圍/屏山/龍躍頭/中西區 }}</ref> They were returned to Tang later, but according to urban legend, the doors were mixed up and were not returned to the rightful villages, possibly explaining the two sides of the door of [[Kat Hing Wai]] being different in design.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kQ0pEAAAQBAJ | title=被忽略的主角：新界鄉議局發展及其中華民族文化承傳 | isbn=9789620772726 | author1=廖書蘭 | date=6 June 2018 | publisher=商務印書館(香港)有限公司 }}</ref>

After the war, the colonial government took a different approach to administer the New Territories, establishing the [[district officer|district office]]. Yuen Long was under the [[Old District Office North|District Office North]] headquartered in Tai Po. A permanent branch office was later set up in Yuen Long.

The history of the modern-day Yuen Long administrative district (despite a few government departments not mapping their service area according to the boundary of the District) can be traced back to '''Yuen Long District Office''' (previously known as {{zh|t=元朗理民府}} now known as {{zh|t=元朗民政事務處}} of [[Home Affairs Department]]; English name unchanged) of the "New Territories Administration" department of the British colonial government. Reforms in 1980s led to all of Hong Kong, including the New Territories, being divided into Districts, each with a District Council with elected councillors. The last election of the [[Yuen Long District Council]] was held in 2023.

==Culture==

===Special festivals===
The [[Matsu (goddess)|Tin Hau]] Festival ({{zh|t=天后誕巡遊|labels=no}}) is on the 23rd of the third month of the [[lunar calendar]]. It celebrates the birth of a local deity, Tin Hau. During the day, residents from various walled villages set off at Fung Cheung Road, go via Kau Yuk Road and the Yuen Long Stadium, and end at [[Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong|Tai Shu Ha Tin Hau Temple]], which has a 300-year history.

===Cuisine===
* [[Poon choi]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|盤菜}})
* [[Sweetheart cake]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|老婆餅}})

==Popular scenic spots==

===Hong Kong Wetland Park===
[[File:Hong Kong Wetland Park893.jpg|thumb|right|Hong Kong Wetland Park]]
[[Hong Kong Wetland Park]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|香港濕地公園}}) is located at the northern part of [[Tin Shui Wai]]. It was intended to be an ecological mitigation area (EMA) for the [[wetlands]] lost due to [[Tin Shui Wai New Town]] development. In 1998, a project named as "International Wetland Park and Visitor Centre Feasibility Study" was initiated by the [[Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department]] and the [[Hong Kong Tourism Board]] with a view to expanding the EMA to a wetland ecotourism attraction. After concluding that it was feasible to develop a wetland park at the EMA site without compromising its intended ecological mitigation functions and the development of the Wetland Park will also enhance the ecological function of the EMA to a world-class conservation, education and tourism facility, the concerned parties started the Wetland Park Project, which is regarded as one of the Millennium projects by the Administrations.

===Kat Hing Wai===
{{main|Kat Hing Wai}}
Kat Hing Wai ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|吉慶圍}}) in Kam Tin is one of the Yuen Long's best-known [[walled villages of Hong Kong|walled villages]]. It is the ancestral home of the Tangs, one of the "Five Great Clans" in the territory. Built by the Tangs 500 years ago, it is a rectangular walled village with an area of 100 metres by 90 metres. As a family stronghold, Kat Hing Wai has served the Tangs well through centuries. In the [[Qing dynasty]], a five-metre high blue brick wall and four cannon towers were added to fend off bandits.

Route: [[Tuen Ma line]] [[Kam Sheung Road station]] or [[Kowloon Motor Bus|KMB]] routes 54, 64K and 77K

===Nam Sang Wai===
[[File:Nam Sang Wai View1 200808.jpg|thumb|Nam Sang Wai]]
[[Nam Sang Wai]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|南生圍}}) covers a roughly triangular area. It is bordered by the Shan Pui River in the west, separating it from Yuen Long Industrial Estate, the Kam Tin River in the east and a branch of the Kam Tin River in the south. It is home to many birds, including seagulls, Northern Pintails (Anas acuta), Yellow-nib Ducks (Anas poecilorhyncha) and Black-faced Spoonbills (Platalea minor). Flora includes reeds and mangroves.

===Mai Po Marshes===
[[Mai Po Marshes]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|米埔}}) is located in the centre of the wetland and has achieved international significance as a stopping and feeding place for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australian Flyway. The birdwatching season runs from October to May and more than 300 types of birds have been recorded in the area, many of them are rarely seen anywhere outside the region.

Visitors may go to Mai Po via the following ways:
* From [[Central, Hong Kong|Central]] or Causeway Bay take route 968 to Yuen Long (West) Bus terminal, then change taxi.
* From [[Sheung Shui station]], take Bus 76K or red minibus 17 to Mai Po village, then walk to the Marsh (about 20 minutes).

On 30 January 2004, the government suspended public visits to the Mai Po wetland reserve as a supposed measure to protect people from the avian flu (H5N1).

===Ping Shan Heritage Trail===
[[File:Tai Fu Tai Mansion HK.jpg|thumbnail|right|The Tai Fu Tai Mansion is a historical monument in Hong Kong.]]
[[Ping Shan Heritage Trail]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|屏山文物徑}}), inaugurated on 12 December 1993, was designed to link several historic buildings and monuments owned by the Tang clan in Ping Shan (including Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda 聚星樓 and Tang Ancestral Hall 鄧氏宗祠) by a 1&nbsp;km trail.

Route: LRT [[Ping Shan stop]], [[Hang Mei Tsuen stop]] or West Rail line [[Tin Shui Wai station]]

===Tai Fu Tai===
[[Tai Fu Tai Mansion]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|大夫第}}) in [[San Tin]] was probably built in 1865 in the reign of the Qing dynasty. It is a richly embellished residence situated on a spacious ground, with a large open space in the front and a garden at the back. The whole compound is surrounded by a green-brick wall. It is a fine example of traditional Chinese dwellings of the [[scholar-gentry|scholar-gentry class]] and is certainly one of the most elegant buildings throughout the territory.

Route: KMB Bus 76K to San Tin

===Tai Lam Country Park===
[[Tai Lam Country Park]] sits in the western New Territories with an area of 54&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. Tai Lam has a small area of [[Porphyry (geology)|porphyry]] in the northeast; for the remaining area, it is composed of highly erodible decomposed [[granite]]. In 1952, afforestation started as a measure to protect the water catchment area. In spite of the poor soil conditions and the setbacks of fire damage over the years, mature stands of ''[[Acacia confusa]]'', ''[[Lophostemon confertus]]'', ''[[Pinus massoniana]]'', ''[[Pinus elliottii]]'' and [[Eucalyptus]] species now cover most of the area. In addition, the plantations also offer a good habitat for birds, [[pangolin]]s, [[Chinese leopard cat]], and [[barking deer]]. Nevertheless, Tai Lam is an excellent place for [[outdoor activity|outdoor activities]] because of its remoteness.

===Yuen Long Park===
[[File:Yuen Long Park Aviary Pagoda.jpg|thumbnail|right|Aviary Pagoda ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|百鳥塔}})]]
[[Yuen Long Park]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|元朗市鎮公園}}) is a park at Yuen Long Town with recreational facilities. There is a 7-storey pagoda enclosing an [[aviary]], which has become a landmark of Yuen Long.

Route: LRT [[Shui Pin Wai stop]], LWB bus E34 or KMB Bus 68X, 268B, 268C, 268X, 269D, 276, 276P, B1, 68E (get off the bus at ''Yuen Long Park''.)

==Leisure and cultural facilities==
[[File:Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Cultural and Leisure Building 201203.jpg|thumbnail|Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Cultural and Leisure Building]]
* '''[[Yuen Long Theatre]]''' was opened in May 2000. This modern performing arts venue has become a centre for the arts in the New Territories northwest. The Theatre is situated at Yuen Long Tai Yuk Road in the vicinity of Yuen Long Park, Yuen Long Stadium and the Public Swimming Pool. The bamboo courtyard is a focus within the foyer, which creates an ambiance of serenity and tranquility.
* '''Yuen Long Town Hall''' is located in Kau Yuk Road, near Yuen Long Police Station. It is to organise courses and leisure activities. There is also study room.
* '''Yuen Long Swimming Pool''' is situated at Tai Yuk Road. There are 5 Standard swimming pools for four seasons.
* '''Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool''' and '''Tin Shui Wai Sports Centre''' are situated at 1 Tin Pak Road. There are 3 swimming pools for four seasons and a children swimming pool opened during summer.
* '''Yuen Long Public Library''' is on the first floor of Yuen Long Government Offices, 2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long.
* '''[[Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library]]''' is at [[Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Leisure and Cultural Building]], 1 Tsui Sing Road, Tin Shui Wai.
* '''[[TSW Pegasus]]''' and '''[[Yuen Long District SA]]''' are both [[association football|football]] teams based in '''[[Yuen Long Stadium]]'''.

==Transport==
[[File:Tin Shui Wai Station Outside View 2011.jpg|thumbnail|right|Tuen Ma station in Tin Shui Wai]]
[[File:Yuen Long Station 2013 08 part2.JPG|thumbnail|right|Tuen Ma station in Yuen Long]]

Located in the northwest of the New Territories, Yuen Long has a well-developed public transport network. It is easily accessible from different parts of Hong Kong by bus, mini-bus or railway.

* Bus services provided by [[Kowloon Motor Bus]], [[Citybus (Hong Kong)|Citybus]] and MTR
* [[Tuen Ma line]] and [[Light Rail (MTR)|Light Rail]] services provided by [[MTR]]
* [[Public light bus]]es
* [[Taxicabs of Hong Kong|Taxis]], including the New Territories taxis (green taxis) and public taxis (public taxis).

The [[Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Corridor]] bridge ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|深港西部通道}}) is the fourth cross-border route between Hong Kong and mainland China. It was completed and opened in 2007, and is 5.5&nbsp;km long. It starts at [[Ngau Hom Shek]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|鰲磡石}}), located at the northwest of Yuen Long, and ends in [[Shekou Industrial Zone|Shekou]], a harbour port located in Shenzhen.<ref>[http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr97-98/chinese/panels/plw/papers/pl15012a.htm Route: Number 10]</ref>

==Education==
* [[List of schools in Yuen Long District]]

[[Hong Kong Public Libraries]] operates three libraries in this district: Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai, Tin Shui Wai, and Yuen Long.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/locations/yuen-long/libraries.html|title=Yuen Long Libraries|publisher=[[Hong Kong Public Libraries]]|access-date=2025-10-12}}</ref>

==Statistical information==
{| border="1" cellspacing=0
!colspan="3"| Demographic characteristics
|-
|colspan="2"| Population
|align="right"| 449,070
|-
|rowspan="3" valign="top"| Proportion of population ([[%]])
|align="right"| Aged under 15
|align="right"| 20
|- align="right"
| Aged 15–64
| 71
|- align="right"
| Aged 65 and over
| 9
|-
|colspan="2"| Median age
|align="right"| 33
|-
|rowspan="2" valign="top"| Proportion of population aged 15 and over being never married (%)
|align="right"| Male
|align="right"| 32
|- align="right"
| Female
| 27
|-
!colspan="3"| Education
|-
|colspan="2"| School attendance rate of population aged 6–18 (%)
|align="right"| 92.9
|-
|colspan="2"| Proportion of non-student population aged 20 and over having attained tertiary education (%)
|align="right"| 10.9
|-
!colspan="3"| Labour force characteristics
|-
|colspan="2"| Labour force
|align="right"| 219,444
|-
|rowspan="3" valign="top"| Labour force participation rate (%) ||align="right"| Male
|align="right"| 74.0
|- align="right"
| Female
| 48.2
|- align="right"
| Both sexes
| 60.9
|-
|colspan="2"| Median monthly income from main employment of working population ([[HK$]])
|align="right"| 10,588.7
|-
!colspan="3"| Household characteristics
|-
|colspan="2"| Number of domestic households
|align="right"| 137,211
|-
|colspan="2"| Average domestic household size
|align="right"| 3.2
|-
|colspan="2"| Median monthly domestic household income (HK$)
|align="right"| 16,763.5
|-
!colspan="3"| Housing characteristics
|-
|colspan="2"| Number of occupied quarters
|align="right"| 136,705
|-
|colspan="2"| Average number of domestic households per unit of quarters
|align="right"| 1.01
|-
|colspan="2"| Proportion of domestic households owning the quarters they occupy (%)
|align="right"| 48.15
|-
|colspan="2"| Median monthly domestic household mortgage payment and loan repayment (HK$)
|align="right"| 7,693.83
|-
|colspan="2"| Median mortgage payment and loan repayment to income ratio (%)
|align="right"| 24.63
|-
|colspan="2"| Median monthly domestic household rent (HK$)
|align="right"| 2,513.04
|-
|colspan="2"| Median rent to income ratio (%)
|align="right"| 16.36
|}

==See also==
* [[List of places in Hong Kong]]
* [[Democratic Alliance (Hong Kong)|Democratic Alliance]]
* [[Yuen Long Town]]

==Footnotes==
<references/>

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030623181829/http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/yl/english/welcome.htm Yuen Long District Council]
* [http://www.eac.gov.hk/pdf/distco/maps/dc2003m.pdf List and map of electoral constituencies (large PDF file)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041112025335/http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/achievements/regional/regi_yuenlong.htm Yuen Long New Town]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041112024605/http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/achievements/regional/regi_tinshuiwai.htm Tin Shui Wai New Town]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031205111825/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Yuenlong/ Yuen Long Theatre]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040322180932/http://www.ylth.org.hk/ Yuen Long Town Hall]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030804220030/http://www.info.gov.hk/tdd/towns/yuenlong.htm Yuen Long New Town]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031213133208/http://www.info.gov.hk/planning/info_serv/publication/nt_pamphlet02/yl_html/index_e.htm Hong Kong government pamphlet about the development of the new town]
* [http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/touring/hkiidistricts/ta_dist_yuen1.jhtml Hong Kong Tourism Board]
* [http://www.wwf.org.hk/eng/maipo WWF Hong Kong]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040407015722/http://www.afcd.gov.hk/wetlandpark/ Hong Kong Wetland Park]
* [http://www.yl.com.hk/ Yuen Long Special]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090310140416/http://www.go2yl.com/index.asp?id=&lang=eng The incredible journey of Yuen Long]

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = Yuen Long District
| North     = {{flagicon|PRC}} [[Futian District]]
| Northeast = [[North District, Hong Kong|North District]]
| East      = [[Tai Po District]]
| Southeast = 
| South     = [[Tsuen Wan District]]
| Southwest = [[Tuen Mun District]]
| West      = ''[[Pearl River (China)|Pearl River]]''
| Northwest = {{flagicon|PRC}} [[Nanshan District, Shenzhen|Nanshan District]]
}}

{{Yuen Long District}}
{{Districts of Hong Kong}}
{{Major cities along the Pearl River}}
{{NTTaxi}}

[[Category:Yuen Long District| ]]