Nam Sang Wai

I have not been to Nam Sang Wai for decades. It is so nice to have my good friend, Fred, who supplies me with photos of recent Nam Sang Wai taken on January 3, 2011.

These photos can bring me some memories of my first visit to it when I was young.

Nam Sang Wai (南生圍) is the swampy area south of the junction of Shan Pui River (山貝河) and Kam Tin River (錦田河) and north of Yuen Long MTR Station. It is a hot place for photographers, hikers, cyclists and picnickers. Shan Pui River became famous when our crocodile star "Pui Pui" (貝貝) was caught somewhere near Nam Sang Wai.

There were many fish ponds in the past, but they were long abandoned. Pond by bond is accessible by narrow paths or man-made wooden walkways or by boats or rafts. Huts built over water like those in Tai O can still be found here. Weeds as tall as men, floating leaves of lotus and water plants still grow in some parts of Nam Sang Wai. The mangroves here attracted long legged birds to rest and find for food.

What a pity that a recent fire, maybe a man-made one, burnt some of the beautiful trees and vegetation away( see the photo in the left corner - a tree has been built leaving a hole which looks like a heart). The fire has destroyed the beauty of this area and worst of all, a developer has bought this piece of land and will turn it into a residential area. A big change of Nam Sang Wai will soon come!