Kang Yung Study Hall — Attraction in Hong Kong

Kang Yung Study Hall is one of the few examples of study halls built purely for teaching purposes. Situated in the Hakka village of Sheung Wo Hang in Sha Tau Kok, it was built by the Li clan in the early Qing Dynasty. It began as a small private school for 20 to 30 pupils and was rebuilt in the Qianlong reign (1736-1795) and renamed Kang Yung Study Hall. As it was constructed purely for teaching purposes, the architecture is simple but functional. It is a two-hall building with cocklofts, providing classrooms and living quarters and comprises a rectangular structure of green brick walls, with unfired mud-bricks and rammed earth for internal partitions. It was declared a monument in 1991 followed by a full restoration undertaken by the government. It is now open to the...

After visiting the Fat Tat Tong, I drove over to Sheung Wo Hang Village to see the Kang Yung Study Hall. I made my way into the village, passing by a large banyan tree. The walk took longer than expected, and I even suspected that I was on the wrong way. But at the end of the path, I saw the yard of the study hall and knew that I was about to see a historic gem.

I thought the Kang Yung Study Hall was breathtaking. Old trees line the manicured garden, enveloping visitors with a sense of classic learnedness from a time long forgotten. The motifs on the two sides of the front gate expresses the appreciation of learning amidst the beauty of nature. The blue brick structure with its arched gateways create an atmosphere that was...

Interesting historical "school" in a remote village. The only problem was that it was hard to find, and there was no clear car parking area. Beware of the...