District Highlights

Brief Introduction of Sha Tin District

District Area: 6,940 hectares
Population: 692,806 (Source: "The Profile of Hong Kong Population Analysed by District Council District, 2021", Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR Government)
Boundary: Tai Wai, Sha Tin and Ma On Shan areas

Sha Tin is the most populous administrative district in Hong Kong and a well developed new town. It comprises high-rise buildings of private and public housing co-exist with 48 villages that are full of rural charms.

Traffic and Transportation

MTR East Rail Line (5 stations namely Tai Wai, Sha Tin, Fo Tan, University and Racecourse)
MTR Tuen Ma Line (10 stations namely Hin Keng,Tai Wai, Che Kung Temple, Sha Tin Wai, City One, Shek Mun, Tai Shui Hang, Heng On, Ma On Shan and Wu Kai Sha)
Main roads: Route 8, Tolo Highway, Sai Sha Road, Fo Tan Road, Tai Po Road and Ma On Shan Bypass.
6 Main tunnels:
- Lion Rock Tunnel (connecting to Kowloon Tong in the middle)
- Tate's Cairn Tunnel (connecting to Diamond Hill in the east)
- Shing Mun Tunnel (connecting to Tsuen Wan in the west), linking to Route 5 and Route 7
- 3 tunnels of Route 8 (namely Tai Wai Tunnel, Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and Eagle’s Nest Tunnel)
More than 110 bus routes serving the Sha Tin district.

Cycle Track

Cycling has all along been a distinctive feature of Sha Tin and is very popular among people living in or outside Sha Tin. The first cycle track in Sha Tin was opened to public in 1981, running along Tolo Highway to Tai Po. To tie in with the development of Ma On Shan, the cycle track has been extended to Ma On Shan.

Medical and Health Service Facilities

The Prince of Wales Hospital was officially opened in 1984, providing the community with comprehensive quality healthcare. The Main Clinical Block and Trauma Centre commenced service in October 2010. With a total gross floor area of 71,500 square metres, this 14-storey building brings about a better environment for patients. It also houses the 24-hour Accident and Emergency Department.

Other institutions that provide medical service in the district include the Sha Tin Hospital, the Union Hospital, the CUHK Medical Centre, the Cheshire Home, and the Bradbury Hospice. There are 4 general clinics under the Hospital Authority providing out-patience service for the public, namely Shatin (Tai Wai) General Out-patient Clinic, Ma On Shan Family Medicine Centre, Yuen Chau Kok General Out-patient Clinic, and Lek Yuen General Out-patient Clinic.

Culture, Sports & Recreational Facilities

There are numerous cultural, recreational and sports facilities for use by the Sha Tin residents including the Town Hall, swimming pools, football pitches, indoor sports centres, the Ma On Shan Waterfront Promenade, and various track and field facilities.

The 8-hectare Sha Tin Park was opened to public in 1988. There are a large open plaza and a bandstand in the park. The Ma On Shan Park was opened in 1998 and occupies 5.5 hectares of land. The Sha Tin Racecourse, occupying approximately 70 hectares, rests on a piece of reclaimed flatland. The Penfold Garden, located at the centre of the racecourse, is opened to the public.

Located in Tai Wai, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum was opened at the end of 2000. Besides information on the art, culture and history of the New Territories, the Museum exhibits a variety of cultural artifacts for public appreciation. The Museum, which can house 6,000 visitors, is the largest museum in Hong Kong.

The Ma On Shan Waterfront Promenade is located along the coast of Ma On Shan, and was opened to the public section by section in 2009 and 2010. Occupying an area of about 5.2 hectares, the Ma On Shan Promenade is a 3.2 kilometres long strip of land that overlooks Sha Tin Hoi and offers a magnificent view of the peaks of Pat Sin Leng. It is the second large-scale waterfront promenade in Sha Tin after Pak Shek Kok Promenade.

Education

There are altogether 43 public sector primary schools (including 2 Direct Subsidy Scheme schools), 7 special schools and 47 public sector secondary schools (including 6 Direct Subsidy Scheme schools) in the Sha Tin and Ma On Shan areas. Besides, there are several post-secondary institutions offering locally-accredited programmes, such as the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Sha Tin), the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong College of Technology (Ma On Shan), as well as the Hong Kong Sports Institute, which offers professional training for athletes and coaches.

Special Features of Sha Tin

Sha Tin has the longest tunnel in Hong Kong - the Tate's Cairn Tunnel with a total length of about 4 kilometres.
Sha Tin has the first tunnel in Hong Kong - the Lion Rock Tunnel (completed in 1967).
The Hong Kong Heritage Museum at Tai Wai can receive a total of 6,000 visitors at the same time.
The oldest and largest walled village in Sha Tin is Tai Wai Village (built in 1574).
The first public housing estate in Sha Tin is Lek Yuen Estate (completed in 1976).
Sui Wo Court (1983) in Sha Tin is one of the first Home Ownership Scheme (Phase I) courts in the territory.
Saddle Ridge Garden in Sha Tin is the largest Private Sector Participation Scheme courts in the territory with a total of 4,200 flats.
10 scenic spots in Sha Tin - Che Kung Temple, Amah Rock, Tsang Tai Uk, Sha Tin Racecourse, Lion Pavilion, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shing Mun River, Lion Rock and Ma On Shan.
Shatin Festival (held every 4 years)
Sha Tin Festive Lighting
Sha Tin Dragon Boat Race
Cycle track running along the Tolo Highway to Tai Po and Ma On Shan
Sha Tin City Art Square was commissioned in 2008. It is located at the Sha Tin Town Hall with an area of 190,000 square feet. It serves the purpose of promoting public arts, the Beijing Olympic Games and equestrianism. The world-class displays include works created by world-renowned overseas, mainland and local artists and designers, all opened to the public free of charge.