Expect to spend about one hour for the tour, not counting extra time spent in the railway museum.
This tour starts at the Tai Po Market railway museum (the listed coordinates).
This museum is opened Wed-Mon, 9-17. Closed on Tuesdays, Christmas day, Boxing day, New Year's day and the first three days of Chinese New Year. Free entry.
Tai Po Market railway museum is centered around the original Tai Po Market station, built in Chinese style. The museum features several old coaches and railway engines. The listed coordinates are near a narrow-gauge engine. There are some information signs about the history of the KCR lines.
What is the departure time of the first train from Kowloon to Shenzhen (called "Shumchun" at the time) in 1925? This time is ab:cd (hh:mm).
WP1 - Man Mo Temple.
The Man Mo Temple was built about 100 years ago by the Tsat Yeuk Community of Tai Po to mark the founding of Tai Wo Shi (Tai Wo Market Town) which is now commonly known as Tai Po Market. Full restoration of the temple was undertaken by the Tai Po Tsat Yeuk Rural Committee in 1985 with technical advice and a subsidy from the Government. The temple is dedicated to the gods of Man (literature) and Mo (war).
The temple is located on Fu Shin Street, the last remaining part of the original Tai Po Market. This is one of the busiest open street markets in the New Territories and in itself worth a visit.
(e) is the number of green benches in the temple garden.
WP2 - Kwong Fuk Bridge.
This bridge was built by the Man clan, a few years after the Man Mo Temple was built and Tai Wo Market was opened, to facilitate transport across Lam Tsuen River. This also increased competition between the two markets, and benefited the newer Tai Wo Market. Tai Wo Market was soon the larger of the two, and was then referred to as Tai Po Market, while the original market was called Tai Po Old Market (Tai Po Kau Hui) to still make the distinction. Tai Po Old Market quickly lost importance, and has now completely disappeared. Only the name lives on.
Count the number of pillars supporting the raised middle part of the roof, this number is (f).
WP3 - Lee Ancestral Hall.
When the Plover Cove reservoir was built in the 1960s, this meant the inhabitants of six villages had to move. For these villagers Plover Cove Estate was built: the buildings in between Luk Heung Lane (the name Luk Heung means "six villages" and refers to the origins of it's original inhabitants), and Plover Cove road which at the time of construction was the waterfront.
A Chinese village is not complete without ancestral hall, and those would also end up under water together with their respective villages. One of the clans, the Lee family, decided to take their ancestral hall with them and opened a new one at their new home. To this day this ancestral hall is used by the family to worship their ancestors. This hall is unique as it's in a modern housing development. Unfortunately it can not be entered by the public.
(g) is the house number of this ancestral hall.
FINAL - Lam Tsuen River.
The cache can be found about five minutes walk from the ancestral hall, and is located at the Lam Tsuen River waterfront. To find the final coordinates do the following calculations:
h = a+b/2+c+d+f
i = f-(b+c)/2
j = g+c-b
k = b-c
l = f*2+e
Now fill in the numbers to get the coordinates:
22:h.di
114:j.kl
For further reading, lots of information on Tai Po can be found in the book Traditions and Heritage in Tai Po. This is also available as free e-book (pdf format).
Tai Po new town is one of the oldest New Town developments in Hong Kong. Development started in the 1970s with the major improvement of the then KCR train services, providing fast and convenient transport services to the north-eastern New Territories.
Tai Po district has a population of just over 300,000 people, of which about 250,000 live in the urban areas and the rest lives scattered in villages around the district. The district has a remarkably rich history, having served as political and trade centres over the last centuries.
Getting around Tai Po is best done by bicycle, there are several shops renting out bicycles near Tai Po Market station, on Kwong Fuk Road and also in other parts of the town.