Built along the Shing Mung River, Sha Tin New Town is a satellite suburb in Hong Kong’s New Territories developed in the 1970s. It centres around a huge shopping mall and boasts an outstanding cultural museum and is also on the doorstep of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery.
Things to do in Sha Tin
In the heart of Sha Tin New Town is New Town Plaza, a nine-story shopping mall that’s one of the busiest in Hong Kong. In addition to its retail stores and eateries, it features an outdoor playground known as “Snoopy’s World” that includes a Peanuts-themed boulevard, baseball dugout and boating canal.
On the banks of the Shing Mun River is the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, which features several themed galleries dedicated to art, culture and history. Learn about the traditions of Cantonese opera and the legacy of Bruce Lee, then see an impressive array of Chinese artefacts from the former Tsui Museum of Art. Cantonese opera performances are regularly held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum.
One of Hong Kong’s most famous Buddhist landmarks is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, which was founded by Yuet Kai and his followers in 1949. Nestled in a bamboo forest overlooking Sha Tin, the complex features five temples, four pavilions and a pagoda. Follow the pathway lined with golden Buddhas that leads to the monastery where nearly 13,000 Buddha statues are housed, together with the preserved body of Yuet Kai.
Getting around Sha Tin
Sha Tin New Town is a 30-minute drive from Central and 40 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport. Regular trains travel to the Sha Tin MTR station, which connects along the East Rail Line. Buses travel throughout Sha Tin New Town while the riverfront is ideally explored on foot.