Tung Chung Fort, Military fort in Islands District, Hong Kong

Tung Chung Fort is a walled enclosure of rough-cut granite blocks measuring 70 by 80 metres, with three arched gateways: the north-facing Gongchen Gate, the east Jiexiu Gate and the west Liangeng Gate. The north gate carries a stone plaque with two Chinese characters above its arch. Six muzzle-loading cannons, cast in 1805, 1809 and 1843, stand on granite and cement bases along the walls.

Tung Chung Fort was first built in the Shun Hei era (1174–1189) of the Southern Song dynasty, when a 300-man navy under King Leok Chin was stationed there to stop salt smugglers. The Qing rebuilt it in 1832 (or 1817) for the Right Battalion of Tai Peng against pirates, including Cheung Po Tsai, until the 1898 lease of the New Territories. It was later a police station and a school.

The fort represents a junction of Chinese military architecture with six muzzle-loading cannons positioned on cement bases within granite block enclosures.

The fort is accessible by local bus service with a short walk from the main terminal in the area. Wear comfortable walking shoes and allow time to explore both the exterior and the interior spaces of the structure.

The six muzzle-loading cannons on the walls were not made for this fort: they were cast in 1805, 1809 and 1843 and brought from other batteries as decoration. Their barrels carry Chinese inscriptions giving the casting year, and scholars established the mismatch by reading them.