Kuk Po, Abandoned settlement in North District, Hong Kong.
Kuk Po is an abandoned settlement in the northeastern New Territories that spreads across coastal mangrove areas, reed wetlands, and former rice paddies near Starling Inlet. The landscape shows several distinct zones reflecting how residents once used different parts of their land.
The settlement was founded more than 300 years ago but was disrupted by the 1662 coastal evacuation ordered by the Kangxi Emperor, forcing the Cheung clan to leave the area. This event marked a major turning point for the community.
Seven family clans shaped daily life here for generations, each maintaining fishing and farming traditions in this Hakka-speaking community. Their influence on how people organized the settlement and used the land is still visible in the landscape today.
Access requires special permits due to border proximity, with visitors reaching the area by ferry across Starling Inlet or by walking trackways from Fung Hang. Expect remote and difficult conditions when visiting.
A 350-meter dam from the early 1800s represents the largest agricultural reclamation structure among nearby coastal settlements in this region. Its construction shows the engineering methods residents used to create new farmland.
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