Tung Chung Battery, Artillery battery in Islands District, Hong Kong.
Tung Chung Battery is a fortification in the Islands dating to the early 1800s with two cannon positions and several guard structures built on a clifftop above the water. The site consists of stone constructions arranged to watch over and defend the bay below.
The installation was built in 1817 to protect the bay from pirates and lay hidden beneath thick vegetation for many years. It was rediscovered in 1980 and gained official monument status in 1983.
The name reflects its location in Tung Chung Bay, where the installation was built to guard local waters from external threats. Visitors can see today how the stone structures reveal the military past of this coastal area.
The site is publicly accessible and located in a somewhat remote area reachable by public transportation. It is wise to wear sturdy shoes since the path to the location can be uneven and partly steep.
Today the site faces Hong Kong International Airport, creating a striking contrast between old defense structures and modern aviation. This juxtaposition shows how rapidly the region has changed over two centuries.
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