Observation Post at Mau Wu Shan, Military observation post in Sai Kung District, Hong Kong.
The Observation Post at Mau Wu Shan is a former military watchtower in Sai Kung, Hong Kong, made up of a cylindrical stone tower and a rectangular stone shelter. The site sits on a hillside above Tseung Kwan O, facing the sea passages that run through the area.
The post was built before 1898 under the Qing Dynasty to serve as a customs station for watching over shipping and collecting taxes on goods such as opium. It was part of a wider network of coastal stations that the Qing government used to control maritime trade in the region.
The walls of the tower and stone shelter were built using volcanic rock gathered from the surrounding hillside, giving the structure a rough, dark texture that blends naturally into the landscape. This approach to construction reflects how builders in remote coastal Hong Kong worked with whatever material was close at hand.
Reaching the site requires a demanding hike over rough terrain, so good footwear and plenty of water are important to bring along. There are no facilities at or near the top, so it is worth planning your visit carefully before setting out.
The openings in the cylindrical tower are arranged so that they cover several sea passages at once, allowing observers to watch over a wide arc without moving. This design was not common in coastal stations of the era, making the tower an early example of purpose-built surveillance architecture.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
