Exploring Tsuen Wan through the eyes of an artist

21 November 2023

Many artists are often inspired by their personal experiences when it comes to creativity. Local artist UUendy Lau (nicknamed UU), who has exhibited her art pieces at the M+ Museum and the Hong Kong Design Centre, has been deeply influenced by her childhood and adolescence in Tsuen Wan as well. Though it seems to be a chaotic place for many people, UU believes that we can discover in this area a sense of good neighbourhood, inherited tradition, and peace in nature.

Why not follow UU’s footsteps and get the feel of the nine noteworthy places of her choice in Tsuen Wan?

UUendy Lau, local artist with the flame tree behind her

Adjacent to Tsuen Wan MTR Station in Sai Lau Kok, there is a flame tree. UU remembered that when she was a secondary student, she passed by this tall tree almost every day while walking on a footbridge which allowed her to get a closer look at it and admire its beauty. She recalled, “The tree crown is usually green, but it turned red in early summer when its bright and eye-catching flowers bloomed, reminding me the transition of the four seasons.” In fact, one of her art installations made two years ago was inspired by that flame tree.

Exploration of cultural heritage

The nearby Sam Tung Uk Museum is a Hakka-walled village with a history of more than 200 years, an intangible cultural heritage located in the urban centre. UU said, “Located among modern multi-storey residential complexes, this group of ancient buildings inspired me to rethink the value of history.”

Sam Tung Uk Museum
2 Kwu Uk Lane

Yuen Yuen Institute, which is another heritage icon in the district, is dedicated to Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism with traditional Chinese architecture. The temple reminded her of her family outings when she was a little girl. Though her parents had no religious beliefs, they visited it because of its beautiful and secluded Chinese landscaped gardens. She still remembered the lovely songbirds singing and the pleasant classical ambiance there.

Yuen Yuen Institute
Sam Dip Tam

Human touch of the old shops

UU also has feelings attached to some old shops in Tsuen Wan. Opened in the 60s, the Kent Kee Shoe Repair in Fuk Loi Estate has been the all-time favourite in the neighborhood because of the shop owner’s craftsmanship. “Kent Kee is a tiny full-equipped shop. Cobbler Master Leung took over the business after his father-in-law fell ill.”

Kent Kee Shoe Repair
16A Shop, Fuk Loi Estate

Started in the 70s on Tai Ho Road, Yau Yin Tong Seal Shop, a family business, is always well-stocked with a good variety of calligraphy items in an organised manner despite its small shop size. UU remembered, “The shop owner, who is also a Chinese calligraphy teacher, often participated in exhibitions on Chinese calligraphy, painting and seal carving. When I was a kid, I used to buy engraved seals and calligraphy papers from this shop.”

Yau Yin Tong Seal Shop
17B Tai Ho Road

Another famous landmark in Tsuen Wan is the Shanghai Luk Kam Kee, ‘king of melon seeds’. She smiled and said, “This shop is available in Tsuen Wan only, and you can meet up with your friends there to ensure that nobody will go to the wrong place.” Before Chinese New Year, there are always endless queues of loyal customers who have to snap up festive delicacies, like melon seeds and sweets.

Shanghai Luk Kam Kee
5 Tai Ho Road

Speaking of food, she loved to lunch with her secondary school classmates in the cooked food centre on the top floor of the Heung Che Street Market, owing to its affordable prices and many food choices. The rice noodles shop which has become very popular in recent years has given everyone a good reason to return to this food centre.

Heung Che Street Market
8 Tso Kung Street

Shuttling through the greenery

Although Tsuen Wan is a bustling district, it also enjoys proximity to the mountains and the sea, thus, it has easy accessibility to nature. UU recalled, “When I was a child, my mother brought me to her friend’s house on the Chuen Long village where I saw fireflies for the first time.” Located on the mountainside of Tai Mo Shan, Chuen Long is about a ten-minute drive from Tsuen Wan downtown, with a quiet rural environment and occasional community art exhibitions. The widely known Duen Kee Chinese Restaurant, which has been serving the local community for more than half a century, has retained its original flavour of an old-fashioned tea house regardless of the evolutions at the bottom of the hill.

Duen Kee Chinese Restaurant
57-58 Chuen Long Village, Route Twisk

In her spare time, UU also goes hiking along the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail, a footpath connecting Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan in the old days. Nowadays, it allows urbanites to enter the countryside in seconds. Her favourite route is to walk to Sham Tseng along the Trail. There is a stunning open panoramic view from Shek Lung Kung area which is the middle part of the Trail. Overlooking Tsuen Wan cityscape with Rambler Channel, it seems to be a magical door to shuttle between the city and the countryside.

Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail

Exploring Tsuen Wan through the eyes of an artist

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