Beacons | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Beacons

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Submitted by Admin on Sun, 2012-04-15 18:45

Here is a map of the Places tagged Beacon. Each one shows a site believed to be a beacon from Chinese Imperial times.

Beacons were typically built on hilltops, in sight of several other beacons. If a warning needed to be sent, the fire at the beacon would be lit. When the nearby beacons saw the fire, they'd light their own fires. This would be repeated, and the warning message would quickly be transmitted across large distances.

Click on the map markers or the links below to visit the page with further notes & photos about the beacon.

If you're new to Gwulo, here's a quick guide for how to use Gwulo's maps.Displaying 1 - 12 of 12

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Submitted by tngan on Mon, 2012-04-16 14:47.

Folks,

I have to admit that there is no solid proof that the marked up locations are really what we claimed to be.  At best they are ruins with traces of man made efforts.  Anyway, I guess the fun is the process to try and collect more information.

Best Regards,

T

Submitted by David on Wed, 2013-06-05 21:42.

Looking at the map, it seems there should be one at Castle Peak too. Has anyone heard of any mention of a beacon there?

Regards, David

Submitted by tngan on Wed, 2013-06-05 22:46.

Hi David,

In fact, according to fellow hikers (like JW and his gang), there was in fact a Beacon at around Castle Peak. This one was documented.  It was not on the highest peak though, which is not occupied by a radiation transmitter.  I would seem I have not marked it.

According to JW's notes posted elsewhere, this beacon is already lost to either mother nature, or destroyed while something was built over it.  I'll try to setup a Place for that and would try to walk up that stiff path to have a look later.

Best Regards,

T

Submitted by David on Thu, 2013-06-06 21:08.

Thanks Thomas. Do you have any idea which years these beacons were in use? I'm curious to know how old they are.

Regards, David

Submitted by tngan on Thu, 2013-06-06 22:46.

Hi David,

I really don't have much idea.  However according to JW's notes, some of  them had been documented in  新安縣誌 (sort of the Sun On County Gazzatte) back in early Qing Dynasty.   In this respect at least some of them exists in Middle or Late Ming Dynasty.  Or, some of these beacons had been rebuilt on the ruins of those former ones.  

I had been busy last weekend, or I would have brought my spotting scope up to Sek Lung Kung in that ver HOT but good day to take a look around.

Best Regards,

T