Sung Dynasty Village, Lai Chi Kok [1979-c.1997] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Sung Dynasty Village, Lai Chi Kok [1979-c.1997]

Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
c.1979-06-01 (Day is approximate)
Date Place demolished: 
c.1997-03-31 (Year, Month, Day are approximate)

The HK memory website says it was opened in June 1979.

It was closed in 1997, and later the Wah Lai Estate was built on this site.

 

Photos that show this place

Comments

This screen grab from Soldier Soldier shows that at least part of the village was still around in the early 90's. Does this mean it was partially demolished to make way for Happy Villa (built in 1982)?

Sung Dynasty Village - Soldier Soldier.jpg
vlcsnap-2015-07-22-00h21m30s150.jpg, by Philk

 

Phil, good point. A quick search gives a couple of mentions of the Sung Synasty Village closing in 1997, eg:

... the Sung Dynasty Village, a recreation of an old Chinese community in Sung Dynasty (960-1279) with costumed reenactors portraying courtesans, soldiers, and workers, was a popular tourist spot before it was closed in March 1997.

Chinese Face/Off: The Transnational Popular Culture of Hong Kong

So I don't know if they sold off a small part of the land to build Happy Villa on, or if that land was never part of the Village. Can anyone else put us straight?

Regards, David

Just realised I've got a '97 map book that shows this site:

1997 map of Lai Chi Kok
1997 map of Lai Chi Kok, by Admin

So the modern buildings on the site of the Sung Dynasty Village are the towers of the Wah Lai Estate. I'll move the map marker for the Sung Dynasty Village a bit south to match.

Regards, David