''For the district of Hong Kong, see Yuen Long District.

''For the new town in Hong Kong, see Yuen Long New Town.

''For the plain in Hong Kong, see Yuen Long Plain.

Yuen Long Town (Chinese: 元朗市, formerly, Un Long Town) was a traditional market town in the area known as Yuen Long San Hui (元朗新墟) and Shui Pin Wai in present-day, within the Yuen Long District, New Territories, Hong Kong. The market town and the adjacent areas have developed into the Yuen Long New Town in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The market is a place to allow villages in northwest New Territories. Like many market towns in Hong Kong, the market only operates in several days.

History

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The original Yuen Long Town is not located in the busiest place of present-day Yuen Long, namely Yuen Long Main Road (元朗大馬路), part of Castle Peak Road.

The earliest market in Yuen Long was sited south of the main road near Tai Kei Leng. In 1669 the market moved north to the area present-day near KCR Yuen Long Station due to political reason. It is now known as Yuen Long Kau Hui (元朗舊墟, namely old Yuen Long Town). This market is sited south of a small hill. While it is far from coast today, it was beside sea shore when the market was built.

Cheung Shing Street, a street separating Nam Pin Wai and Sai Pin Wai, is at the centre of the market. Temples were built to worship and judge when dispute arised.

After British obtaining New Territories in 1898, they built Castle Peak Road to connect major area of New Territories and Kowloon. The villages proposed and moved the market town to the main road.

Geography

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Located in the centre of Yuen Long Plain, the town occupies the best location for villages and places in surrounding to sell their crops and fishes. To its west is Ping Shan, south Shap Pat Heung, east Kam Tin, and north Nam Sang Wai.

Name

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The Cantonese name "Yuen Long" (元朗, originally 圓塱), literally means raised bank of rivers with circular shape, refers to the alluvial plain - the Yuen Long Plain - in northwestern New Territories. In present-day conversations, "Yuen Long" may, depending on context, refer to the limits of the original market town, the new town, the plain, or the district.

External link

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• Picture of Yuen Long Town in the 1960s

Yuen Long | Yuen Long District

元朗