6 haunting ghost villages to explore in Hong Kong

Nestled between Tsing Yi Island and Lantau Island, Ma Wan Village once boasted a thriving fishing community of thousands of settlers—that is until long-term tenants were evicted as recently as 2011 to make way for new luxury property development that never came to full fruition. Only vacated less than a decade ago, remnants of the quaint town, like stilt houses, an old school, and former seafood restaurants remain mostly intact. But don’t think this makes Ma Wan Village any less spooky than its more ancient counterparts—in fact, you would be startled by how the visible traces of life and modernity set against the backdrop of a deserted space evoke a profound sense of disorientation and uncanniness.

This relic-strewn island offers both fascinating glimpses into Hakka cultural heritage and a fair share of creepy uninhabited buildings for thrill-seeking explorers. Just 15 minutes offshore of Sai Kung Town, Yim Tin Tsai Village was first settled by the Hakka Chan clan in the eighteenth century and was inhabited by over a thousand villagers at its peak. Carving out a laid-back life, their primary means of livelihood were farming, fishing, and salt-making. This was what gave the island its Chinese name “Little Salt Farm” (鹽田仔).

After villagers evacuated the island in the 1990s and all was left abandoned, the village was on the brink of fizzling out of existence. Yet, by some stroke of luck, descendants of the original Hakka villagers decided to revitalise parts of the island in recent years. Long-forgotten buildings were suddenly brought to life, including the former primary school-turned-heritage exhibition centre now standing adjacent to the Grade III-listed St Joseph Chapel. At the same time, a slew of dilapidated old residences remains untouched to serve a stark and surreal reminder of the village’s colourful past.

Countless spine-chilling legends and gruesome tales have arisen from this derelict village that lurks within the lush, thick forest of Plover Cove Country Park. It's widely rumoured that compasses are unreliable in the area—thus explaining the name of the village, which literally means “locked compass” in Chinese. As to the village’s sudden abandonment, some claim that during the dark period of the Japanese occupation, a massacre was conducted that killed all the villagers in one single night, while others say that it was the outbreak of an epidemic that abruptly transformed So Lo Pun into a ghost village. Regardless of whether these stories have any accuracy to them—one thing for certain is that this place is not for the faint of heart. With moss-covered stone walls, broken windows, and rotting floor, this crumbling village looks the part of a haunted site taken straight out of horror movies. But if you’re brave enough to visit, you are in for a gripping adventure that takes you back to the bygone past. And if you’re lucky, you might just unravel some secrets of one of the city’s most elusive historical site.

Over an hour’s walk away from Luk Keng minibus station, Kuk Po is a bit out of the way, but the enchanting historical and architectural character of its buildings make the trek worth it. Despite having been largely deserted for decades, you can still make out the pastel-coloured doors and vibrant red bricks accenting the square Hakka compounds. Another main attraction is the Kai Choi School which was erected in the village nearly a century ago. Showcasing European-style arches and elegant balcony balusters, the relic encapsulates an unparalleled sense of eerie beauty and old-timey grandiosity.