Ma On Shan is located by the west face of the twin peaks of Ma On Shan, which can be translated as "horse saddle mountain". The town is built on the strip between Tolo Harbour and Ma On Shan mountain. The north end of the town reaches the settlement of Wu Kai Sha and the southern Tai Shui Hang.
History
The original Ma On Shan Village still houses around 80 families. Yan Kwong Lutheran Church, one of two original churches established during the area's mining heyday, was revitalised in around 2014 as a centre to highlight the history and culture of the old village.[2]
Ma On Shan Park mining history display area within Ma On Shan Park.
Historically, the three treasures of Ma On Shan were:
1. Iron ore: The deposit is estimated to have comprised over 7 million tonnes. The iron extracted from the 1950s to 1970s was mainly exported to Japan.
2. Azaleas: The azalea species Rhododendron hongkongense was discovered in Hong Kong in 1851 but was mistaken for another, only acquiring its "Hongkong" name in 1930. The species, which is found only on Ma On Shan and a few nearby sites, blooms in April with colours ranging from white to light red. Since 2006, an annual "Ma On Shan Azalea Festival" has promoted the azalea as the symbol of the district, celebrating six locally native species: (Rhododendron championae, Rhododendron farrerae, Rhododendron hongkongense, Rhododendron moulmainense, Rhododendron simiarum and Rhododendron simsii[4]) Various activities are held, including planting azaleas in housing estates and greenery areas, a photo-taking competition, painting competition, and exhibitions. The event is organised by Sha Tin East Area Committee of the District Council, Sha Tin District Office, Civil Engineering and Development Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Ma On Shan Promotion of Livelihood and Recreation Association, the MTRC and various other bodies.[5]
3. Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak): The natural habitat of this deer species includes Hong Kong and goes as far west as India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The male has short antlers and canine teeth and likes to rest in bushes or tall grass. It feeds on leaves, underground roots and tubers, and sometimes tree bark. They live alone and if they are scared or during the mating season, produce a strange bark, hence their nickname barking deer. They are timid and shy, with records showing that some local specimens died of fright when captured.
According to the 2016 by-Census, Ma On Shan has a population of 209,714, and 94% of the population is of Chinese ethnicity. Average household size is 3.1, and median monthly domestic household income is HK$33,000.[9]
Shopping centres
Sunshine City Plaza in 2008Ma On Shan PlazaDouble Cove Place
The town features a three-storey shopping centre, MOSTown. Connected to MOSTown is Ma On Shan Plaza.
Ma On Shan Plaza
Ma On Shan Plaza is a shopping centre in the town centre of Ma On Shan in the Sha Tin District. Located on Sai Sha Road, it is connected to MOSTown and the Ma On Shan station of the MTR Tuen Ma line by footbridges. It is an associated shopping centre built together with the residential estate of Bayshore Towers, developed by Cheung Kong Holdings. The shopping centre has been famous[citation needed] for its indoor merry-go-round for the amusement of visitors who purchase items in any shops in the shopping arcade up to a certain amount.
MOSTown
MOSTown is large shopping centre selling a wide range of items. Many shops are clothing shops, including well-known labels like Levi's, Bauhaus, Adidas, Giordano, and many others mostly specialising in women's fashion. MOSTown also houses a large "Citistore" department store selling clothes, mattresses, beds, toys, electrical appliances, luggage and more.
Numerous restaurants can be found in the plaza including local Cantonese eateries and branches of Western chains such as McDonald's and KFC. A large "Market Place by Jasons" supermarket is present as are cosmetics shops, hairdressers, tea houses, bakeries, shoe-shops, a chemist and a classic favourite: an HK "$12" shop[citation needed].
Sunshine Bazaar
Sunshine Bazaar is a small arcade-size retail space that features a bank, pet shop, music store, family medical centre and tutorial centre(s).
The Ma On Shan Sports Ground is open all week. Badminton courts and table-tennis tables abound, and the cost of a badminton court for one hour is around HK$60 (half-price for students). Near the sports centre is the Ma On Shan Public Swimming Pool.
The Ma On Shan Public Library, completed in 2005, is within walking distance from the sports centre and the swimming pool. The library provides an alternative location for reading and research to the Sha Tin Public Library.
Schools
Ma On Shan is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 89. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money); no government schools are in the net.[16]
Numerous buses and public light buses serve the area and connect residents to nearby places including Sha Tin, Tai Po, and Kowloon, including a number of cross-harbour routes to Hong Kong Island. The city is served by several bus termini, with the ones in Ma On Shan Town Centre and Lee On being notable.
^"馬鞍山礦業發展簡史" [A Brief History of Ma'anshan Mining Development]. Ma On Shan People's Health Promotion Association (in Chinese). Retrieved 21 April 2020.
^"馬鞍山杜鵑花節" [Ma On Shan Azalea Festival]. Ma On Shan Promotion of Livelihood and Recreation Association (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 31 October 2011.
