THE TRANSFORMATION OF TUEN MUN

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Tuen Mun is a bona fide poster boy for district upgrading in Hong Kong. In the past, this northwestern area had been synonymous with underdevelopment and remoteness—so much so that its residents were constantly asked if cows roamed around their neighbourhoods. These days, however, if someone claims to have seen cows in Tuen Mun, it's probably a joke.

If you want to know just how much things have changed around here, come see it for yourself. No matter which part of Hong Kong you make the trip from, Tuen Mun is generally easy to get to, though certain areas in the district may require longer journeys. The West Rail Line, opened in 2003, offered Tuen Mun residents a new alternative in getting to Kowloon and the Island via Tuen Mun Road. The West Rail Line also boasts a number of transfer stations: passengers can switch to the Tung Chung Line at Nam Cheong Station, and travel to Hong Kong Island, or take the East Rail Line to New Territories East by changing at Hung Hom Station, which will also be a stop in the future Sha Tin to Central Link. Apart from taking the West Rail Line, the Light Rail is another convenient option to travel to Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long and other nearby areas from Tuen Mun, where Light Rail stations can be found near many housing estates. In addition, the Tuen Mun– Chek Lap Kok Link currently under construction is a nine-kilometre dual carriageway that will connect Tuen Mun South to North Lantau. Upon its completion, the journey between Tuen Mun to the airport will be shortened to a mere 15 minutes. The Tuen Mun Road Interchange, which is already in use, allows passengers to change between various bus routes to get to their destinations faster.

Tuen Mun's location and underdeveloped transport system has long been a deterrent for home seekers. But in recent years, with increasingly improved facilities and infrastructure, the area has become a darling for businesses and developers alike. After Century Gateway, a development located in the Tuen Mun Town Centre, opened the luxury home market in 2013, an array of new developments, including Mount Regency, The Bloomsway and COO Residence, have followed suit. Posh British boarding school Harrow International School Hong Kong, which opened in 2012, boasts a Gold Coast-adjacent location, while Mount Kelly School Hong Kong opened in 2017.

While new businesses are giving Tuen Mun a more urban and buzzy atmosphere, its proximity to nature makes the district a wonderful place to live in. Tuen Mun has a string of beautiful beaches, from Butterfly Beach and Castle Peak Bay, to Kadoorie Beach, Cafeteria Beach and the Gold Coast. A number of barbecue sites can be found in Castle Peak Bay, Butterfly Beach Park, Tai Lam and Siu Lam. In addition, the district has no shortage of bike lanes, hiking trails, as well as cultural and leisure facilities such as libraries, gyms, town hall and swimming pools, not to mention a bevy of malls, restaurants and theatres.

According to home sales data from Gohome.com.hk, Tuen Mun saw 28 sales in May, with an average per-square-foot price of HK$12,053, signaling a 7.12% increase. As the area has a wide range of properties at very different price points, home seekers should be well-advised to take their time in comparing their options.