Sha Tin Park, formerly known as Sha Tin Central Park, is a park at 2 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin, Hong Kong. It is situated along the Shing Mun River in the new town of Sha Tin, next to the New Town Plaza, Sha Tin Town Hall, and Sha Tin Public Library.

Sha Tin Park
沙田公園
Map
Location2 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
Area8.05 hectares (19.9 acres)
Opened24 August 1988; 36 years ago (1988-08-24)
Owned byHong Kong Government
Managed byLeisure and Cultural Services Department
Sha Tin Park
Chinese沙田公園
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinShātián Gōngyuán
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationSāa tìhn gūng yún
JyutpingSaa1 tin4 gung1 jyun2
Sha Tin Central Park
Chinese沙田中央公園
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinShātián Zhōngyāng Gōngyuán
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationSāa tìhn jūng yēung gūng yún
JyutpingSaa1 tin4 zung1 joeng1 gung1 jyun2
Sha Tin Park
North Garden
Lawn

The park occupies 8.05 hectares (19.89 acres) of land, and is managed by Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The opening hours are from 6:30 am to 11:00 pm.

History

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Most of the land that the park occupies was reclaimed from Tide Cove during the construction of the Sha Tin New Town, though some of the land existed beforehand and was previously occupied by the Sha Tin Airfield, a military air base.

While the park was under construction, a "sneak preview" was provided to the public as it was temporarily opened from 14 to 17 March 1987 for the Hong Kong Flower Show.[1]

The park was opened on 24 August 1988.[2] It was then named as Sha Tin Central Park. It was built and administered by the Regional Council.

Shortly following the Tiananmen Square massacre, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China erected a replica of the Goddess of Democracy statue in Sha Tin Central Park, on a temporary basis, with the approval of the council.[3] Over 4,000 people attended its unveiling on 3 July 1989, with many laying wreathes at the foot of the statue.[4] In 1997, the pro-Beijing camp within the council voted down another application by the alliance to temporarily exhibit the Pillar of Shame statue in the park on the anniversary of the massacre.[5]

Facilities

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Facilities include the Main Plaza, Amphitheatre, South Garden, North Garden, Artists' Corner, Walled Garden, Verandah, Azalea Garden, Scented Garden, Children Playgrounds (in both South Garden and North Garden), Light Refreshment Kiosks and Birds Conservation Area in the park.

In the Scented Garden, Michelia figo and Osmanthus fragrans are planted.

Artists' Corner is an open area for the artists exhibiting, displaying, sharing, and selling their personal products with the public every Saturday, Sunday, and Public holiday. There is a Wedding Garden in the Artists' Corner.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Flower show in new park". South China Morning Post. 12 March 1987. p. 16.
  2. ^ "History/Background". Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  3. ^ Tang, John (30 June 1989). "Sha Tin will have statue for 16 days". South China Morning Post. p. 11.
  4. ^ Fitzpatrick, Eamonn (4 July 1989). "Warm welcome for Goddess of Democracy statue". South China Morning Post. p. 8.
  5. ^ Li, Angela (30 May 1997). "Bid to exhibit sculpture in Sha Tin park voted down". South China Morning Post. p. 6.
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22°22′48″N 114°11′25″E / 22.3800°N 114.1903°E / 22.3800; 114.1903