Tsing Yi
Tsing Yi (Chinese: 青衣), sometimes referred to as Tsing Yi Island (Chinese: 青衣島), is an island in the urban area of Hong Kong, to the northwest of Hong Kong Island and south of Tsuen Wan. With an area of 10.69 km², the island has extended drastically by reclamation along almost all its natural shore and the annexation of Nga Ying Chau (牙鷹洲) and Chau Tsai. Three major bays or harbours, Tsing Yi Lagoon, Mun Tsai Tong and Tsing Yi Bay (青衣灣) in the northeast, have been completely reclaimed for new towns.
The island generally is zoned into four quarters: the northeast quarter is a residential area, the southeast quarter is Tsing Yi Town, the southwest holds heavy industry, and the northwest includes a recreation trail, a transportation interchange and some dockyards and ship building industry. The island is in the northwest of Victoria Harbour and part of its coastline is subject to the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance.
Etymology
Tsing Yi (青衣) iterally means "green (or blue) clothes", but is also a kind of fish, probably blackspot tuskfish, once abundant in nearby waters. People named the island after the fish. Tsing Yi Tam (青衣潭, lit. Tsing Yi Pool) or Tsing Yi Tam Shan (青衣潭山, lit. Tsing Yi Pool Hill) also appeared on some early Chinese maps.
Tsing Yi Station
Tsing Yi is an interchange station on the Tung Chung Line of MTR and Airport Express on Tsing Yi Island in Hong Kong. On the Tung Chung Line, it is located between Sunny Bay Station and Lai King Station. On the Airport Express, it is between Airport Station and Kowloon Station. The livery of the station is dull teal. Tsing Yi station is connected to a major interchange for buses and maxicabs, situated adjacent to the station, which serves as a hub for the New Territories.
Location
Tsing Yi station is located in the northeastern quarter of the island of the same name, slightly to the west of Kowloon and mainland Hong Kong. To the west is Tsing Yi Town Park, while the Tsing Yi Sports Ground lies to the south. Otherwise, much of the area is residential with a number of educational establishments nearby.
Transit-oriented development
As with other MTR stations, Tsing Yi is a prime site for transit-oriented development by the MTR Corporation, whose properties division develops land above and in the vicinity of its stations. Owing to its ideal location between Kowloon and Lantau Island, MTR Properties has heavily invested in commercial and residential development around Tsing Yi, the most prominent of this investment being Maritime Square, a large shopping centre extending from the station, and the residential estate Tierra Verde, which lies on top of the station. Maritime Square contains 46,170 m2 (497,000 sq ft) of retail space, while the Tierra Verde complex comprises twelve residential towers and a total of 3,500 flats.
Tsing Yi Hui
Tsing Yi Hui (Chinese: 青衣墟) was a town on Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. Many people at that time referred to the town as Tsing Yi Main Street (青衣大街), namely the main street of the town.
In Cantonese, the character hui (墟) means a periodic market, where people gather at a fixed time, usually every nine to ten days. However, the stalls and shops open every day in the town. It is the possibly one of the reasons that people called the town main street.
Transport
The town was asjacent to Tsing Yi Bay and Tsing Yi Lagoon. In the early days, the town had no motor roads. Residents travelled on foot within the island and external transport totally relied on sea. Taking a sampan to Tsuen Wan was a typical example. Later the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry provided services to and from Tsuen Wan Town. Later the service extended to Central, Victoria.
Upon the completion of Tsing Yi Bridge, roads were built to various places including Tsing Yi Town. Kowloon Motor Bus established bus routes to Tsuen Wan Town and Mei Foo.
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