Huitong Village getting University Town makeover

University Town consisting of renovated Huitong Village houses and heritage sites, existing college campuses, Creative Valley, and ecology parks will be completed by the end of next year, it was announced at a symposium on April 22.

The new "town" in Tangjiawan will cater to Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College. UIC will work on the project with the village and Zhuhai Lexuan Culture Investment Co. It is to meet the needs of both local universities and residents with a fusion of modern and traditional cultures.

New to the scene will be the lakeside Huitong Creative Valley, which is designed to spur innovation. It will be joined by Chihua Mt Eco-farm featuring equestrian sports and Wangtianshi Eco-farm producing seasonal organic vegetables. There will also be apartment buildings for residents, playgrounds, and a large area for UIC logistics services.

Designer's impression of Yangyunshan Manor after renovations

The 170-year-old village of Huitong is situated north of Fenghuang Mt at the foot of Ligang Mt. Old residences and dilapidated houses are being returned to their former splendor.

Key among them is Yangyunshan, the largest manor in Huitong. It was the ancestral home of businessman Mok Heming (1872-1953) of the distinguished comprador Mok family.

Mok Sze Yeung (1820-1879) was born in Huitong Village. He was nominated as the first comprador of Swire Group in 1870. After ten years he died of disease in Hong Kong in 1879.

His second son, Mok Cho Chuen, and grandson Mok Kon Sang assumed his post and remained there for half a century until the system was terminated in China. This period marked the Mok Family's prime time and Swire's golden age in China's shipping industry.

Proposed Huitong Creative Valley [Photos by Gu Chunting / Zhuhai Daily]