Lantau Island - History

History

Early human artifacts have been discovered on the island. These artifacts include rock carvings at Shek Pik which are thought to date back to the Bronze Age, and a stone circle at Fan Lau which is probably from the Neolithic Age. Both sites are located on the southwestern coast of the island. The island was also known as Tai Hai Shan (大奚山) before it became known as Lantau Island. It was often shown in navigation maps because of its proximity to a major sea route in South China.

In 1276, the Southern Song Dynasty court fled to Guangdong by boat to escape Mongol invaders, leaving the emperor Gong Di behind. The resistance centred on two young princes, Gong Di's brothers. The older boy Zhao Shi, was declared emperor at the age of nine. In 1277, the imperial court sought refuge first in Silvermine Bay (Mui Wo) on Lantau Island and later in today's Kowloon City. The older brother became ill, died, and was succeeded by the younger brother Zhao Bing at the age of seven. He died in 1279, and the Song Dynasty ended. These emperors are also believed to have held court in the Tung Chung valley, which takes its name from a local hero who gave up his life for the emperor.

Lantau Island and Tuen Mun were among the first European trading settlements in the Pearl River area, established by Portuguese traders in the 1510s. The Portuguese abandoned these settlements at around the year 1517, following defeat against Chinese troops. Later, the island became an important trading post for the British, long before they became interested in Hong Kong Island.

Salt was illegally produced in Lantau island. This was discovered by the Chinese rulers during the 16th century, and the local warlord put many islanders to death as a result.

Like Cheung Chau, Lantau was once the base for pirates and smugglers, and was one of the bases of Cheung Po Tsai in the 19th century. Silver was also mined at Mui Wo until the 19th century.

Lantau was a major site of resistance against the Japanese during the second world war. The resistance movement made use of the island's wooded areas and deep valleys in order to organise ambushes and move supplies. The resistance movement persevered through the war until the end of the Japanese occupation in 1945.

In 2000, Lantau Island was an important base for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe project and the Asia-Pacific Cable Network which bridges the internet with the rest of the world.