Grace Youth Camp, HK (a historical site of an Iron Mine)

By Bigaltravelcompanion | Jun 26, 2019
Asia > China > Hong Kong

Mining Heritage Centre

Mining Heritage Centre

What is it all about?


An interesting place to recommend. The village of Horse Saddle Mountain (Ma On Shan Tsuen) will give you a memorable journey in Hong Kong. Not a place would interest those who will pay a short visit in Hong Kong. Notwithstanding, it may interest those who will stay in Hong Kong for a while.

Mining Heritage Centre exhibits various items left in the mining age by villagers. Mineshaft and Ngong Ping Camp Site will stun you with cold air, history and the power of nature! You can actually own an "air conditioning experience" in nature during summer time! Mineshaft offers you a vivid picture of mine history of Hong Kong even it is closed to the public. You can still standing outside and look inside what was going on in history.

This journey may not satisfy you wthout Minerals Preparation Plant, 110 M.L. Mineshaft and an open area minefield. It is better to ask the staff member on site for the exact location of those players in the village. I was a bit sad becuase the minefield stuff always link my thoughts with somewhere like Eldorado Canyon in Western movies with cowboys, marshalls, wagons and handguns.

If you catch a chance with a guided tour on site, that wold be awesome experience for you! You can check out their official website for digging out more history and stories of villagers. Also, you may contact them for renting bunker beds in hostels or camps on site. When feeling hungry or thirsty, they have a cafe next to Mining Heritage Centre with limited choices available because of their location. Try their special drink and you will be impressed!

What to see during the visit


Mining Heritage Centre

Mining Heritage Centre

Lookout at Mining Heritage Centre viewing (Ma Tau Fung), (Ma On) and (Au Ark Shan)

Lookout at Mining Heritage Centre viewing (Ma Tau Fung), (Ma On) and (Au Ark Shan)

Ngong Ping Camp Site

Ngong Ping Camp Site

240 M.L. Mineshaft

240 M.L. Mineshaft

Several caves along Ma On Shan Tsuen Road

Several caves along Ma On Shan Tsuen Road

How do we get there?


The easiest option is Village Minibus NR 84 from Ma On Shan MTR Station. After MTR Exit B, we will be at MostTown Shopping Mall. Basically, it is better to avoid MTR exits in shopping malls when reaching our travel destinations because their signs are either insufficient or simply wrong direction! But, this one is totally fine!

After the exit, turn right and follow the direction signs on top. It will show that we are heading the escalator. We are going down to the ground floor of the mall as the village minibus terminus is just located outside the bus terminus at ground floor and next to On Luk Road (main road). Afterwards, we will be at the bus terminus. Turn right and we will see On Luk Road (main road). Turn left and we will see the village minibus terminus attached to the bus terminus outside.

After landing off the minibus. You can see the village ahead. We just find the church and we will be fine as there are road signs pointing us forward so we won't get lost!

Actually, the minibus terminus is a centre point of all of our destinations. It is a centre point accessing to Mining Heritage Centre, Mineshaft 240 M.L. and Ngong Ping Camp Site. I tried to locate Mineshaft 110 M.L. and Mineral Preperation Plant. If you are interested, please talk to the staff member and they may help you!

Mining Heritage Centre is an easy one. When we land off the minibus, we will see a village with a church. So, our goal is the church. There are sufficient direction signs for us to reach there.

Next to the minibus terminal is a staircase. The staircase lead us to two destinations respectively. On our left after the staircase, it will lead us to Minecraft 240 M.L. When walking down the hill, we will see the first side road. We need to ignore it as it will lead us to the wrong direction. The second one on our right is the way. It has some wooden boards laid down on the floor. If we walk downhill and found a direction sign leading to Heng On Estate, it is a sgnal to us that we are heading the wrong direction.

Get back to the staircase next to the minibus terminus, we will get back to the division. So, we keep walking uphill and we will find Ngong Ping Camp Site. There should be enough direction signs to cover the trip. One thing to mention that climbing the mountain and coming close to the edge of the campsite will risk your life. Enjoy your wonderful time with the cows and embrace the awesomeness of nature!

Sunshine City (apartment blocks) and On Shing Street Garden

Sunshine City (apartment blocks) and On Shing Street Garden

We are heading to the church

We are heading to the church

The staircase next to the minibus terminus

The staircase next to the minibus terminus

Turn left to Mineshaft 240 M.L.

Turn left to Mineshaft 240 M.L.

Leading up to Mineshaft 240 M.L. (on your right when downhill)

Leading up to Mineshaft 240 M.L. (on your right when downhill)

What are the opening hours?


  • Grace Camp main office: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (all days except Monday)
  • Mining Heritage Centre: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (weekends and public holidays)
  • Cafe: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (weekends and public holidays)

Official website: Grace Camp

Mine China Museums Asia History Hong Kong

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Written by Bigaltravelcompanion
Albert Wilson born and has lived in Hong Kong for nearly twenty years. He is inspired by Lara Croft and her father much which lead him to have a profound interest in history, archeology, anthropology, culture, festival, and local food. His knowledge gained through guided tours, reading, watching the video, chatting and befriend with locals! In his book, he is more than willing to share his experience and knowledge in Hong Kong by relevant and practical approaches with you from common to hidden gems. In addition, Albert Wilson experienced some interesting life stories and he wants to share with you in his book as well as travel blogs and so... Read more

There are 2 comments

Joshua_Kevin_Alviano
Jun 27, 2019 at 16:55

Interesting place to visit! Thanks for sharing! I would like to ask though: how much do we have to pay for the entrance fee to enter this place? :)


Bigaltravelcompanion
Jun 27, 2019 at 23:08

I am sorry that I did not put up the admission stuff on the profile. The admission is free of charge. Yes, the place is interesting. The minibus for a single trip is HK$7.00 so the round trip is HK $14.00. The minibus is run on a timetable by Hong Kong Jockey Club. For your best adventure, I suggest you going there on weekends coz the museum and cafe is only opened on weekends.It is forewarned that Ngong Ping Campsite is a bit dangerous so watch out for edges and slipery areas etc. And most importantly, keep the timetable in mind coz it takes about 2 hours to walk downhill!

The minshaft is closed to the public but I foudn out two videos may interest you:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft0vj16m98c
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPkQdNrejFA

All the best for your time in your journey!

Big Al.


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