Sung Wong Toi facts for kids
Sung Wong Toi (Chinese: 宋王臺) is a special historic stone in Hong Kong. Its name means "Terrace of the Song Kings." This important relic is now found in the peaceful Sung Wong Toi Garden. It reminds people of a famous story about two young emperors who came to Hong Kong a long, long time ago.
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What is Sung Wong Toi?
Sung Wong Toi is a large rock with three Chinese characters carved into it. These characters mean "Sung Wong Toi." For many years, this stone has been a symbol of history in Hong Kong. It helps us remember a time when emperors from the Song Dynasty had to flee their home.
A Royal Escape Story
There is a well-known legend about Sung Wong Toi. It says that the stone was made to remember Emperor Duanzong of Song and his younger brother, Emperor Bing. They were two young rulers who had to escape from invaders.
The Song Dynasty Emperors
The Song Dynasty was a powerful ruling family in China for over 300 years. But towards the end, they faced a strong enemy called the Mongols. In 1276, the Mongol army captured the Song capital city. This forced the young Emperor Duanzong and his brother to escape south. They traveled by boat, looking for a safe place. Their journey eventually brought them to what is now Hong Kong. They stayed there for a short time, hiding from the invaders. The legend says that the Sung Wong Toi stone marks the spot where they rested.
The Stone's Journey
The Sung Wong Toi stone was not always in its current location. It used to be on a hill nearby. This hill was known as Sacred Hill. People believed the stone was very important.
From Hilltop to Garden
In the early 1900s, Hong Kong was developing quickly. There were plans to expand the Kai Tak Airport. This meant the hill where Sung Wong Toi stood had to be leveled. To save the historic stone, it was carefully moved. The original stone was actually broken into pieces during the moving process. But these pieces were put back together. They were then placed in a new park, which is now the Sung Wong Toi Garden. This way, the important relic could be protected and remembered.
Why is Sung Wong Toi Important?
Sung Wong Toi is more than just an old rock. It is a symbol of Hong Kong's long history. It connects the modern city to ancient China and the story of the Song Dynasty emperors. It shows how people in Hong Kong value their past. The stone also represents resilience and survival, as it survived being moved and is still here today for everyone to see. Visiting the Sung Wong Toi Garden is a great way to learn about this piece of history.
Images for kids
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c. 1920s. The boulder bearing the three carved characters is situated on top of the hill (right); both were protected as sacred relics by a special ordinance in 1899. The gate, the steps to the inscription and the balustrade around the boulder were erected in 1915. The hill was levelled and the boulder was broken up in blasting operations to extend Kai Tak Airport.
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Sung Wong Toi Garden in 2009
