Amah Rock

Amah Rock (Chinese: 望夫石,Mong Fu Shek, lit. "the stone gazing out for her husband") is a naturally shaped rock located on a hilltop in southwest Sha Tin District, Hong Kong.

Amah Rock
The replica of Amah Rock at Tao Fung Shan
For other uses, see Amah (disambiguation).

Description

The rock is approximately 15 meters in height, and is shaped much like a woman carrying a baby on her back. It stands above the entrance to the Lion Rock Tunnel, within Lion Rock Country Park.

Legend

According to a legend, the faithful wife of a fisherman climbed the hills every day, carrying her son, to watch for the return of her husband, not knowing he had been drowned at sea. In reward for her faithfulness she was turned into a rock by the Goddess of the Sea so that her spirit could unite with that of her husband.[1] Similar legends abound throughout the whole of China—the number of rocks called Mong Fu Shek in the country is high. Many Chinese classical poems were dedicated to this kind of rock.

Attraction

The rock is a popular tourist destination; the whole Sha Tin District can be seen from there. It is also a place of worship for Chinese women and stands as a symbol of women's loyalty and faithfulness.

See also

References
  1. Lion Rock Country Park Archived 2010-02-26 at the Wayback Machine

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