The tranquility of living away from the hustle and bustle of city life is just one of the many reasons that city dwellers and newcomers are choosing to live in Hong Kong's rural communities.
More people are moving to Hong Kong's New Territories seeking a cleaner environment and to take advantage of the amenities not available in urban areas.
There is a wide assortment of residential accommodation in the New Territories, ranging from luxury town houses in compounds with 24-hour security, to detached three and four-bedroom houses, often with stunning scenic views.
However, while few of Hong Kong's rural areas are more than an hour's travelling time from the main urban areas, there are still those who consider living in places such as Sai Kung to be similar to an off-planet experience. Before the transport systems to Sai Kung were improved a few years ago, city dwellers often joked that it was easier to get to Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, than make the journey to Sai Kung. Sai Kung and Saigon, the former Vietnamese capital, share the same Chinese character.
According to property agents, negative perceptions of rural living seem to be changing. As the number of people commuting between Hong Kong and the mainland for business and recreation purposes increases, New Territories locations such as Tai Po, Hong Lok Yuen and Shek Kong are becoming popular. Property agents say that Hong Kong's pollution problems are prompting people to move away from congested city areas to live in healthier environments.
Betty Pang, a Knight Frank director, says transport and infrastructure systems linking the New Territories to Hong Kong Island have improved considerably over the past few years, turning these places into attractive environments in which to live.