Yip Hiu-man and the Leisurely Yellow Cattle

Several years ago, Ms. Yip Hiu-man was invited to create animal-themed murals in the village of Mui Tsz Lam, painting a total of five works that depicted civet cats, blind hens, butterflies, riverine ecology, and a leisurely cow. It was during this period that she first formed a connection with the cattle of Lai Chi Wo.

Gradually, Ms. Yip developed an interest in farming life. She applied for a plot of land through the Management Agreement Scheme at Lai Chi Wo Enclave, intending to take up farming as a side pursuit. Living in the city, however, she had limited time to care for the crops, and her initial cultivation efforts were less than successful. Eventually, she decided to move to Lai Chi Wo to live full-time.

During her farming days in Lai Chi Wo, she would encounter the village's eight yellow cattle every day. Perhaps sensing her kindness, the cattle showed no fear of her, and she even gave them a variety of amusing and fitting names.

In the past, yellow cattle assisted villagers with ploughing, but today they roam freely, grazing and fertilising the land as they go. With no direct owners, daily care of the cattle now falls to the farmers and volunteers. Observing the village and its conservation efforts from the perspective of these yellow cattle offers a unique lens through which to understand rural life.