Home of the Monkeys – the Kowloon Reservoir

I was very ambitious in trying to walk the Maclehose Trail Section 6 from the starting point of the Kowloon Reservoir.  It turned out that I lost my way.  I never made it out to the War Relics Trail, which would have been the final stretch of this trail.  I did however enjoy the views of Kowloon Reservoir and the Kam Shan Country Park.

The Kowloon Reservoir is probably not as well-known as the general area that it is in, which is Monkey Hill, as it is fondly known by the locals of Hong Kong.  The Kowloon Reservoir was the first of the Kowloon group of reservoirs to begin service, in 1910.  The group consists of the Kowloon Reservoir, the Shek Lei Pui Reservoir (1925), Kowloon Reception Reservoir (1926), and the Kowloon Byewash Reservoir (1931).  The Kowloon Reservoir, despite its name, is actually the first reservoir in the New Territories.  Its curved dam structure is a special feature.[1]

Having passed the boundary sign for Shatin, I parked in the parking lot on Tai Po Road, and followed signs for the Kam Shan Country Park.  The first part of the trail was an easy stroll with wonderful reservoir views.

Speaking of monkeys, the Macaque Monkeys are native to Hong Kong.  There really were many of them once we began the incline up the Kam Shan Country Park.  All along the gradual incline that was 2km in distance, the monkeys tracked closely beside us.

The day was slightly overcast.  We walked all the way to the very end of Golden Hill Road.  At the roundabout, we walked further along the aqueduct, and eventually reached somewhere in Kwai Chung.  I knew that we have missed the Maclehose Trail 6 altogether by then.

The hike was pretty easy all throughout.  Once having passed the initial incline, there were lots of shades in the rest of the Golden Hill Road.  It was a paved road throughout, basically meant for vehicles.

[1] See generally the Water Supplies Department.