The Giant Twines of Mau Ping (Via Pak Kong)
As of June 2023, the giant twines of Mau Ping have been destroyed (not completely) by a vicious person, who chopped down parts of the old trees. The twines suffered significant damage. Some experts have assessed that the damage is too great for the twines to grow back. We express the most severe condemnation to the person who committed this grave act against nature.
The trail of the day leads me to the twines of Mau Ping. I drove to the Sai Kung area and found my way to the beginning of the trail in Pak Kong. The first section is the Pak Kong Trail.
The Pak Kong Trail
Within five minutes of hiking the Pak Kong Trail, I came across the first bamboo grove. This would be the second bamboo-lined trail I have seen in Hong Kong, the first one being in the Ho Pui Family Walk. I therefore naturally compared this bamboo grove with the one in Ho Pui Reservoir. To be honest, it was the difference between seeing a clean-shaved man with a crew cut and an unkempt, or at least rugged-face man. My inclination was the clean, trimmed and well-kept bamboo in Ho Pui. But I liked the view of bamboo generally so I snapped many pictures on the Pak Kong Trail too.
The trail then took on a gentle incline and its intensity increased as I hiked. At some point I looked back. I was looking far onto the views of the seas off of Sai Kung and its outlaying islands. My photographs don’t really do justice to the view though:
Soon I came across the first sign pointing to Mau Ping. It says 0.3 km and it sounded like too easy of a hike even to me. I was overjoyed: this 0.3km was a consistent incline. Although not too strenuous, it did go on for a good half hour.
It was in this part of the trail that I came across the second bamboo grove. This time, with a closer and refreshed look at it, I started to appreciate its beauty. The bamboo was overgrown, but its overgrowth weighed down and formed an arch over me. It felt like entering into a time-travelling bamboo tunnel. It was actually pretty cool.
The Great Twines of Mau Ping (Giant Bean)
I walked on these never-ending stairs and finally came upon the Mau Ping rest area. The grass was so verdant that I thought we were still in spring. I was very excited, for the twines of Mau Ping was near. I went through the pathway next to the pavilion.
Photo: the way to the Giant Bean is on the right of the pavilion
And there they were, the twines of old eerie trees, exhibiting all shapes and forms of coils.
I call these giant twines because I have no botanical knowledge. Apparently, this tree has the official name of Entada phaseoloides, in English colloquially as Giant Bean. Their fruits grow in pods.
There were many, many local tourists there waiting to take pictures. I managed to snap some shots in the split seconds when they took turns. According to other bloggers, this is a rare species in Hong Kong. They mainly grow in the Tai Po Kau and Sai Kung area.
How to Get there
Perhaps I should take readers through the way to the Pak Kong Trail. The main road that runs between Kowloon and Sai Kung is the Hiram’s Highway. If you drive from Sai Kung heading over to the Kowloon direction, make a right onto Pak Kong Road. If you take public transport, minibuses 1/1A/1S/2/12/101M depart from the Sai Kung pier terminus. Ask to get off at Pak Kong. When you are at the intersection of Pak Kong Road and Hiram’s Highway, you will see a water treatment plant. Go forward on Pak Kong Road, passing Pak Kong Garden (this section takes 15-20 minutes on foot), and you will continue to ascend through a gentle incline. At this following point, take the path to your left.
Keep going for a little, then at this next crossroad, sharp right.
Pass this checkpoint too, keep going and you will come upon an aqueduct. Keep going toward the fences, and the beginning of the Pak Kong Trail is right at its end. Once you find the Pak Kong Trail, just follow the signs for Mau Ping.
Warning
I went on a cloudy day. As I hiked up the Mau Ping section, my concern was “how could I get back down.” Reason being that both sections are ancient trails. The villagers paved them many years ago with stones. At certain points, I was ascending on smooth-surfaced rocks that resembled a steep slope more so than solid steps. Going downward would be very dangerous if it was slippery. Therefore be very careful and definitely do not go on a rainy day. In any event a hiking cane would be handy for this trail.
Parking: I parked at the curbside, where everybody else parked illegally. That way it saved me the first 15-20 minute walk on Pak Kong Road. I parked close to Pak Kong garden and still it took me 15 minutes to reach the beginning of the Pak Kong Trail.
It was two hours later when I made it back to my car. What a wonderful adventure.
Sources:
TimHiking.Com on Pak Kong and Mau Ping.
Hong Kong Herbarium on Entada phaseoloides.