Half a Day in Tsiu Hang

Orchards, farming fields, outdoor education areas, air-conditioned exhibition centres, a lotus pad, short hiking trails and a nice café – what location offers better summer outing options than Tsiu Hang? The 24-acre Tsiu Hang Special Area is a designated area of environmental conservation. It received its special area status in December 1987, and since then it has come under the management of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. In this area, 16 acres are dedicated to the Lions Nature Education Centre, its facilities and the well-manicured garden space.

We have not hiked very much since May of this year. For most of May and June the days were too rainy. Came July, a long stretch of 21 super hot days prevented us from hiking as well. On this August day, we were expecting a typhoon, but because Tsiu Hang comes with many indoor facilities, we decided that if it rained on us, we would have ready refuge in the exhibition centres and the café there.

As it turns out, although there were rolling thunders throughout the time we were there, the rain did not come. In fact, it was sunny for the whole afternoon, but not too hot due to the rain in the past few days. All in all, the weather was perfect.

The entrance to the special area lies right across the Pak Kong bus stop. Just a brief five minute walk to the Lions Nature Education Centre was already a pleasant experience. Beautiful blooming trees lined the pathway.  We saw fruit-bearing trees as well, with pear-looking fruits hanging. Butterflies hovered around the floral trees.

Exhibition Centres

The Lions Nature Education Centre runs four exhibition centres on fisheries, agriculture, shells and insects at the Tsiu Hang Special Area. There are interesting displays with interactive features on-site. All of them are very educational and suitable for young children.

Field Crops

There are some thriving farming patches in the special area. We saw lush bushes of lemongrass there, and also some water melon seedlings as well. Please do not pick them, however, as the caretakers do monitor their crops. They will investigate if they see damages. Even in just a few hours there we saw how much effort went into caring for the fields.  Please treat the environment with love.

The Butterfly Dance

After the farming patches, we came across this area with different floral bushes that attracted a throng of butterflies. Their presence testifies to the vibrancy of wild lives in the special area.

The Tsiu Hang Nature Trail

The Tsiu Hang Nature Trial lies a bit further from the Deaf Cafeteria. The trail is short by itself, but due to the heat I walked an even shorter part of it. I sweated quite a bit, although the trail came with generous shades. There was only one flight of stairs, and I made my way on a loop back to the lotus pond.

The Lotus Pad

The lotus pad is small but quite a number of the lotuses there were blooming. They glow in a lively pink amidst a sea of green pads. Under the bright summer sun, water droplets glistened within the folds of the green lotus leaves, scintillating the brilliance of diamonds.

The Deaf Cafeteria

As its name suggests, the Deaf Cafeteria has the special mission for hiring staff with hearing impairment. It was an initiative of the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf with support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Lions Club International District 303.

It is, like many of its other well-managed counterparts in Hong Kong, a successful social enterprise. I only had a café latte there, and it boosted my mood significantly. From what I could observe, the food is also decent and they are reasonably priced. They serve regular meals, finger foods, hamburgers, and Hong Kong style tea sets. If weather permits, the outdoor seating area will be a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon.

As you can see, the Tsiu Hang Special Area is well-managed with a wide array of designated areas serving both aesthetic and educational purposes. As a whole the area demonstrates how thoughtful human touches can bring forth the best of nature. An easy afternoon here with your children can’t go wrong.

Finally, from the Tsiu Hang Nature Trail, you may venture out to Nam Ma Wat for a proper hike by the seaside, with much better views.

How to Get There

We took Bus 92 from Diamond Hill to Sai Kung, and got off at the Pak Kong Bus Stop. Once off the bus, look across the street and the entrance to the Lions Nature Education Centre is right there. Bus Route 792M also stops by Pak Kong. The minibus Routes 1, 1A, 12 and 101M also stop there.

There is also a parking lot with limited parking spots for small private cars, so be sure to get there early, especially if you are going with a family with children.

To explore the whole area of Lions Nature Education Centre, please do allow for at least half a day. Bring sunscreen, hats and enough water with you. Although there are shaded resting areas and air-conditioned facilities, the outdoor area can be extremely hot in mid-summer.

Sources

The Wikipedia on the Tsiu Hang Special Area (Chin).

Lions Nature Education Centre, The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf on Deaf Cafeteria (Chin).