Vignettes of the World
Heritage, history, hiking, and happy dining – we did an all-in-one trip at Mei Ho House in Shek Kip Mei on a sunny afternoon. Trail at the Back The original intention of the day was to do a simple walk up the stairs behind Mei …
You may have noticed a big white cross on top of the mountain as you drive through Tai Wai into Shatin. The cross is part of the Tao Fong Shan Christian Center on Tao Fong Shan. History In its name, Tao Fong Shan may sound …
On this sunny and hot day I headed out to the Kam Shan Country Park area. The plan was to visit Wilson Trail Section 6 off of the Kam Shan Family Walk. The trail exits at Tai Po Road. This area is known to hikers as the “Tail of Kowloon Reservoir.” It is where the waters of Kowloon Reservoir ends at its northern and eastern borders. Thus, the “tail” of the reservoir.
I parked on Tai Po Road and entered the Kam Shan Country Park via the Golden Hill Road. Having passed the Kowloon Reservoir, I went on a gradual incline to reach the entrance into the Kam Shan Family Walk.
About five minutes into the Kam Shan Family Walk, you will see a crossroad. Take the trail on the right. The one on the left is the Kam Shan Family Walk with many steps up. On the right is Wilson Trail Section 6.
All along this part of the trail there was the presence of water. I could hear it and smell it. Despite the hot weather, the generous shades throughout the trail tampered the heat significantly. It felt like the lush foliage trapped the dews. As such, it was a little humid and perhaps even a little moldy at the beginning parts of the trail. However, in the latter section the trail opens up and it became very pleasant with a nice balance of sunshine and shade.
However, as the trail ends one would come upon a not-so-pleasing sight. The very, very northern end of the Kowloon Reservoir littered with lots of trash. The path out to Tai Po Road was crowded with many cars at the Shatin Heights car park. I suggest taking the path immediate to the right along the waters for further views of the tail of Kowloon Reservoir.
Photos: A Panorama of the Views of Kowloon Reservoir at its Eastern Border
Including the walk from the Tai Po Road car park to the Kam Shan Family Walk entrance, this trail takes about one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes. However, upon exit, from the Shatin Heights car park to where I parked, it was another 25 to 30 minutes of walk.
Photo: On Exit at the Shatin Heights Car Park, but choose the path along the reservoir for better views.
I went by private car and parked at the Tai Po Road metered parking lot. Buses 72 and 81 run on Tai Po Road.
I do try, to the extent I can, to learn some Vietnamese. And I can only learn it by associating it with English, Cantonese and Mandarin. As the Vietnamese pronounce it, “Hue” is the English pronunciation of “hwei” the tone is a combination of the …
The Hok Tau Country Trail is delightful. There are two distinct sections of the trail, the latter part of which takes hikers through the villages and farms of Hok Tau. It is an easy trail of about 1.5 hours with some climbing, at a level …
The North District Park is a horticultural innovation waiting to be discovered. Located between Sheung Shui and Fanling, the park has its northern end at the So Kwun Po village and stretches southward to the Fanling Wai Village. Carefully manicured gardens, beautiful pavilions, covered walkways and a lake in the park create an ecosystem of its own, properly blending human footprints within a designed natural environ.
Although the park is not large, it gives visitors ample recreational space. I saw many people there doing walks and tai-chi, resting in the pavilions and some even brought their bird cages. Workers were also busy with mowing, pruning and maintenance all over the park. Clearly, this is a much-treasured space.
According to the introduction by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the park opened in 1990. It is intended to be as much a cultural space as it is a man-made haven for wildlife. In the park there is an amphitheater for holding cultural events. Fragrant plants line the twin pavilion. It is a thoughtful, pleasing detail.
The conservation area aims to provide a sanctuary for wild birds, butterflies and dragonflies. The plants are carefully chosen to include native flowers and fruit trees so that the area is itself an ecological haven. Chemical use is also reduced to the very minimum in this area. It is clear that the purpose is well-accomplished. I did see large birds resting over the park’s waters, and also many butterflies along my way.
On the southern end, there is a community garden, where people nurse edible plants. I find this feature to be unusual for Hong Kong. Clearly, this is a government space, and the active involvement of the people in sharing this space, other than for recreation, is quite uncommon. The community initiative is commendable.
A leisurely walk in the park takes about one hour, but after the first visit I already plan on spending lazy afternoons there with a book.
At the park’s southern gate lies the Fanling Wai village. There are three cannons that witness the village’s history since its pre-colonial days. In 1669, during the early reign of Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the villagers built gun towers and cannons as defenses against bandits in the area. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong beginning in 1941, the villagers feared that these defensive structures would cause danger to the village. They therefore removed these three cannons and buried them under the gun tower. When during the 1980s the villagers rebuilt the gun towers, they found these cannons. The cannons now stand as the spiritual defense of the village’s fortunes.
I must see Mr. T. He has the stories of the DMZ as a veteran. So I chose Hue as my fourth trip to Vietnam. On this first morning in Danang I had coffee, worked a bit more, and had lunch at the Happy Bread …
What’s with me and unmetered taxi’s? The guy came up to me at the airport and quoted đ200,000. I thought that included the airport tax but it was an extra đ70,000. I simply did not have the guts to bargain. On arrival at the hostel …
The Tai Mei Tuk Family Walk is a treasure trove. The 40-minute loop takes one through four vista points with exceptional views of the Pat Sin Leng (the Ridge of the Eight Immortals) and the seas of Eastern New Territories.
The trail begins with some steps up and that is where you can clock in some exercise.
Very soon you will come upon the first viewing point with views of the Plover Cove Reservoir and its main dam, plus the mountains on the east:
Keep going, and at the second viewing point come with these views:
Photo on the right shows the sub dam of the Plover Cove Reservoir.
At the third viewing point:
Photos: a panoramic view of the Pat Sin Leng mountain ridges with eight summits.
At the fourth viewing point:
Photos: a panoramic view of the Tai Mei Tuk villages and the waterfront, and outlaying islands afar including Yim Tin Tsai.
If you go by private car, park at the Tai Mei Tuk parking lot outside of the barbeque area. By public transport, bus 75K runs from Tai Po Market Bus Terminus. Minibus 20C also runs from Tai Po Market to Tai Mei Tuk. Get off at the Tai Mei Tuk Terminus.
Keep going through the Tai Mei Tuk barbecue area, and the entrance to the trail is on your left across from the YHA Bradbury Jockey Club Tai Mei Tuk Youth Hostel. That is before heading up the slope to the Tai Mei Tuk Main Dam.
Tai Mo Shan (Tai Mo Mountain) is the highest mountain in Hong Kong at an altitude of 957 meters. The Rotary Club Park Nature Trail cuts through the Tai Mo Shan Country Park. It is a short walk up on an intermediate incline. Yes, there …