Tai Lam Country Park
(Northwards)
Only in Hong Kong could an excursion through the countryside start with a mile-long walk through a covered and air-conditioned footbridge,
but that is exactly how we begin this hike taking us through the large, lush natural lung that is the Tai Lam Country Park...
It is thus in comfort that we head west out of Tsuen Wan station. What's more, the first steps we encounter have been substituted by a
descending escalator... The gentle warm-up continues as we glowly gain altitude by climbing a suburban road to reach a hidden series of
small waterfalls on the edge of the city.
Up until this point, it has all been a bit of a stroll, but this changes when we get to the 356 steps and the very basic dirt path leading us to the
nice level Tai Lam Chung Catchwater Jogging Trail... We shall, briefly, follow this trail, but then the climbing starts in earnest as we climb past
small orchards and more-or-less abandonned vegetable farms on Ha Shan. Beyond Ha Shan, the walk exposed and boulder strewn southern
slope of Shek Lung Kung is steep, sweat-inducing and heartbeat-raising but it lasts for a mile only and the views over the Rambler Channel,
Tsing Yi and the Tsing Ma & Ting Kau bridges are phenomenal and worth the elevated heart beat... On really clear days even Hong Kong and
Lamma islands are visible.
At the top of the hill, we turn our back on the big city below and descend into the lush woodlands of the Tai Lam Country Park. Soon, the
sounds of jackhammers, fire trucks and bus brakes are replaced by bird song and the throaty quack of frogs. Butterflies are everywhere and
we might well bump into the odd herd of feral cattle as well...
We pass the virtually forgotten hamlet of Sheung Tong - a well-protected clearing deep in the woods - then cross a narrow but deep unnamed
valley that seems almost too remote to be in Hong Kong.
Having climbed out of this green gorge, we begin the final gentle descent along well-shaded dirt and boulder paths towards the serene Ho Pui
Reservoir, where we make a brief stop before ending our walk at one of Ho Pui’s stores. There should be time for a quick refreshment before
we make our way back to the city by minibus and train.
(Northwards)
Only in Hong Kong could an excursion through the countryside start with a mile-long walk through a covered and air-conditioned footbridge,
but that is exactly how we begin this hike taking us through the large, lush natural lung that is the Tai Lam Country Park...
It is thus in comfort that we head west out of Tsuen Wan station. What's more, the first steps we encounter have been substituted by a
descending escalator... The gentle warm-up continues as we glowly gain altitude by climbing a suburban road to reach a hidden series of
small waterfalls on the edge of the city.
Up until this point, it has all been a bit of a stroll, but this changes when we get to the 356 steps and the very basic dirt path leading us to the
nice level Tai Lam Chung Catchwater Jogging Trail... We shall, briefly, follow this trail, but then the climbing starts in earnest as we climb past
small orchards and more-or-less abandonned vegetable farms on Ha Shan. Beyond Ha Shan, the walk exposed and boulder strewn southern
slope of Shek Lung Kung is steep, sweat-inducing and heartbeat-raising but it lasts for a mile only and the views over the Rambler Channel,
Tsing Yi and the Tsing Ma & Ting Kau bridges are phenomenal and worth the elevated heart beat... On really clear days even Hong Kong and
Lamma islands are visible.
At the top of the hill, we turn our back on the big city below and descend into the lush woodlands of the Tai Lam Country Park. Soon, the
sounds of jackhammers, fire trucks and bus brakes are replaced by bird song and the throaty quack of frogs. Butterflies are everywhere and
we might well bump into the odd herd of feral cattle as well...
We pass the virtually forgotten hamlet of Sheung Tong - a well-protected clearing deep in the woods - then cross a narrow but deep unnamed
valley that seems almost too remote to be in Hong Kong.
Having climbed out of this green gorge, we begin the final gentle descent along well-shaded dirt and boulder paths towards the serene Ho Pui
Reservoir, where we make a brief stop before ending our walk at one of Ho Pui’s stores. There should be time for a quick refreshment before
we make our way back to the city by minibus and train.
Download Reservation Form here or click here to request more information.
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| ... exploring Hong Kong's other side... |
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