Tai Lam Country Park
Tai Lam Country Park (designated in 1979 ) is the 2nd largest country park in Hong Kong, which occupies 5,412 hectares of sylvan grounds.
It locates in the Western New Territories and encompasses a area extending from Tsuen Wan to Tuen Mun.
History
In the past, the park was a land with severe soil erosion. Until 1952, in order to protect the reservoir nearby, the British government carried out afforestation work. Started from that time, large number of trees are planted in order to reduce water and soil erosion problem. Although the barren land was often affected by fires, it becomes a great woodlands nowadays after careful nurturing. Today, the park is fully covered with various types of trees and shrubs (e.g. acacia, red bakelite, mountain pine, pine and eucalyptus), which becomes a habitat of wild animals, amphibians and reptiles.
Almost all the soil in the park had been erodes and becomes granite nowadays. In the past, people extracted tungsten ore and other minerals in Lotus Hill near Tsuen Kam Road, which is the East of Tai Lam Country Park. Later on, price of minerals fall and mining stopped, lifting numerous abandoned pits nowadays. Visitors can see them easily nearby when walking along the park.
In the past, the park was a land with severe soil erosion. Until 1952, in order to protect the reservoir nearby, the British government carried out afforestation work. Started from that time, large number of trees are planted in order to reduce water and soil erosion problem. Although the barren land was often affected by fires, it becomes a great woodlands nowadays after careful nurturing. Today, the park is fully covered with various types of trees and shrubs (e.g. acacia, red bakelite, mountain pine, pine and eucalyptus), which becomes a habitat of wild animals, amphibians and reptiles.
Almost all the soil in the park had been erodes and becomes granite nowadays. In the past, people extracted tungsten ore and other minerals in Lotus Hill near Tsuen Kam Road, which is the East of Tai Lam Country Park. Later on, price of minerals fall and mining stopped, lifting numerous abandoned pits nowadays. Visitors can see them easily nearby when walking along the park.
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Park Facilities
Apart from the natural environment, Tai Lam Country Park is also provided with different facilities suitable for family events or school activities. a. Sweetgum forest Sweetgum forest is located in Tai Tong Road inside the park. Sweetgum forest is famous for red autumnal leaves, which is a kind of maple. Red autumnal leaves changes color from green to yellow or red when temperature falls. This charming color attracts numerous people for appreciation. Number of Sweetgum trees in the park is the highest in Hong Kong. Especially in along Tai Tong Road, both sides of the road are densely planted with Sweetgum trees. Weather is getting clod these few days and red autumnal leaves start to change color. So there is no reason we do not visit the park and appreciate the beautiful view. b. Barbecue sites
The park is too large that it connects a total of 12 hiking routes, including our familiar MacLehose Trail stage 9 & 10; family travel routes such as Tsuen Kam Nature Trails and Tai Tong Nature Trails; and etc. Along these hiking routes, there are many barbecue sites suitable for family and school gatherings. It is worth mentioning that the sites in Tai Tong Road and Shek Kong barbecue areas are the largest. They are famous spots for school picnic days. c. Camping sites There are camping sites in Tin Fu Tsai, Ho Pui and Tsuen Kam Au for public use. Among those camp sites, Tin Fu Tsai camp site is the largest one, with maximum of 30 sites. d. Fitness Trail Tuen fitness trail is located at the west of the park, which provides 14 fitness stations for physical activity. e. Mountain Bike Trail Mountain Bike Trail, which is set at the Ho Pui Road, is a standard International mountain biking path. It specifies into the Green Trail (for beginners) and Blue Trails (for those with advanced technology), each lengths of 200 meters. How can we get there??
Take 68M, 68X, 69M, 69X, 264M, 269B, 269C, 269D, 269M, 968, E34, 969 buses > get off at Tai Lam Tunnel bus station > walk for 10 mins to the hillside path > walk along the mountain > Tai Lam Chung Country Trail For more information, click website of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_tl/cou_vis_cou_tl.html |
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