Hong Kong Hiking at Tai Tam Country Park
It's hiking season again, and before the kids' summer vacation ends, we took them for an 8-kilometer hike at Tai Tam Country Park.
Transportation:
Start from Sai Ying Pun MTR Station, take the Island Line to the terminal station Chai Wan, find the bus terminal at Exit C, and transfer to bus 16X or 16M to Tai Tam Country Park.
Tai Tam Country Park is quite large, covering about one-fifth of Hong Kong Island. There are many hiking trails, and we chose the Tai Tam Reservoir Road - Mount Parker Trail, which is about 8 kilometers long. We walked, played, and had a picnic along the way, taking about two and a half hours.
There are 21 declared monuments along the Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail, including dams and ancient stone bridges. The path is mostly flat, with some gentle slopes leading to Tai Fung Au, making it not too strenuous. The scenery along the way is pleasant, with green lake water and shimmering lake surfaces. The cool breeze on the dam is very relaxing.
There are no shops or vending machines along the way, so be sure to bring enough water and food before setting off.
The cement road from Mount Parker to the hiking trail is easy to walk, mostly downhill. The path is shaded by dense trees and has several viewing platforms. Near the end, you can overlook the urban scenery of Quarry Bay and Taikoo.