LO FU TAU - DISCOVERY BAY
Written and Illustrated by Mia Mueller, Yu Hang Hui and Noah Ullah
ABOUT
Lo Fu Tau, also known as Tiger's Head, is located in the Lantau North Country Park. The hike goes from Tung Chung to Discovery Bay with another path connected to the Olympic Trail which goes from Tung Chung to Mui Wo. The whole hike from Tung Chung to Discovery Bay is approximately 12 kilometers and takes 3 hours to go up and down. It is a very scenic hike with many beautiful views on the way. The best time to go hiking on this trail is the early morning, when the sky is colourful.
HISTORY
Like many other hikes in Hong Kong, the Lo Fu Tau trail gets its nickname, Tigers Head, from its appearance. At the top of the trail, there is a rock which has an unusual resemblance to a tiger's head.
In chinese, Tiger’s Head is translated into 'Lo Fu Tau' (老虎頭). The paths looks like stripes on the tigers back and makes it look like a tiger is looking down on Discovery Bay. At the summit of Lo Fu Tau, there is a 'Sword Testing Stone'. This is because there is a rock that has a straight crack in the middle and it looks like it’s been sliced in half by a sword. The Tiger’s Head is connected to the Olympic Trail, which was made in 2008 to celebrate Hong Kong hosting an Olympic Event. There are many interesting views and rocks on the trail, including the Watch Tower, which was built in 1939. Located at the entrance of the Pak Mong Village, it was used by bandits, pirates and the Japanese army during World War II. It is 7 meters tall with 2 stories. The main gate faces south, and there are small windows and gun ports for defending the village. After the war, it was used as a village school. Finally, in 1999, it was declared a monument. |
THINGS TO DO & SEE
Other than hiking to the top of the mountain, there are also some other activities you can do. The Lo Fu Tau trail starts in Discovery Bay, so you can always have lunch or dinner when you get down. The walk from the trail entrance to the plaza is no longer than 8 minutes. You can always eat halfway through your hike as a break. There are also many scenic areas during the hike. Flat sections on the hike provide nice resting areas to enjoy the view. This trail is great for an early morning hike because you can witness the sky changing colour.
There are a few landmarks along the way. You may come across the Divine Peach Rock, which looks like a peach. It sits across the path at the early stage of the hike. |
BENEFITS OF HIKING Hiking has many benefits to your body and mind. It can lower the risk of heart disease, improve your blood pressure and sugar levels, boost bone density, build strength in your muscles and improve your balance.
Scientists have found that being outside can improve you in many different ways. What better way to do this than hiking? |
ACTIVITES & CHALLENGES
FAMILY HIKE
Materials: water, closed toed shoes, snacks, camera It’s a fabulous opportunity for your family to go hiking together. It's a lot of fun to hike with your family and friends. Its always a good idea to spend time with outside. Remember to go outside and do something active at least once everyday. |
PICNIC
Materials: food, picnic mat The peak of Tigers Head has a beautiful view. You can prepare food and snacks like sandwiches, juice, fruit, salad etc. You can enjoy the view while having a rest before making your way down. Remember to put a heavy object on the ends of your picnic mat because it can be quite windy up there! STAND ON THE SUMMIT POLE
Materials: n/a The summit pole can be found at the peak of the hill. It is nice fun to climb up. You can take really great pictures from the top of the pole. The view is really quite beautiful. Just be careful when you are climbing up the pole and ask someone to help you so you don't fall. FLYING KITES
Materials: kites Flying kites are great for family fun as there is a lot of wind at the summit. On the way up, you can find a nice place to stop and rest and have some fun with your family. Be sure to have a good grip on your kite handle because the wind is very strong at the summit. Its also great to take some pictures of the kites flying to keep that memory forever. |
PLANTS
There are many plants and flowers on the hike, but mostly shrubs and bushes can be found on most of the hike. However, there are many rare plants that can be found. Most of the wildlife are found on the beginning of the hike.
TAIWAN ACACIA
Taiwan Acacias appear at the start of the trail. It is native to Southeast Asia, and can grow up to 15m meters. They can be found at slopes from 5 to 200 meters, and are very common at below 1500m. Their roots go deep into the ground and can withstand winds up to 280 km/ph
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SLASH PINE
Slash pines are native to Southeast United States and are usually found in sandy forest or wet flat woods. Slash Pines grow very quickly and can live for up to 200 years. It is around 18-30 meters tall, and the trunk is around 0.6 to 0.8 meters wide. The leaves are shaped like a needle and are found in clusters.
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CHINESE HACKBERRY
The Chinese Hackberry can be found at the beginning of the hike. It can grow up to 20 meters tall. They are normally found on slopes that are 100 to 1500 meters tall. Chinese Hackberry's are native to Asia.
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BAUHINIAS
Bauhinias are very common in Hong Kong because it is Hong Kong’s national flower. It can be found on the Hong Kong flag. Its large, purple petals are a common sight in Hong Kong. The flower is around 10 to 15 centimetres wide, and bloom at late November to early March.
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BIRDS
There are not a lot of birds that can be found on the hike. While we were there, we only saw a few birds. Most of the other birds tend to stick closer to sea level because they cannot stay in the sky for long.
KITES
Kites can be found in most parts of the world. They spend most of their time soaring and gliding in the sky looking for food. Their unique shape makes them easy to identify. They also have a shrill cry.
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SPARROW
Sparrows are small, pump birds who have short tails and stubby, powerful beaks. They are brown and grey in colour and are very common in Discovery Bay. They can always be found living around humans and in cities. Sparrows are usually found near sea level.
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MYNA
Mynas are native to southern Asia. Mynas are medium sized birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and steady, and are very gregarious. They prefer to live in the open country, and eats insects and fruits. Mynas are often dark brown with some yellow in the places near the head.
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ANIMALS
There are a few animals that can be found on the Lo Fu Tau trail. Some of these animals are snakes. Some of the snakes that you make come across may be poisonous so don't go too close to them. Be sure that you keep a good distance away from it to prevent getting bitten.
BARKING DEER
Barking deer can be found around Lantau Island, but they are it is very rare that you will come across them. Barking deer are brown and some have small antlers. They have two stripes running from their nose to their antlers. Their call sounds like a bark, hence their name, barking deer.
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Getting there
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Entrance to Tiger's Head trail.
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Equipment
Risk Assessment
HAZARD |
RISKS |
CONTROL MEASURE |
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN |
Steep Hills |
Tripping over and falling down |
Walking slowly and carefully. Wearing hiking shoes or shoes with good grip |
Ensure a first aid kit is being carried during the excursion. Be sure to hike with a buddy or a group of people. Bring a phone for emergencies. |
Loose Rocks |
Sliding down the hill |
Wear shoes with a good grip |
Ensure a first aid kit is being carried during the excursion. Be sure to hike with a buddy or a group of people. Bring a phone for emergencies. |
Sandy downhill paths |
You might step on some sand that might slide and you will fall down the hill |
Make sure what you are stepping on is stable and you are wearing shoes with good grip |
Ensure a first aid kit is being carried during the excursion. Be sure to hike with a buddy or a group of people. Bring a phone for emergencies. |
Snakes |
There are many venomous snakes on Tigers Head. You could potentially get bitten. |
Look around you and pay attention to the wildlife, especially slithering things. Be sure that you keep a good distance away from it to prevent getting bitten. |
Ensure a first aid kit is being carried during the excursion. Be sure to hike with a buddy or a group of people. Bring a phone for emergencies. |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://hikehongkong.blogspot.hk/2015/02/tung-chung-to-discovery-bay-via-tiger.html
http://www.arounddb.com/articles/life-on-lantau-articles/hit-the-trails/30555-climbing-tiger-s-head-in-three-to-four-hours https://www.google.com.hk/maps/
http://www.hkoutdoors.com/hk-wildlife/dangerous-snakes-in-hong-kong.html
http://hiking.gov.hk/eng/trail_list/country_trail/Lo_Fu_Tau_Country_Trail/introduction.htm
http://www.arounddb.com/articles/news/14560-birds-in-around-db-by-kevin-laurie
http://www.canon.com.hk/en/club/article/itemDetail.do?itemId=10383
http://x3mhkg.blogspot.hk/2012/10/tiger-head.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_kite
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_ls/cou_vis_cou_ls.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_confusa
http://www.dragibusmag.com/acacia-confusa-of-taiwan/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtis_sinensis
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/hiking-body-mind
http://www.arounddb.com/articles/life-on-lantau-articles/hit-the-trails/30555-climbing-tiger-s-head-in-three-to-four-hours https://www.google.com.hk/maps/
http://www.hkoutdoors.com/hk-wildlife/dangerous-snakes-in-hong-kong.html
http://hiking.gov.hk/eng/trail_list/country_trail/Lo_Fu_Tau_Country_Trail/introduction.htm
http://www.arounddb.com/articles/news/14560-birds-in-around-db-by-kevin-laurie
http://www.canon.com.hk/en/club/article/itemDetail.do?itemId=10383
http://x3mhkg.blogspot.hk/2012/10/tiger-head.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_kite
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_ls/cou_vis_cou_ls.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_confusa
http://www.dragibusmag.com/acacia-confusa-of-taiwan/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtis_sinensis
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/hiking-body-mind