History
Shing Mun Also known as Guang Fu Mountain reservoir is located in upper Shing Mun in Lo Wai.
In the mid-17th century, Ming Dynasty didn’t listen to the soldiers. He occupied the southwestern base of Needle Hill and built a fort (Shing) and gate (Mun) to control the area. They arrested local villages until they surrender to the Qing Dynasty army in 1656. The fort was built close to Pineapple Dam. In 1922, a power line was constructed to supply electricity for building the Shing Mun dam, it took 4 years for it to complete. It was the first time in Hong Kong to use a central power station for such a big project. The Shing Mun Water Supply was in the making in 1923 and was completed in 1939. It was the third pipe to cross harbour from the Peninsula to Hong Kong Island. The reservoir dam is 400 feet wide and 200 feet deep and was capable of holding 900 million gallons of water. In 1986, a 34-hour fire destroyed 282,500 trees at Shing Mun and Tai Mo Shan and ravaged 7.40 km² of countryside. |
Activities
Hiking... Endless hours of walking after walking. Then a little bit more walking. And then more. Tiring and painful, hiking isn't everyone's piece of cake. However, here at Shing Mun Reservoir you can do a lot more than the typical hours of walking. Here, you can engage yourself in fun activities! Here are some listed below. Have fun and try new things!
PICNIC
Materials: - Food - Cloth Simply put a cloth on the ground put all the food you have onto it and just relax. BIRD WATCHING Materials: - Binoculars - A Camera If you really want to get a good snap of the birds, start in the morning. This is when the birds search for food. Listen, you should be able to hear birds all around you chirping and singing their songs. Look for movement in the trees and if you think you see something, look through your binoculars. FIND A BUTTERFLY Materials: - A Camera - Binoculars Near the end of the hike, there are 2 butterfly gardens which you can go in to. Inside there will be signs of what butterflies live there and what you should be aiming to find. Brilliant Barbecue Materials: - Barbecue Venue - Barbecue Forks - Food - Lighter - Dry sticks (if it isn't dry, fire won't start) and leaves - Rock To make the fire for the barbecue you have to first go stick hunting. After you get a reasonable amount of sticks find some leaves and rocks. Get back to the venue and pile your sticks and leaves inside of the rock shaped barbecuer. Try to start the fire and if it does start put the food over the fire on the forks. Warning: Do not barbecue on a windy day |
Flowers and Plants
Even though throughout the whole hike you mostly see trees there can be plants found in some areas, have a look and see how many you can find.
Bauhinia
With delicate white flowers, the national flower of Hong Kong is no slouch. The beautiful Bauhinia, has delicate shading, bright splashes of pink slowly spreading out from its center. Its smell is enough to lure anyone into its sweet embrace. Aromatic and stunning, this flower is a must see. |
Paperbark Tree
Soft and squishy, the amazing Paperbark tree is great for fans of the Slime and the Squishy. Growing up to 20 metres, it is a rare beauty to Hong Kong. The tree has a very interesting adaption! Like a snake its loses its skin, or bark as it peels of like …. Paper! |
Bougainvillea
With small and delicate purple flowers sprouting from every inch of this alluring plant, the Bougainvillea is a real natural beauty. Sprouting at roughly 1 - 12 metres tall, this gentle flower is soft and a true lady among flowers. |
Sea Buckham
Though it is not advisable to eat this berry, these small round orange orbs are nonetheless quite pretty and make for a good photo. Just don’t go popping any into your mouth! |
Mountain Mammals
Other than flowers and plants there are mammals at some parts of the hike.
WILD COWS
Lazily walking along the fields and grasses, slowly munching on cud, these cows are big furballs. As you walk along the many paths of the Shing Mun Reservoir and its comfortable surroundings, you might see these big brown mammals, lying lazily in the sun or relaxing in the shade of a tree. Try not to get too close to it as you don’t know what could happen. |
WILD MONKEYS
Cheeky eyes and small hands reach out for you in the Shing Mun Reservoir. Can you guess who I’m talking about? Well, it’s none other than the Monkey. Or more specifically the Long Tailed Macaque, the Rhesus Macaque and a hybrid. All along Shing Mun reservoir paths, you can see these wide eyes staring at you. However, don’t be fooled by the appearance of these monkeys, be careful they’re notorious in the ability to steal food and other items. Protect your food and yourself. |
Birds
Rufous-necked Scimitar Babbler
Orange eyes peer out from its black and white head. But don’t be mistaken, this isn’t a penguin. Instead, it is the exquisite Rufous-necked Scimitar Babbler. Distinctive orange plumage covers this bird, the tail dipped in black. The chest of this bird is speckled black, the spots like night stars. |
Hainan Blue-Flycatcher
Coloured a beautiful Azuli blue, this bird shines like Lapis Lazuli, and is just as precious. Blue blends into white as the two colours intermingle. The Hainan Blue-Flycatcher is an exceptional colour with warmth and heart. With such a beautiful outlook, this bird is perfect for pictures. This is one of the many reasons to do bird watching! |
Plumbeous Redstart
The startling blue gray of this charming bird, combined with the orange hues of its tail makes a truly striking creature. The Plumbeous Redstart has small beady black eyes, that scan the ground for prey and food. Watch out for this bird when you hike the trail. |
How to get there
If you take the public transportation. From Shiu Wo St near Tsuen Wan MTR station. Take the minibus 82 in the direction which goes directly to Shing Mun Reservoir. The full fare from Tsuen Wan (Shiu Wo st) and Shing Mun reservoir is $5.2. Service hours from Tsuen Wan (Shiu Wo st) is from 06:45 - 23:45 on all days, including public holidays and Sundays. Service hours from Shing Mun Reservoir is from 5:50 - 23:30 on all days including public holidays and Sundays.
Equipment
Risk and Hazards
Hazards |
Risk |
Water on the floor |
Slip and fall |
Fooling around |
Fall into the reservoir |
Swimming |
Illegal |
Cliffs |
Fall off and hurt yourself |
Monkey |
Could attack you if you have food on you |
Monkey Poop |
You will get your shoes all dirty |
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melaleuca_quinquenervia
http://www.joyusgarden.com/secrets-bougainvillea/
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/archive/BirdingHongKong/inform/sm.html
http://www.wsd.gov.hk/en/education/history/the_legacy_of_waterworks/shing_mun_reservoir/
http://industrialhistoryhk.org/shing-mun-jubilee-reservoir/
http://www.16seats.net/eng/gmb/gn_82.html
http://annatam.com/leisurely-walk-along-shing-mun-reservoir/
http://www.hbw.com/ibc/species/hainan-blue-flycatcher-cyornis-hainanus
http://www.nature-pictures.org/image/1114/4093/
http://www.hbw.com/ibc/species/58504/photos
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melaleuca_quinquenervia
http://www.joyusgarden.com/secrets-bougainvillea/
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/archive/BirdingHongKong/inform/sm.html
http://www.wsd.gov.hk/en/education/history/the_legacy_of_waterworks/shing_mun_reservoir/
http://industrialhistoryhk.org/shing-mun-jubilee-reservoir/
http://www.16seats.net/eng/gmb/gn_82.html
http://annatam.com/leisurely-walk-along-shing-mun-reservoir/
http://www.hbw.com/ibc/species/hainan-blue-flycatcher-cyornis-hainanus
http://www.nature-pictures.org/image/1114/4093/
http://www.hbw.com/ibc/species/58504/photos