Tai Lam Chung Reservoir - Tuen Mun
Written and illustrated by: Sayuri, Cherry & Ambi
Overview
Tai Lam Chung country park occupies 5412 hectares in the western territories. This park is the second largest park in Hong Kong. Designated in 1979 it has a big area from Tsuen Wan to Tuen Mun. As soil around there was poor and frequently affected by hill fires and afforestation work in 1952 losing many species and plants. So plants were cultivated around the reservoir to strengthen the area. Tai lam Chung reservoir is a reservoir in Tai Lam Chung park is located in Tuen Mun, new territories.
Tai Lam Chung country park occupies 5412 hectares in the western territories. This park is the second largest park in Hong Kong. Designated in 1979 it has a big area from Tsuen Wan to Tuen Mun. As soil around there was poor and frequently affected by hill fires and afforestation work in 1952 losing many species and plants. So plants were cultivated around the reservoir to strengthen the area. Tai lam Chung reservoir is a reservoir in Tai Lam Chung park is located in Tuen Mun, new territories.
History
It was the first reservoir built in Hong Kong after the second world war. This reservoir was formed by a main dam across Tai Lam Chung valley. Commenced in 1951, this monumental project included the major task of constructing a main dam. The magnificent enclosure was the most impressing concrete structure in Hong Kong at the time. Towering 150 ft above the lake, it boasts pipelines that cover the entire Kowloon Peninsula to link up with the territory-wide water supply network. The amazing scenic of Tai Lam Chung country park is made out of 7 reservoirs and settlement basins. Tai lam is the second largest country park ranked after Lantau.
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Things to do and see
There are many things to see in Tai Lam Chung. The beautiful view of Tai Lam Chung reservoir, to the prison for women which is built and establish in Hong Kong.
Since, Tai Lam Chung is a popular tourist attraction, we can see many people hiking, cycling or taking their dog for a peaceful walk. Other than that, you can see many natural things. During this hike, you can spot colorful unique trees and flowers covering the paths, a wide range of animals and paved trails.
You might think Tai Lam Chung is only for people and hikers to hike but actually you can spot a couple of cars and bicycles during this trip.
Facilities are also provided on this trail. This include trash cans for people to dump their rubbish benefiting the environment, a variety of signs from danger signs to signs indicating locations.
Shek Kong barbecue area is hikers favourite trip destination. If camping is your thing, there are some campsites located in Tin Fu Tsai, Ho Pui and Tsuen Kam Au. There are mountain bike trails, mountain bike practise loops and training grounds in Tai Lam Country Park.
Since, Tai Lam Chung is a popular tourist attraction, we can see many people hiking, cycling or taking their dog for a peaceful walk. Other than that, you can see many natural things. During this hike, you can spot colorful unique trees and flowers covering the paths, a wide range of animals and paved trails.
You might think Tai Lam Chung is only for people and hikers to hike but actually you can spot a couple of cars and bicycles during this trip.
Facilities are also provided on this trail. This include trash cans for people to dump their rubbish benefiting the environment, a variety of signs from danger signs to signs indicating locations.
Shek Kong barbecue area is hikers favourite trip destination. If camping is your thing, there are some campsites located in Tin Fu Tsai, Ho Pui and Tsuen Kam Au. There are mountain bike trails, mountain bike practise loops and training grounds in Tai Lam Country Park.
Activities & Challenges
THE HUNT
Materials: Camera (optional)
How to play:
First, make a list of objects that you can easily find (a flower petal, something blue, maple leaf). The first person to find all these objects is the winner.
5 objects: heart shaped leaf, berries, eaten leaf, rock, rubbish
NAMES
Materials: You and your teammates
Simple game for friends, family that can get really competitive when you get to the last few letters!
How to play:
Each person has to take turns naming an object on the trail, in alphabetical order (apple tree). If you can’t name anything on the trail, you must name two other things you can think of starting with that letter (aardvark, acorn). If you can’t name anything within 5 seconds, you are eliminated. The last person left in the game is the winner.
HIDE & SEEK
Materials: You and your teammates
The basic hide and seek game is the best, since everyone already knows how to play and you don’t need any materials at all!
How to play:
Everyone hides while a person counts to 120 with their eyes closed. Then, the person has to seek everyone else out. The first one caught is the catcher for the next round, and the last one caught is the winner!
THE PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE
Materials: Camera
How to play:
Each person has to take a photo of the natural scenery, and whoever takes the best ones (judged by the whole group), is the winner.
Materials: Camera (optional)
How to play:
First, make a list of objects that you can easily find (a flower petal, something blue, maple leaf). The first person to find all these objects is the winner.
5 objects: heart shaped leaf, berries, eaten leaf, rock, rubbish
NAMES
Materials: You and your teammates
Simple game for friends, family that can get really competitive when you get to the last few letters!
How to play:
Each person has to take turns naming an object on the trail, in alphabetical order (apple tree). If you can’t name anything on the trail, you must name two other things you can think of starting with that letter (aardvark, acorn). If you can’t name anything within 5 seconds, you are eliminated. The last person left in the game is the winner.
HIDE & SEEK
Materials: You and your teammates
The basic hide and seek game is the best, since everyone already knows how to play and you don’t need any materials at all!
How to play:
Everyone hides while a person counts to 120 with their eyes closed. Then, the person has to seek everyone else out. The first one caught is the catcher for the next round, and the last one caught is the winner!
THE PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE
Materials: Camera
How to play:
Each person has to take a photo of the natural scenery, and whoever takes the best ones (judged by the whole group), is the winner.
Animals and Plants
Animals
Oryzias curvinotus
Oryzias curvinotus, also known as the ‘rich fish’, can be seen in Tai Lam Chung. This animal is a freshwater species that are native to Gulf of Kutch to Trivandrum, Kerala, India. Their maximum length is only 3 cm so their diet is small. They usually breed from July to August. Plants
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Amolops
little torrent frog cascade frog known as 'the sucker frog' lives in gentle streams can be found by the dam by Tai Lam Chung Reservoir Quite raren |
Chinese Red Pine Tree
Also known as the Pinus Tabuliformis,is a native of the lake states and eastward through New England, Canada etc. These trees had not been planted until the 1930's and were done so widely. Some were used for both erosion controll and water sonservation. The chinese red Pine is able reach 90 to 100 feet in height with a diamtre of 40 inches! |
Castanopsis
A category of medium sized trees in which fruits are entirely enclosed in a warty or spiny cupule. A few of these have edible fruits, but there are over 110 species, occurring in tropical asia and only 2 species in places like western and north america. |
Dandelion
There are so many interesting facts about dandelions. Some say that its the only flower that represents 3 bodies of the sun, moon and stars. The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars. It is one flower where every part of it is useful. Its root, leaves and flower can all be used for producing medicine, and dye. Its one flower you're going to want to look for if you go to Tai Lam chung Reservoir! |
Getting there
Hiking routes
There are a range of different trails for this hike, and the one above shows the full trail.
Equipment
Dangers/ Hazards
Hazard |
Risks |
Control Measures |
Emergency Plan |
Rough roads |
Tripping > Scraped knee, scraped hands, cuts, scratches |
Walking slowly and carefully, one at a time |
Value |
Dam |
Falling in > Drowning |
Keeping a safe distance away |
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Car, bicycles |
Getting hit > Death, broken bones |
Look out for cars, and let them pass first before continuing |
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Steep roads |
Tumbling down > Cuts, scratches, broken ankles, broken bones |
Go slowly, one at a time, and watch your step |
Value |
Sources you could check out!
History
Quote:
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/English/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_tl/cou_vis_cou_tl.html
Activities
Activities:
https://www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/trail-games-activities-to-keep-kids-moving-and-motivated-while-hiking/
Kit list:
http://hikehongkong.blogspot.hk/2016/02/thousand-islands-tai-lam-chung-reservoir.html
Things to see
Prison:
http://www.csd.gov.hk/english/facility/facility_ind/ins_nt_tlcw.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_Lam_Centre_for_Women
Animals:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parazacco_spilurus
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/hkbiodiversity/database/popup_record.asp?id=3368&lang=en
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/hkbiodiversity/database/popup_record.asp?id=3320&lang=en
http://www.hkecomap.net/distribution_detail_species.asp?AnimalID=4&SiteID=37&lang=eng
How to get there
Routes:
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_tl/cou_vis_cou_tl.html
http://www.hkecomap.net/distribution_detail.asp?AnimalID=4&SiteID=37&lang=eng
Other routes:
http://hiking.gov.hk/eng/trail_list/country_trail/Tai_Lam_Chung_Country_Trail/introduction.htmhttp://hiking.gov.hk/eng/trail_list/country_trail/Tai_Lam_Chung_Country_Trail/introduction.htmhttp://hiking.gov.hk/eng/trail_list/country_trail/Tai_Lam_Chung_Country_Trail/introduction.htm
http://goldcoastonline.hk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115&Itemid=110
http://hikehongkong.blogspot.hk/2016/02/thousand-islands-tai-lam-chung-reservoir.html?m=1http://hikehongkong.blogspot.hk/2016/02/thousand-islands-tai-lam-chung-reservoir.html?m=1
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_tl/cou_vis_cou_tl.html
http://en.Wikipedia.org/
http://www.biosch.hku.hk/
Plants
Chinese red pine tree:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_tabuliformis
Quote:
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/English/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_tl/cou_vis_cou_tl.html
Activities
Activities:
https://www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/trail-games-activities-to-keep-kids-moving-and-motivated-while-hiking/
Kit list:
http://hikehongkong.blogspot.hk/2016/02/thousand-islands-tai-lam-chung-reservoir.html
Things to see
Prison:
http://www.csd.gov.hk/english/facility/facility_ind/ins_nt_tlcw.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_Lam_Centre_for_Women
Animals:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parazacco_spilurus
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/hkbiodiversity/database/popup_record.asp?id=3368&lang=en
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/hkbiodiversity/database/popup_record.asp?id=3320&lang=en
http://www.hkecomap.net/distribution_detail_species.asp?AnimalID=4&SiteID=37&lang=eng
How to get there
Routes:
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_tl/cou_vis_cou_tl.html
http://www.hkecomap.net/distribution_detail.asp?AnimalID=4&SiteID=37&lang=eng
Other routes:
http://hiking.gov.hk/eng/trail_list/country_trail/Tai_Lam_Chung_Country_Trail/introduction.htmhttp://hiking.gov.hk/eng/trail_list/country_trail/Tai_Lam_Chung_Country_Trail/introduction.htmhttp://hiking.gov.hk/eng/trail_list/country_trail/Tai_Lam_Chung_Country_Trail/introduction.htm
http://goldcoastonline.hk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115&Itemid=110
http://hikehongkong.blogspot.hk/2016/02/thousand-islands-tai-lam-chung-reservoir.html?m=1http://hikehongkong.blogspot.hk/2016/02/thousand-islands-tai-lam-chung-reservoir.html?m=1
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_tl/cou_vis_cou_tl.html
http://en.Wikipedia.org/
http://www.biosch.hku.hk/
Plants
Chinese red pine tree:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_tabuliformis