Overview

Occupying a limited site of 47 hectares, the Lung Fu Shan Country Park is the smallest and newest country park in Hong Kong, designated only recently in 1998. Situated north of High West and south of Kotewall Road, its borders lie on Hatton Road in the east and Harlech Road in the south, while the west and north boundaries are marked by drains laid by the Water Supplies Department.

Lung Fu Shan Country Park

War ruins are major highlights of the park. Pinewood Battery and remains of old forts provide perfect setting for a journey back in time. The Pinewood Picnic Site nearby has a rain shelter, barbecue stoves, clothes hangers, tea facilities and a wide terrace with views across the sea to Green Island and beyond. Pinewood Battery was built in 1903 as part of the Island West coastal defense line. This military relic is preserved within the protected realm of the country park, with an interpretation plate to introduce its history.

Major Attractions

Pinewood Battery

Sitting on a knoll in Lung Fu Shan Country Park, Pinewood Battery is the remains of an old military fort built in 1903. Pinewood is the highest defense facility of its kind, commanding a high vantage point 307 metres above sea level. The original gun emplacement, commanding platform and shelters are preserved in tact to this day.

This battery in Lung Fu Shan is a defense position in Northwest Hong Kong Island. Just like Lei Yue Mun, it was designed to protect vessels passing through the western doorway of Victoria Harbour. During the war years, the British forces deployed a large artillery unit and heavy guns in this sea-facing battery to guard the Island.

In the 1920's, not long after its completion, Pinewood Battery was converted into an air defense battery. During the Japanese invasion, it came under repeated air raids. On December 15, 1941, Japanese bombers launched an attack on the battery, causing 1 death and 1 injury. One of the antiaircraft guns and certain other facilities were destroyed. Commander of the defending troops decided to abandon the battery, and all men were ordered to retreat on that day. At that note, Pinewood's historical mission ended gloriously.

Facilities

The Lung Fu Shan Country Park provides a wide range of leisure facilities, including 2 picnic sites, barbecue area, notice boards, toilets, fitness equipment, pedestrian walkway, rain shelter and lookout. There are also a planting site, stoves for boiling water, freshwater mains and clothes hangers. Specially designed items like tea-making tools, clothes hangers and the fitness cobblestone path are all pioneering facilities for Hong Kong country parks. Their appearance is closely associated with the background history of Lung Fu Shan Country Park.

Lung Fu Shan Country Park

For many years, Lung Fu Shan has been a favourite destination for morning walkers, with thousands of visitors jogging or hiking in the area everyday. In the past, the region was under joint administration of several government departments without clearly defined remits. Some parts of the countryside was poorly maintained and certain sites of high conservation value were degraded.

It was in this backdrop that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department sought designation of this valuable piece of nature as a country park, as requested by the general public and the Central & Western District Council. In the course of creating the Lung Fu Shan Country Park, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department re-planned land which had been abandoned for many years, demolished more than 30 disorderly structures, and exercised control on illegal activities. Input was sought from morning walkers to understand their needs and concerns. After repeated exchange, we finally earned their support for the project. Indeed, Lung Fu Shan is a small country park made possible by big efforts one that contains great understanding and consideration.

Ecological Highlights

Hong Kong Gordonia

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

As part of a bio-diversity programme, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has carried out ongoing afforestation work in Lung Fu Shan over the decade. Native trees were selected for the park and in the 1970's a large number of Brisbane Box (Lophostemon confertus) were used to green the hills and slopes. Native trees found in Lung Fu Shan are Hong Kong Gordonia (Gordonia axillaris), Chekiang Machilus (Machilus chekiangensis) and Ivy Tree (Schefflera heptaphylla).

Lung Fu Shan's lush woodlands are where more than 150 bird species roost and feed. All you need is a pair of binoculars and some patience, and you will easily discover these feathered friends. Some of them are heard, while others can be seen perched on the trees. Common species are Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus), Orange-bellied Leafbird (Chloropsis hardwickii), Crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), Chinese Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis), Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum), Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica), Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus), Hwamei (Garrulax canorus), Tristram's Bunting (Emberiza tristrami), Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni), Spotted Dove (Steptopelia chinensis), White-backed Munia (Lonchura striata), Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) and Black-throated Laughing-thrush (Garrulax chinensis). Occasionally, you find quills of the Chinese Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) on the ground, and Styan Squirrels (Calliosciurus erythraeus styani) chasing about in the bush.

Scenic Beauty

Picnic site

Start your hike from the picnic site at the end of Harlech Road. There are two picnic sites within the park. One of them has a lookout built directly on top of an old pillbox dating back to the Japanese War. There is an information plate that presents major sights of the region. On clear days, your can spot the remains of Pinewood Battery inside Lung Fu Shan Country Park.

Past the small park at the end of Harlech Road, the trail descends to the middle section via some steps. There is a fine view of Queen Mary Hospital and Cyber Port, set against beryl water and Lamma Island in the distance. On your left is the Hong Kong Trail, while the entrance to Cheung Po Tsai Traditional Path, an ancient hill walk, lies on the right. It is a popular hiking route to follow Stage 1 of the Hong Kong Trail and then onto Lung Fu Shan Country Park via Cheung Po Tsai Traditional Path. About 3.5 km in length, the traditional path takes only 1 hour to complete.

Skirting along the uplands, the Cheung Po Tsai Traditional Path is blessed with clean, unpolluted air that is beneficial to plant growth. Pathside vegetation features great diversity, and provides habitats for many birds and insects. Half way down the path, there are ruins of ancient temples near Sai Lam Buddhist Hall (old site), and traces of makeshift facilities constructed by morning walkers which were once common in Lung Fu Shan. Further up, at the start of another traditional path section, you find a rain shelter with clothes hangers and the first-ever tea-making facilities provided in a country park (stoves for kettles) to morning walkers. A flight of steps take you down to a level hill trail. A little further, another flight of steps lead up to a large finger-shaped marker-post, indicating the end of the rain shelter section of Cheung Po Tsai Traditional Path. The section of the path that leads to Hatton Road was closed in mid 2000 after a mudslide.

Public Transport Information

There are several public transport routes to Lung Fu Shan Country Park :

Take bus no. 15 or green minibus no. 1 in Central or take bus no. 515 in North Point (Ferry Pier) to the Peak (Victoria Gap). Walk along Harlech Road for the entrance to Lung Fu Shan Country Park.

Take bus no. 13 or green minibus no. 3A in Central to Kotewall Road. From Hatton Road next to the HKU Vice-Chancellor's Residence, walk up to the portal of the country park.

Take bus no. 3B in Central, bus no. 23 in North Point (ferry pier) or cross-harbour bus no 103 in Chuk Yuen to Pokfield Road, where a flight of steps leads to Lung Fu Shan.