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| Plover Cove Country Park |
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Overview
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Yan Chau Tong
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Set in northeastern Hong Kong, Plover Cove Country Park was designated in 1978. A large park of 4,594 hectares, it encompasses contrasting landforms. Meeting the sea on three sides, the park features a range of undulating peaks in the central part. To its west lies Pat Sin Leng Country Park, notorious for dizzying, rugged uplands. Whether you choose to visit Plover Cove on a glorious summer day or in the spring drizzle, the landscape is equally arresting. Every way you turn, water colour scenery takes your breath away.
Bride's Pool is one of the most famous idyllic spots in Plover Cove Country Park. This woodside pool is 25m in diameter and about 2m deep. Here, a magnificent waterfall sets the scene. The atmosphere is so pristine it seems almost celestial. What also makes Bride's famous is a folk legend. It is said a bride was drowned here on her way to the wedding. Tragic yet hauntingly romantic, this little tale makes your imagination run wild.
In addition to Bride's Pool, Plover Cove Country Park has many other popular scenic spots : Mirror Pool, Lung Chue Pool, Wang Chung Stream and the manmade Plover Cove Reservoir. For those who enjoy hiking or walking, the park offers Bride's Pool Nature Trail, Tai Mei Tuk Family Walk, Chung Pui Tree Walk, Ma Shi Chau Nature Trail and Ping Chau Country Trail.
The northern extension of Plover Cove Country Park was designated in 1979. This part of the park includes the Double Haven islets and Yan Chau Tong Marine Park, which harbours some of Hong Kong's most beautiful coasts. Ping Chau (Tung Ping Chau) in Mirs Bay is a treasure-trove of wildlife, while the three gems of Double Haven Yan Chau, Pak Ka Chau and Pak Sha Tau Tsui lure you with their unique brand of charm. Also full of individual magic are Crooked Island, Tui Min Chau, Crescent Island, Double Island, Wu Yeung Chau and Port Island opposite Long Harbour and Tolo Channel (Chek Mun).
Major Attractions
Plover Cove Reservoir, an impressive water storage facility inside Plover Cove Country Park, is renowned for its magnificent main dam. Measuring 680 ft (or 2 km) in length and some 24 hectares in area, it is Hong Kong's longest dam and the greatest structure of its kind. It is also the world's first "reservoir in the ocean" and the second largest reservoir in the territory. This imposing dam is as tall as a 9-storey building, i.e. 28 metres. Water storage capacity is 230,000,000 m3, which equals to 230 billion bottles of 1 L beverage.
The construction of Plover Cove Reservoir was prompted by sharp population growth in the 1950's. There demand for water was pressing but there was no available land to build a new reservoir. While swimming in Plover Cove one day, former Director of Water Supplies 毛謹was struck by an idea to transform the bay into a reservoir. Work commenced in 1960, and the facility was completed thirteen years later. Today, Plover Cove Reservoir is a natural fish pond that supports diverse wildlife. Among them are many freshwater fish species.
Facilities
Plover Cove Country Park has a wide range of country and leisure facilities. Among these, the Tai Mei Tuk barbecue area is an all-time favourite. Convenient placed for public transport and within close distance of the Plover Cove Reservoir main dam, it is a popular destination. After all, nothing beats a hearty barbecue followed by a spectacular view of the dam. The country park visitor centre in Tai Mei Tuk is also a choice destination. The centre has interesting exhibits with detailed information about the country park, walled village folk customs and easy guides for identifying local flora species.
In addition to a barbecue area, the park has several routes for hikers of different interests and fitness levels : the Bride's Pool Nature Trail, Tai Mei Tuk Family Walk, Chung Pui Tree Walk, Wu Kau Tang Country Trail and Ping Chau Country Trail in the Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park.
Bride's Pool Nature Trail near the outlet of Bride's Pool offers a delectable nature experience. The starting section is lined by trees on both sides. Along the way, there are sweet songs of birds and insects, as well as a chance to observe the web-making giant forest spiders and unique landforms. Further upstream, you find unusual potholes, the Bride's Pool cascade and plunge pool. The 6 km Ping Chau Country Trail, on the other hand, takes you to extraordinary rock formations like Cham Keng Chau, Lung Lok Shui and Kang Lau Shek, which is one of the best places to watch the sun set.
Ecological Highlights
The sheer size of Plover Cove Country Park makes it a haven for wildlife. Here in the park, you can find most of the wild animals occurring in Hong Kong, such as Chinese Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), Chinese Ferret Badger (Melogale moschata), Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), Chinese Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis) and Pallas's Tree Squirrel (Calliosciurus erythraeus). Roosting in the woodlands are a great variety of forest birds. There have been records of Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) and Red-winged Crested Cuckoo (Clamator coromandus) on Crooked Island and in Lai Chi Wo inside the park.
Butterflies are the most valuable ecological treasures of Plover Cove. A recent Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department survey confirms that Hong Kong now has 238 butterfly species, as compared with 200 in 2002. One of the new records, Yellow Coster (Acraea issoria), was discovered in Plover Cove Country Park, while the rare Bi-spot Royal (Ancema ctesia) was also sighted by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department staff in the park. It was a very significant reappearance of this species in more than ten years. Wu Kau tang and Lai Chi Wo inside the park are particular rich in butterflies.
Scenic Beauty
If you like extraordinary rock formations, head for Ping Chau and Ma Shi Chau. Both of these places gave unique geographical characters sought after by lovers of natural landscape. Ping Chau, flat as the name implies, is home of the one-and-only stromatolite rock form in Hong Kong Ping Chau Formation. This sponge cake structure is the result of erosion, sedimentation and earth movement over long ages. The 200 m stratum is made up of 1-5 mm individual layers, and beddings are clearly distinguishable. As the rock weathers, an interplay of physical property and colour frequency results in more intense colour variations. In some parts, striking colourful bands are formed. （Ping Chau Formation）。
If the Ping Chau Formation bewilders you, be prepared for more awe-inspiring landforms that make you marvel at the greatness of nature. One example is Kang Lau Shek, a 7-8 m sea stack on a wave-cut platform at the southeastern tip of Ping Chau. These peculiar rocks are sculpted by incessant waves and wind. If you look at the two vertical rock pillars, you can see the shale joints.
At the southern end of the island you find Lan Kwo Shui. Here, a plunging escarpment lines the shore. Waves have cut out many caves on the rock. These caves are accessible from Kang Lau Shek only at the lowest tide when the sea is calm. and the name Lan Kwo Shui reflects the tricky crossing. Off the coast of Ping Chau, in the southwest, there is a strange looking band of rock. Known as Lung Lok Shui, this long and triangular rock formation resembles the spine of a dragon entering the sea.
Ma Shi Chau, a small island in Tolo Harbour, is also a good place for geology enthusiasts. A stretch of sedimentary rock on its southeastern coast was formed in the geological age of Permian Period, which is 280 million years ago. A number of geological features can be found here, such as fault, sausage structure, fold, rendering it a natural geology museum.
Public Transport Information
To visit Plover Cove Country Park, Tai Po is the most convenient set off point. A bus runs between Ting Kok Road and Bride's Pool on Sundays and public holidays from October to April. There are limited parking spaces for private cars near roadside barbecue areas.
Public transport routes to trails in Plover Cove Country Park :
Bride's Pool Nature Trail
At Tai Po Market terminus, catch bus no. 75K to Tai Mei Tuk bus terminus. In Tai Mei Tuk, take a taxi or village bus to Bride's Pool. Get off at the green-roof rain shelter. Alternatively, at Tai Po Market (Nam Shing Street) take green minibus no. 20C (end station Wu Kau Tang) and get off near Bride's Pool. On Sundays and public holidays, an extra route no. 275R (end station Bride's Pool) travels to Bride's Pool from Tai Po bus terminus.
Tai Meu Tuk Family Walk
Take bus no. 75K to Tai Mei Tuk bus terminus. After getting off, walk in the direction of the Plover Cove Reservoir main dam. The starting point of the family walk is next to the water sports centre.
Chung Pui Tree Walk
At Tai Po Market terminus, catch bus no. 75K to Tai Mei Tuk bus terminus. In Tai Mei Tuk, take a taxi or village bus to Chung Pui. Alternatively, at Tai Po Market (Nam Shing Street) take green minibus no. 20C (end station Wu Kau Tang) and get off near Chung Pui. On Sundays and public holidays, an extra route no. 275R (end station Bride's Pool) travels to Chung Pui from Tai Po bus terminus.
Wu Kau Tang Country Trail
At Tai Po Market terminus, catch bus no. 75K to Tai Mei Tuk bus terminus. In Tai Mei Tuk, take a taxi or village bus to Wu Kau Tang. Alternatively, at Tai Po Market (Nam Shing Street) take green minibus no. 20C and get off at end station Wu Kau Tang. On Sundays and public holidays, an extra route no. 275R (end station Bride's Pool) travels to Bride's Pool. From there, you can take a taxi or village bus, or walk along Bride's Pool Road to Wu Kau Tang.
Ping Chau Country Trail
From University KCRC Station, walk for 15 minutes to Ma Liu Shui ferry pier. Take a ferry for Ping Chau. Ferries usually depart from Ma Liu Shui between 9:00 and 15:30 on Saturdays and at 9:00 on Sundays, and returns from Tung Ping Chau at 17:15 on Saturdays and Sundays (for enquiries call Tsui Wah Ferry Services on 25272513).
Ma Shi Chau Nature Trail
At Tai Po Market terminus, catch bus no. 74K to Sam Mun Tsai the end station. You can also take green minibus no. 20K to Sam Mun Tsai. After getting off, look out for the nature trail's direction sign.
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