Robin's Nest
Overview
Robin's Nest Country Park measures about 530 hectares and is located at Sha Tau Kok in the north-eastern part of the New Territories. The mountain ridges of Robin's Nest Country Park and the Shenzhen Wutong Mountain Scenic Area to the north are connected. To the south is the Pat Sin Leng Country Park. Established in 2024, Robin's Nest Country Park is the 25th country park in Hong Kong. Natural habitats in Robin's Nest Country Park remain untouched due to its remoteness at the border. Robin's Nest Country Park is characterized by the rich floral and faunal diversity, including various species of conservation interest. The abandoned Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine in Robin's Nest Country Park supports one of the most important bat colonies in Hong Kong and was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Part of Robin's Nest Country Park falls within the former Frontier Closed Area and harbors a diverse collection of war relics. Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine was one of the most extensive mining systems in Hong Kong's mining history. Together with the MacIntosh Forts, Grade-2 historic buildings, they are the key heritage resources in Robin's Nest Country Park.
Major Attractions
Robin's Nest Country Park showcases protection of natural environment, biodiversity, culture, and military heritage resources. The continuous mountain range and intersecting natural streams in Robin's Nest Country Park provide diverse habitats for wildlife and plants, resulting in rich biodiversity. By implementing habitat management measures, natural environment and biodiversity of Robin's Nest Country Park are preserved. Robin's Nest is geographically connected with Shenzhen Wutong Mountain thereby forming an ecological corridor that further contributes to nature conservation in the area. The MacIntosh Forts, a group of seven observation posts, were built along the Shenzhen River between 1949 and 1953 to strengthen border defense. Two of these Forts stand tall at Kong Shan and Pak Kung Au in Robin's Nest Country Park. Over time, their historical mission has completed. They were designated as Grade II historic buildings in 2009. Military relics from the World War II still remain nowadays at Shan Tsui near Robin's Nest Country Park, including pillboxes and trenches built by Japanese army to deal with the potential counterattack of the Allies and guerrilla activities during the occupation of Hong Kong. Lin Ma Hang Village, a Hakka village with over 300 years of history, is located to the northwest of Robin's Nest Country Park. Villagers in the past spent their livings as farmers in close association with Robin's Nest. The mining history of Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine can be dated back to the 1860s. In the 1930s, there were approximately 500 workers at the mine. By the 1940s, multiple working levels had been developed, along with tunnels and vertical shafts. It was one of the largest mining systems in Hong Kong at that time. The mine cave was abandoned in the 1962s and turned into an important resting ground for bats in Hong Kong. The cave and its adjoining habitat was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Facilities
There are two hiking trails in Robin's Nest Country Park, namely Robin's Nest Country Trail and Lin Ma Hang Country Trail. Information boards, waymarks and distance posts are installed along the trails. Viewing points and interpretation panels are also set up at suitable locations to facilitate appreciation of nature and cultural heritages. To visit Robin's Nest Country Park, counting from the alighting or boarding location of public transportation, it usually takes around 4 to 5 hours of hiking. If you start from Tam Shui Hang at Sha Tau Kok, walk along Shan Tsui Village Road and then the connecting path for around 30mins to arrive at the start of Robin's Nest Country Trail. Walk along the Robin's Nest Country Trail (3.5km) for 2 hours to arrive at the junction with Lin Ma Hang Country Trail. Continue to the Ling Ma Hang Country Trail (2.6km) for 1.5 hours to arrive at Lin Ma Hang Village. Then, use the connecting path to walk for 20mins to arrive at Lin Ma Hang Road (outside the Frontier Closed Area) to take public transportation.
Ecological Highlights
Robin's Nest Country Park is a hilly terrain with secondary woodland and shrubland habitats dominating on the northern slopes. The southern slopes are predominately covered by upland grassland with sparse shrubland. Robin's Nest Country Park has rich biodiversity and high ecological value. Abundant native species are found throughout the area, including Hong Kong Pavetta (Pavetta hongkongensis), Chinese New Year Flower (Enkianthus quinqueflorus), Common Melastoma (Melastoma malabathricum) and Hong Kong Gordonia (Polyspora axillaris). Of particular interest is the rare bird species, Chinese Grassbird (Graminicola striatus) that resides in the upland grassland in the southern slopes. Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine SSSI is a bat roosting site and supports one of the most important bat colonies in Hong Kong. The habitat connectivity of Robin's Nest and Shenzhen Wutong Mountain creates opportunity of an ecological corridor that facilities the movement of wildlife.
Scenic Beauty
The continuous mountain ridges speckled with lush green woodland and upland grassland, embracing the rural villages on the lowland and Starling Inlet at Sha Tau Kok, present a stunning landscape of high aesthetic value. Every spring, Red Azalea (Rhododendron simsii) blossoms on Robin's Nest, painting the hill with patches of red creating a picturesque scene. In winter, the landscape transforms into a different color when it covers with seas of silvergrass sparkling under the sun. Going uphill along Robin's Nest Country Trail, you can reach Ah Kung Kok, where you will enjoy panoramic views of Sha Tau Kok and Shenzhen Yantian in a distance. Continuing on, you will reach the top of the hill, then following the ridge line until Hung Fa Chai. To the east, you can enjoy the serenity of Luk Keng, Nam Chung and Double Haven. Looking north, the stunning views of Shenzhen Wutong Mountain come in sight. When you arrive at the viewing point, take a glance of Pak Sin Leng and Wong Leng at far. Lin Ma Hang Country Trail starts from Lin Ma Hang Village, a Hakka village with over 300 years of history. As you ascend along the trail, you can admire the lush green hills, Feng Shui woodlands, and remnants of rice terraces. At the end of the stairs stands a unique green structure, the MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan). Heading towards Robin's Nest, you can enjoy the scenery of mountains and sea. You can also take a closer look at the unique landscape of Robin's Nest, with the southern slope covered by upland grassland, and the secondary woodland on the northern slope connecting with the Shenzhen Wutong Mountain. Red Azalea (Rhododendron simsii) and Chinese Grassbird (Graminicola striatus) are among the many plant and animal species of high conservation value in Robin's Nest Country Park and become the signature logo of this country park.
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