Hong Kong Pok Fu Lam Country Park

Hong Kong Pok Fu Lam Country Park

Pok Fu Lam Country Park (designated on September 21, 1979), covering an area of 270 hectares, is a country park located in the western part of Hong Kong Island, near Pok Fu Lam. The park houses Hong Kong’s first reservoir — Pok Fu Lam Reservoir. The park spans both the Central and Western District and Southern District, encircling Victoria Peak. It is worth mentioning that since the Peak is an urbanized residential area and tourist attraction, it is not part of the country park. As a result, the park is divided into two parts — northern and southern. In addition to the reservoir and Victoria Peak, the country park also includes High West and Mount Kellett, with sections 1 to 2 of the Hong Kong Trail running through it. The Pok Fu Lam Special Area is also located within Pok Fu Lam Country Park.

Construction History

On February 29, 1860, S.B. Rawling, a clerk at the British Royal Engineers Department at the time, proposed utilizing the terrain of the Pok Fu Lam Valley to build a dam to intercept rainwater for public use. Pok Fu Lam Reservoir was finally completed in 1863, becoming Hong Kong’s first storage reservoir. On September 21, 1979, Pok Fu Lam Country Park was expanded on the basis of Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, covering an area of 270 hectares, consisting of land surrounding the reservoir.

Park Ecology

Flora

Since the establishment of Pok Fu Lam Country Park, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has continuously planted a large number of trees within the park. The main tree species include slash pine (Elliottii pine), Taiwan acacia, and red cotton tree; native species mainly include camellia and Machilus chekiangensis. In 1999, the authorities further implemented a biodiversity plan in the park, planting species such as Machilus breviflora, Machilus obovatifolia, Schima superba (mountain mahogany), Castanopsis fissa, Garcinia oblongifolia (yellow-mouth fruit), Ficus hirta, Microcos paniculata (broomleaf), and Ficus microcarpa.

Fauna

Common bird species in the park include black-eared kite (Chinese goshawk), Chinese bulbul, red-whiskered bulbul, sparrow, red-billed blue magpie, Oriental magpie-robin, great tit, kingfisher, black-throated laughingthrush, Hwamei, Asian koel, greater coucal (bushy cuckoo), and spotted dove. There are also many mammals in the area, such as plantain squirrels chasing and playing among the bushes, as well as porcupines, ferret-badgers, chestnut white-bellied rats, masked palm civets, small Indian civets, leopard cats, and red muntjacs.

Highlights of the Park

The 2.2-kilometer-long Pok Fu Lam Native Tree Nature Trail is Hong Kong’s first nature trail introducing native plant species. It takes about 45 minutes to complete the trail. The trail extends from Lugard Road near the Peak Galleria, offering excellent views of downtown Hong Kong Island and the Victoria Harbour. While strolling along the trail to enjoy nature, you can also take in the magnificent scenery of this international Asian metropolis, experiencing the unique proximity of a bustling city and the sounds of nature. Along the way, you can admire plants such as Celtis sinensis, Schefflera heptaphylla (umbrella tree), Sterculia lanceolata (false bilimbi), Mallotus paniculatus (white cheesewood), Artocarpus hypargyreus (white cloud tree), Reevesia thyrsoidea (kapok tree), Elaeocarpus sylvestris (mountain blueberry), Glycosmis citrifolia (orangeberry), Diospyros morrisiana (luofu persimmon), Ficus spp., Machilus spp., Meliosma rigida (glue tree), and Camellia granthamiana (big head tea).

The Peak Trail extends the nature trail to Harlech Road, returning to the Peak Gorge, and then follows Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road to the picturesque Pok Fu Lam Reservoir. Along the way, there are 21 information boards introducing the origins of the names "Victoria Peak" and "The Peak," the rain and fog of Victoria Peak, flora, insects, terrain and geology, birds, Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, and the historic Pok Fu Lam Village.

Transportation Guide

Location: Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road, Southern District, Hong Kong.

Transportation options: 1. Pok Fu Lam Native Tree Nature Trail: Take Bus 15 from Central (Exchange Square), Bus 515 from North Point Ferry Pier, or Minibus Route 1 from Hong Kong Station of the MTR in Central to The Peak (Peak Gorge). 2. Peak Trail: Take Buses 15 and 515 and Minibus Route 1 to reach The Peak; for the return trip, take Buses 4, 7, 90B, 91, and 94 from Pok Fu Lam Reservoir to Central, or Bus 40 back to Admiralty. 3. Hong Kong Trail Sections 1 and 2: Take Buses 15 and 515 and Minibus Route 1 to reach The Peak; for the return trip, take Buses 7, 37B, 38, 42, 70, 71, 90B, 91, 94, 107, 970, and 973 from Repulse Bay Road in Aberdeen to Central, North Point, Kowloon Bay, So Uk, and Tsim Sha Tsui.