Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve

Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve

Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve (designated on May 13, 1977) is a Special Area located south of Tai Po Kau in the Tai Po District of Hong Kong's New Territories, covering an area of 460 hectares. This nature reserve is Hong Kong's first Special Area. The area features over 100 species of native and introduced trees and also has a 0.7-kilometer Nature Trail.

Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve was originally called the Tai Po Kau Plantation and was established in 1977. The afforestation work, initially referred to as the "Tai Po Kau Plantation," began in 1926 when the Hong Kong government started planting trees throughout the New Territories for the first time. Around 440 hectares of trees were planted in the steep catchment area near the stream by the reserve car park, with woodlands extending from an elevation of 50 meters up to the summit of Grass Hill at 650 meters. Since Masson pine (mountain pine) was the most common tree at the time, local residents called this area "Song Tsai Yu" (Pine Seedling Garden).

The nature reserve contains over 100 species of native and introduced trees and features four color-coded trails—Red (3 km), Blue (4 km), Brown (7.5 km), and Yellow (10 km)—for visitors to explore the diverse tree species, as well as a 0.7-kilometer Nature Trail. The area has long been a popular destination for those with a special interest in nature, including naturalists and biologists, as well as people seeking tranquility in an undisturbed environment.

Vegetation

This Special Area spans 460 hectares and includes man-made forests planted decades ago, stretching down the eastern slopes of Grass Mountain to Tai Po Road. The forest is dense, with over 100 species of trees growing together. Long-established trees intermingle with more recently planted varieties. The government initiated afforestation across the New Territories for the first time in 1926, which included this area. Later, additional species such as camphor, fir, Taiwan acacia, and melaleuca were planted.

There are also many interesting native plants, such as mountain spicebush, entada and sweet gum. Walking along the quiet paths, visitors can see the ground covered with large yellow leaves shed from the lithocarpus trees. Lithocarpus is a useful timber tree that the Chinese used to make farming tools such as wooden plows. Among all the Special Areas in Hong Kong, Tai Po Kau may have the greatest variety of native tree species.

Wildlife

Due to its rich vegetation, Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve provides a natural habitat for wildlife in the area, particularly offering excellent conditions for bird breeding and habitation. Nature enthusiasts strolling through the woods can spot a wide variety of birds and animals.

At least twelve species of birds are commonly seen in the nature reserve, including turtle doves, magpies, Chinese bulbuls, and red-whiskered bulbuls. Owls and wagtails can be spotted in winter, while cuckoos and black drongos appear in summer. Visitors may occasionally hear the calls of muntjacs and see civets, pangolins, and porcupines. In late winter and early spring, numerous beautiful butterflies can also be found.

Nature Education

The Tai Po Kau Nature Trail is located within the nature reserve and primarily introduces woodland ecology. It is part of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s plantation area, with dense forests lining both sides of the trail. The trail hosts hundreds of plant species and offers opportunities to study various flora and fauna. The 0.7-kilometer trail takes about one hour to complete.

Winding uphill along the slope, visitors enter a shaded woodland to observe its ecology. Towering trees and a rich diversity of plants thrive here at different levels. The dense canopy of the upper forest layer sees some climbing plants reaching for sunlight along the trunks, making the treetops even more lush. Shrubs that tolerate shade form the forest understory. Meanwhile, ferns, lichens, and mosses adapted to extremely low light grow on the forest floor.

Transportation Guide

Location: Tai Po Kau Section, Tai Po Road, Tai Po District, Hong Kong

Getting there: Take KMB bus routes 72A, 72, 73A, 74A, or 872, or a New Territories minibuses and alight at Song Tsai Yu, then walk to the reserve