Kam Shan Country Park

Kam Shan Country Park

Kam Shan Country Park (designated on June 24, 1977) is a country park in Hong Kong, located north of Kowloon. It covers an area of 337 hectares, most of which belongs to the catchment area of the Kowloon reservoirs, extending north to Beacon Hill. Although relatively small in size, Kam Shan Country Park boasts beautiful scenery. There are four reservoirs within the park, including the Kowloon Reservoir, Shek Lei Pui Reservoir, Kowloon Reception Reservoir, and Kowloon Byewash Reservoir. In Hong Kong, Kam Shan Country Park is most famous for its monkeys (a reputation somewhat akin to that of Mount Emei in China). Monkeys can be found all over the park; they are unafraid of humans and often snatch food from picnickers.

Kam Shan Country Park has morning exercise areas, and barbecue and picnic sites are located along Tai Po Road, Kam Shan Road near the Kowloon Reservoir, and near Ma Shi Chau. To the north of the Kowloon Reservoir lies the “Kam Shan Family Walk”; jogging trails encircle both the Kowloon Reception Reservoir and Shek Lei Pui Reservoir; there is also the “Kam Shan Tree Walk.” Section 6 of the MacLehose Trail and Section 6 of the Wilson Trail pass through the park. Additionally, Kam Shan Country Park is home to a television signal transmission station.

Driving up Kam Shan Road to the shooting range, which sits at an elevation of about 280 metres, you only need to climb approximately 90 metres more to reach the summit of Kowloon Peak. Standing atop the peak, you can enjoy panoramic views: Kwai Chung and Tsuen Wan spread out below, with container terminals and Tsing Yi Island in the foreground, and the full vista of Hong Kong behind Victoria Harbour. To the side are the peaks of Kowloon, and turning around reveals the entire Sha Tin district—all offering limitless scenery.

The Macaque Troop

There are various theories about where the macaques in the hills came from. One credible explanation is that when the Hong Kong government planned to build a reservoir nearby, a toxic plant called Strychnos was found in the area, which could pollute the water quality. To address this, the government introduced macaques, which love to eat Strychnos, to eliminate the threat. After completing their “mission,” the macaques settled in Kam Shan Country Park and eventually grew into the large troop seen today. Another story involves a sailor surnamed Chan from the New Territories, who released macaques he had brought back from abroad in 1920. These monkeys then rapidly reproduced in the reservoir afforestation zone, and their presence in the woods has continued ever since.

Several types of macaques inhabit the area, with the Rhesus Macaque—native to Hong Kong and South China—being the most common. Others are hybrids resulting from years of released macaques originating from different regions, such as the Long-tailed Macaque from Southeast Asia and the Tibetan Macaque from western China. Female macaques give birth to one baby per year, which, with proper maternal care, becomes capable of reproduction around the age of three. These macaques are likely descendants of original wild populations. It is now believed that these original wild macaques have gradually disappeared from the forested areas of Hong Kong Island due to urban development.

Due to illegal feeding, the monkeys have become unafraid of humans and can even act aggressively, snatching food from visitors. In reality, the forest provides hundreds of plant species with leaves and fruits that the monkeys can eat, so there is no need for visitors to feed them out of concern for food shortages. Such actions not only violate the law but also cause the wild monkeys to lose their natural foraging instincts, which is harmful to both the monkeys and the overall ecosystem.

According to estimates by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the number of wild monkeys increased dramatically from 1,600 in 2006 to about 2,100 in 2007, growing at a rate of 5% per year—far higher than the natural rate of 3%. The AFCD implemented a feeding ban in 1999, and began sterilizing wild monkeys in 2006. By August 2011, over 70% of the wild monkeys had been neutered or spayed, leading to a decline in birth rates and a subsequent drop in the monkey population.

Transportation Guide

Location: Pipa Shan, north of Kowloon, Hong Kong

Getting there: Take KMB buses 72, 81, or 86B