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 situated in the western part of Hong Kong Island, near Pok Fu Lam. The park includes 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 as the Peak area has become an urbanized residential and tourist district, the Peak vicinity is not part of the country park. As a result, the park is divided into two sections—northern and southern. In addition to the reservoir and Victoria Peak, the park also encompasses 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, suggested using the Pok Fu Lam Valley’s topography to build a dam to intercept rainwater from the valley for public consumption. The Pok Fu Lam Reservoir was finally completed in 1863, becoming Hong Kong’s first water storage reservoir. On September 21, 1979, Pok Fu Lam Country Park was established by expanding around the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, covering an area of 270 hectares, consisting of land surrounding the reservoir.

　　Park Ecology

　　Flora

　　After 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, mainly including slash pine (Elliottii pine), Taiwan acacia, and red cotton tree. Native tree species mainly include tea tree and Machilus chekiangensis. In 1999, the authorities further implemented a biodiversity plan in the park, planting species such as mountain ebony, water cedar, schima superba (mountain firetree), lithocarpus fenzelianus, paramichelia baillonii (yellow-fleshed fruit), mollotus sundaicus, microcos paniculata (breadfruit leaf), and ficus microcarpa, among others.

　　Fauna

　　Common birds 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, hill myna, common hawk-cuckoo, greater coucal (bush-warbler), and spotted dove. There are also many mammals in the area, such as plantain squirrels chasing and playing in 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 next to The Peak Galleria, offering spectacular 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 Asian international metropolis, experiencing the unique proximity of a bustling city and the natural world. Along the way, you can admire plants such as Celtis sinensis, schefflera heptaphylla (umbrella tree), sterculia lanceolata (false ashoka), 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. (banyan), mountain ebony, camphor tree, meliosma rigida (gluey tree), machilus breviflora (short-styled machilus), and large-leaved tea tree.

　　The Peak Trail Nature Walk extends the nature trail to Harlech Road, returning to the Peak Gorge, and follows Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road to reach 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.

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