I've been trying to really get out and be out this winter, as it has been a bit warmer than usual. Along with being more active in the outdoors, I have been trying to see some of the Heritage Trails around Hong Kong.
The Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail isn't as easy to follow, but it does have a ton of beautiful structures to see, all of which revolve around the Tai Tam Reservoir.
How to get there:
1. From Exchange Square in Central, hop on bus 6 to Stanley Prison
2. Hop off at the Wong Chai Nung Reservoir Park/Wong Chai Nung Gap Road
NOTE: The stop that signals THIS STOP is the Hong Kong Tennis Courts.
3. The Wong Chai Nung Reservoir Park/Wong Chai Nung Gap Road bus stop is at a Sinopec Gas Station
4. From THIS BUS STOP, you'll notice signs pointing towards the Tai Tam Reservoir Road
5. Follow the signs up the stairs and up the hill (15 minute walk)
6. Pass the Wong Chai Nung Reservoir Park
7. Pass the Hong Kong Parkview apartments
8. Pass the Wilson Trail
9. Pass the Hong Kong Trail
10. And you'll just walk straight into the Tai Tam Country Park
NOTE: From the Tai Tam Country Park, it's a 10 - 15 minute walk down to the reservoir, where the Heritage structures can be found.
All of the Heritage structures can be found around the Tai Tam Reservoir. There are over 20 structures that are marked, which you can sort of follow from the pamphlet the Water Supplies Department put up online.
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| A view of the reservoir |
There are maps and signposts marking the Heritage structures, but it is quite difficult to easily follow the trails. There are several trails that will take you to different points around the Tai Tam Country Park, but, if you are there for the Heritage Trail only, be warned that you'll have to do some backtracking and scavenger hunting.
The easiest structures to find are at the beginning of the Trail (which are marked Sections 1 - 4 on the map above): The Masonry Aqueduct and Bridge, the Valve Houses, the Upper Dam, and the Recorder House. Scouting around for these places took about half an hour.
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| Masonry Aqueduct |
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| Masonry Bridge |
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| Upper Reservoir Dam |
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| View of one of the Valve Houses that we found |
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| A look down from the Dam |
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| Walking the steps down to the Recorder House |
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| The Recorder House |
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| Walking the trail |
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| Walking up the stairs back to the top of the Dam |
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| A view of the reservoir |
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| One of the Valve Houses |
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| Walking the trails |
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| Another view of the Dam |
My over all thoughts on this trail:
1. It's a fun trial for exploration
2. There are interesting facts that you can learn about the construction of the reservoir
3. The buildings and structures are in beautiful condition
4. It's a great area to see some of Hong Kong's great outdoors
5. I'm going to take my folks here the next time they're in Hong Kong
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| One of the oldest structures that we found |
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| The wall of the Wong Chai Nung Reservoir Park reservoir |
We walked back to our original bus stop area and caught Bus 6 back into Exchange Square. Along the way, though, we noticed that the Wong Chai Nung Reservoir Park was actually apart of the Heritage Trail. So, it's also worth checking out when you first get off of the bus and start walking up that hill.
