There are a lot of hiking trails in Hong Kong. One of the hiking trails suitable for beginners can be found in Quarry Bay. It begins in Quarry Bay and ends in Tai Tam Country Park, passing by the historical sites and Tai Tam Reservoir along the way.
Summary
The trail from start to finish takes about 2 to 3 hours, with a distance of around 6-8km. The road is flat and concrete, with some shade from the trees.
How to Get Here
Take the Island Line MTR and get off at Quarry Bay station Exit A.
Starting Point
Turn right after you exit from Quarry Bay MTR station, then walk straight for about 10 minutes. You’ll see a sign “Mount Parker Road Green Trail” under the footbridge. The starting point is near the Quarry Bay Municipal Services Building. The hike begins with an upward concrete road, it is not too steep and is suitable for beginners. Many nearby local residents take this route for a morning walk.
At the start of the trail, there is a map showing the trail in red. There are a lot of barbecue sites and benches for hikers to take short breaks if needed. However, take note that there are only three toilets.
Flowers and Wild Boars
When hiking during winter, you’ll see these Hong Kong Gordonia flowers in bloom. Aside from flowers, hikers might occasionally encounter wild boars too; remember not to panic and keep your distance.
Woodside Biodiversity Education Centre
The first point of interest is the Woodside Biodiversity Education Centre, also known as the Red House. The historical building was built in the 1920s as the staff quarters of Taikoo Sugar Refinery. The building is now owned by the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department to introduce Hong Kong’s natural resources and promote nature education. To learn more about the education center, visit their official website here.
Quarry Bay Tree Walk
As you continue up the road, you will find the “Quarry Bay Tree Walk” sign on the left side. This is not the path to Tai Tam Reservoir, but if you are interested to see the stoves that were built during WWII in preparation for the Japanese invasion, you can check this out.
intersection at Tai Tam Country Park Quarry Bay Management Center
This section of the path does not offer much view. It is mostly surrounded by trees and barbecue sites. Just keep walking uphill and you will see the Tai Tam Country Park Quarry Bay Management Center sign.
The left side of the road leads to Hong Pak Country Trail where you can find the dinosaur monolith – a rock that resembles a dinosaur head.
We took the path to the right, going to Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir. Continue walking until you reach the Quarry Pass Pavilion.
Quarry Pass Pavilion
Quarry Pass Pavilion is an intersection of three different paths – Quarry Bay, Mount Butler, or Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir. The signs show the distance and time needed to reach the end of each trail.
The path towards Tai Tam Reservoir starts to descend once you leave the pavilion. The road is concrete and a little steep, with some shade from the trees. Once you pass the Tai Tam Upper Reservoir, turn left and continue on the Tam Tai Reservoir Road.
Tip: If you are wearing a cap, be careful when you are approaching the Tai Tam upper reservoir. My cap almost got blown away.
Tai Tam Reservoir Dam
Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir Masonry Bridge
At the end of the trail is the Tai Tam Country Park South entrance.
How To Leave
As the location of the park is not near MTR stations, the only choices are bus and taxi. There is a bus stop near the entrance, which goes to Sai Wan Ho or Stanley.
For a more challenging hike, check out the Violet Hill & Twins Peak.