3 Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve
The 460-hectare Tai Po Kau is one of Hong Kong’s most mature and varied forests with over 100 different species of trees and was declared a nature reserve in 1977. The area is also incredibly rich in flora and fauna diversity, home to over 160 species of birds, 102 species of butterflies, and 50 recorded species of dragonflies.
From Tai Po Market MTR station, get minibus 28K to the Chung Tsai Yuen stop. You’ll zoom a little ways past the entrance to Tai Po Kau Park before pulling up to the stop, so walk back along the road to get to the start of the hike.
Following signs for the Tai Po Kau Forest Walk, stay on the paved road. When you’re within the nature reserve, there will be signs indicating that the Forest Walk is split into four routes: the Red, Blue, Brown, and Yellow Walks. Red will take approximately an hour and a half to complete, Blue approximately two hours, followed by Brown at three hours, then Yellow coming in at three and a half hours in total.
All the trails are well-signposted and easy to follow, and once you’re within the forest shade, the temperature cools to a more comfortable degree. You will also likely come across some streams with running water that you will want to splash onto your neck before moving on.
As mentioned, this forest is home to many of Hong Kong’s wildlife. Because many of these creatures are elusive and nocturnal, you can join guided night walks that may bring you sightings of the red muntjac or barking deer, porcupines, wild boars, owls, and, if you’re extremely lucky, even the leopard cat.
The mountain streams in the Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve are also natural habitats for amphibians such as Hong Kong newts and various species of frogs, including Romer’s Tree Frog, which is endemic to Hong Kong. May to August is also the breeding season for fireflies, so you might also be able to see these romantic creatures light up the sky!