Datan Country Park

Tai Tam country park is a country park located in Tai Tam, east of Hong Kong Island. The park ranges from Mount Baijia and mount bina to Jardine in the north, Magang in the south, Wong Nai Chung gorge in the West and Tai Tan Road in the East. It is named after the four ponds in datan.

Datan Country Park

Tai Tam country park is located in the east of Hong Kong Island. It extends from Jardine mountain in the north to Magang mountain in the south, bounded by Stanley gorge road. It reaches Wong Nai Chung gorge in the West and Tai Tam Road in the East. Founded in 1977, the park covers an area of 1315 hectares, about one fifth of the area of Hong Kong Island.

The park covers four reservoirs, which were the main source of fresh water supply for the early days of Hong Kong Island. Datan reservoir system includes datan upper reservoir, datan auxiliary reservoir, datan middle reservoir and datan Du reservoir. It was built between 1889 and 1917 with a total capacity of 9 million cubic meters. In the quiet country park, some war relics such as blockhouses, ammunition depots and wartime stoves can still be found. During the Second World War, British and Japanese troops fought fiercely here.

The Quarry Bay extension, which covers 270 hectares and is located immediately north of Tai Tam country park, covers the northern slopes of Mount Parker and mount bina. Climbing to the top of Mount Baijia, 530 meters high, you can see the scenery on both sides of Victoria Harbour. Due to its proximity to Fish Creek and Sai Wan River, the park is well received by residents in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island. It is a hot spot for all kinds of morning sports and recreational activities.

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Panorama

park view

Datan Valley is the place with the richest ecological resources in datan country park. It is surrounded by many high mountains, including violet mountain, Jardine mountain, bina mountain and Baijia mountain. Each peak is more than 400 meters high, and Baijia mountain, the steepest of which is 507 meters high. Each mountain collects rainwater and flows to the deep valley between the mountains, forming a number of clear streams, moistening the plants in the valley, making the datan valley a forest area with a wide variety of biological species, with a wide range of animals and plants. Therefore, as early as the 1970s, the datan Reservoir Catchment area has been listed as a place of special scientific value, so that the area will not be damaged by development. The mountains and waters in the area can be more beautiful Hong Kong Island.

Along the sixth section of Hong Kong Island drive, you can start from baijiashan Road, climb dafengao, and then go southward downhill. You can walk into this green world and have a panoramic view of the lakes and mountains. Stroll along the Bank of datan pond and enjoy the scenery of datan valley. Walk along the path on the left side of datan hill and walk along the north side to reach the terminal of datan road.

In addition to the beautiful natural scenery, there are also historic sites in the area, one of which is the site of a hut on Jardine hill. The former residence of James Mead Johnson, the founder of Jardine Matheson limited, now has only the foundation for people to hang on.

infrastructure

Tai Tam country park and Tai Tam Country Park (Quarry Bay extension) have a number of outing and barbecue sites, mainly along Pak Ka Shan Road and Tai Tam pool road, and near the red house. There are also rain shelters and children's play facilities. In order to meet the different needs of the public, there is a morning transport park for morning transporters in Quarry Bay.

A 2500 meter long Quarry Bay jogging trail has also been set up along Jindu Chi Ma trail, starting from Baijia mountain road in the South and reaching Saixi Lake in the north. Near the North starting point of jogging trail, there is a scenic spot where visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of the east of Hong Kong and Kowloon. There are many trails in the park, such as Tai Tam country trail, Tai Tam tree study trail, Wong Nai Chung tree study trail, Quarry Bay jog trail, Quarry Bay tree study trail and Compaq country trail, to provide outing routes for people with different physical abilities.

Ecological resources

During the Second World War, the plants in the area were seriously damaged and barren hills were everywhere. After the war, the authorities systematically planted forests and successfully transformed barren hills into green forests. Among them, the most common tree species are Acacia formosana and Pinus elliottii, which are both resistant to drought and wind. There are also natural shrubs growing on the hills and valleys in the park. In winter, camellia is in full bloom. In spring, rhododendrons can be seen blooming. Other common wild plants include Wild Peony, Leucaena leucocephala, Eupatorium odoratum, Phoebe, Hong Kong Tea and various orchids.

Both sides of datan pond road and south of Baijia mountain are luxuriant in vegetation, which is very suitable for the reproduction and growth of local wild animals. Here, you can hear the calls of red muntjac and leopard cat from time to time, while the flexible red bellied squirrel often shuttles through the trees. Other mammals that often appear include the chinchilla, the porcupine, the weasel badger, the civet and the kitten. The common birds are thrush, Magpie Robin, partridge, quail, Common Kingfisher, magpie, myna, crow, dark green embroidered eye bird (Acacia), black eared Kite (Sparrow), sparrow, white Bulbul, small sunflower crested parrot and owl (OWL).

On both sides of the stream, there are also many amphibians, such as Hong Kong salamander (Hong Kong salamander), which is the only place on Hong Kong Island where they can be found; Lewin's tree frog, who moved to Hong Kong due to the construction of Chek Lap Kok Hong Kong International Airport, Asian brocade frog (Rana floribunda), the only real tree frog in Hong Kong, palm tree frog, etc. In terms of reptiles, there are poisonous snakes, such as silver legged belt, cobra (rice shovel head), red necked swimming snake, etc., and there are also chameleon tree lizards (horse bristle snake).

There are many kinds of insects, such as Papilio parisiensis, nymphalus peipaoensis, Pieris mirabilis, nymphalus nigricans, nymphalus Americana, etc. there are also some spiders, such as stick insect, slender mantis, Panthera flavipectus, dragonfly and damselfly, as well as big wood spider.

Address: Tai Tam country park, Tai Tam, Hong Kong

Longitude: 114.208597

Latitude: 22.247597

Chinese PinYin : Da Tan Jiao Ye Gong Yuan