Hong Kong Carnival II: The better side of Hong Kong: Top 10 nature reserves 1

When you take a Hong Kong tour, you may be astonished by the skyscrapers, but I am sure you should indulge in the better side in Hong Kong-the nature reserves. In the chapter, we will talk about 5 of the top 10 nature reserves.

                                                          Chapter Two

The better side of Hong Kong: Top 10 nature reserves 1

--Skyscrapers are cool, but it's the mountains, beaches and crazy monkeys that make Hong Kong truly sublime

Emerald hills, cotton-soft beaches, close encounters of the wild kind -- the description is practically Amazonian. But it's Hong Kong we're talking about. That neon-lit metropolis of frantic lives lived distractedly. Not many unassuming tourists would ever have thought that three-quarters of its 1,104 square kilometers of land is actually rural and nearly pristine. 

Want to see some of this nature stuff? Here are our top 10 picks:

Getting there: 

See the Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) website for bus routes

See the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) permits page for application for private vehicle access permits within country parks

1. Cold weather friend: Tai Mo Shan Country Park

Usually hot and humid, Hong Kong is the kind of place where people will make special trips to mountaintops to look at icicles during cold spells. 

Tai Mo Shan 

Tai Mo Shan is the place to check out the frost on those rare winter days when the peak drops to below zero temperatures. Hong Kong's highest mountain, Tai Mo Shan reaches 957 meters. The peak and its surrounding country park record the highest rainfall and the coldest temperatures in the territory. It is also home to Hong Kong's highest waterfall, the 35-meter Long Falls. Being the tallest peak in Hong Kong's New Territories, the views are splendid. On a clear day, much of Kowloon, Victoria Harbour and even Hong Kong Island can be seen. The park is home to more than 100 species of birds and butterflies. But it's also got tons of snakes, including the bamboo snake, which you will spot alongside hiking trails if you're lucky. 

Getting there: There are many hiking trails in Tai Mo Shan Country Park. A good place to start is to take bus 51 from Tsuen Wan and get off at Tsuen Kam Country Park Management Centre.

2. Planet annoying ape: Kam Shan Country Park

The Monkey Family

Seems like every Asian destination has its own designated area for pesky monkeys and people love to visit for a laugh no matter how many angry monkey stories they hear. Kam Shan Country Park is Hong Kong's own monkey haven. The macaques attempting to steal your bag of chips right out of your hand are fun to interact with most of the time.

Feeding the monkeys intentionally is illegal and even dangerous as they can become aggressive. These monkeys wouldn't be afraid of you if you held a machine gun. Apart from the monkeys, the rest of Kam Shan is verdant and inviting. There are four reservoirs within the park, making gorgeous scenes of blue glass lakes adjacent to fluffy green hills. Smuggler's Ridge runs through Kam Shan Country Park. It is a section of the former British military defense system, the Gin Drinker's Line. Built in the 1930s, the remains of these significant defense bunkers are still very much intact.

Getting there: Take bus 72, 81, 86B, or a red minibus to Tai Po Road near Piper's Hill. 

3. Almost Thailand: Kiu Tsui Country Park

The Kiu Tsui Country Park archipelago is Hong Kong's own tropical island vacation site. The most popular points within the area are the beaches. Find a private ferry service along the Sai Kung promenade near the bus terminus and get to the sandy strips at Hap Mun Bay or at Kiu Tsui, also known as Sharp Island. 

Kiu Tsui Country Park

On a good day, the beaches are full of glistening bodies and the vista is of an endless aquamarine sea dotted with blindingly-white yachts.

The park even has fun geological features. Low tide reveals a tombolo, connecting Sharp Island with a tiny islet called Kiu Tau. You can walk between the two at the right time of day. The beaches have full facilities, including toilets, showers and barbecue pits. 

4. Best sunrise: Lantau South Country Park

It's the second best place to see a sunrise. The first being in your Facebook friend feed.

 

Sunrise in Lantau South Country Park

Head to Lantau peak in Lantau South Country Park for Hong Kong's best dawn experience. Hike to the summit in the dark and arrive just in time for dawn. It sounds a little tree-hugging radical, but it is worth it as one of Hong Kong's most unique experiences in nature. Save some time by spending a night at the Ngong Ping Youth Hostel not too far away. The climb takes around two hours.

Getting there: Take the ferry to Mui Wo at Central Pier 6. At Mui Wo Pier bus terminus, there are bus routes to all parts of Lantau. Or take the MTR to Tung Chung station where you can take Ngong Ping 360 cable car or bus to Ngong Ping. Lantau Peak sunrise trail entrance is near the Wisdom path.

5. Small, beautiful things: Tai Po Kau Special Area

Tai Po Kau Special Area is the best place to spot local species of flora and fauna. Unlike country parks, less recreational facilities are available at this nature reserve. There are no barbecue sites.

Nature is firmly the first priority here, with original forests preserved. It is a complete break from the concrete jungle.

Pale Grass Blue

The area is listed by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society as one of the best places to see rare birds and insects. Trail walkers who pass through quietly can spot exotic birds, butterflies, other critters, indigenous flowers and fruits.

  

Tai Po Kau is also a popular place to catch and observe fireflies in Hong Kong. 

Getting there: Take buses 72, 72A, 73A, 74A, or green mini-bus 28K at Tai Wo MTR station, get off at Chung Tsai Yuen Bus Stop and walk back 50 meters to reach the entrance to Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve.