Wineshark Go Hiking - 遠足研習採芙蓉

Difficulty: 2/5

Total Distance: 4.81 km

From: 大帽山荃錦坳

To: 芙蓉山道

Date: 9 May 2020

Transportation:

• Take KMB No. 51 and alight at Tai Mo Shan Country Park, and walk towards Tsuen Wan direction and turn left to Tai Mo Shan Road, starting point is the car park
• Return to Tsuen Wan taking the Green Minibus No. 85 outside Chuk Lam Sim Monastery

At the starting point there is a kiosk and public toilet, then crossing the car park to the starting point of the Tai Mo Shan Hiking Practice Trail at Rotary Club Park. 

The initial stage is well-paved, but the stone steps can be slippery under wet weather. After passing the pavilion and continue along the trail, soon the well-paved path changes to dirt path.

At the junction, turn towards Rotary Club Park Nature Trail, continuing the downhill path. Along the way there are some nice flowers and vegetation. 

Reaching the Viewing Point of the trail, on a clear day one can see the nearby Tsing Yi Island, all the way to HK Island, able to see Victoria Peak, Jardine's Lookout. 

Soon the path ends at Route Twisk, and continue on the road to Chuen Lung. Famous for the old style restaurants offering traditional dim sum, there are always many customers coming here to enjoy the food and the nice tea brewed from the clear water from the mountain. This water is also used to grow the watercress this place is renown as well. On the way one can see the fields growing this vegetable.

Continuing the easy-to-walk trail downhill, on the way there is a neat rain shelter, with an interesting stone dog sculpture. 

Then the trail will join the Shing Mun Catchwaters, the aquaducts draining rainwater to the reservoir. Flat and easy, on the right is The Cairnhill and The Cliveden. 

Reaching Fu Yung Shan, one has to pay attention to one of the exit points of the catchwaters. Walking down the steps in the middle of the way there is another nicely constructed rain shelter. 

Very soon you will start to see places of worship, but currently many of those are closed because of coronavirus, restricting entry for people. Finally reaching the destination Chuk Lam Sim Monastery,  a quiet and peaceful place of worship, where one can take the green minibus back to Tsuen Wan.

Overall a easy-to-walk trail, downhill all the while, and suitable for people of all ages. One can also spend some time enjoying dim sum at the traditional restaurants and buy some watercress, as well as visiting the monastery.