Tai Mo Shan

Tai Mo Shan
Tai Mo Shan, viewed from Tai To Yan
Elevation	957 m (3,140 ft)
Location
Tai Mo Shan Location of Tai Mo Shan in Hong Kong
Location	Centre of the New Territories, Hong Kong
Coordinates	22°24′42.52″N 114°7′23.32″E

Tai Mo Shan Road, and Tai Mo Shan peak in distance

Tai Mo Shan capped in the mist

Tai Po, as seen from top of Tai Mo Shan. MacLehose Trail Stage 8 is visible on the ridge of the mountain on the right.

Tai Mo Shan (Chinese: 大帽山; pinyin: Dàmàoshān / Dàmào Shān=Big Hat Mountain; Cantonese Yale: daaih mouh sāān; also traditional Chinese: 大霧山; simplified Chinese: 大雾山; pinyin: Dàwùshān / Dàwù Shān Foggy Mountain; Cantonese Yale: daaih mouh sāān) has the highest peak in Hong Kong, with an altitude of 957 m. It is located approximately at the geographical centre of the New Territories.

The area surrounding Tai Mo Shan is a country park, which covers an area of 14.40 km² and adopts the same name - Tai Mo Shan Country Park. It is located to the north of Tai Lam Country Park

Geology

Tai Mo Shan was once a Volcano which cool down and has long been an extinct Volcano,so it is made up of volcanic rocks of Jurassic age.Today, a small hill that is part of Tai Mo Shan Known as "Kwun Yum Shan" which is part of Tai Mo Shan's past volcanic lava vents still exhale warm air though cracks in the rocks that lead all the way to the mantle.The holes that exhale warm air are known as "hot pots",and in winter, when the surface temperature is cold,and the warmth of the expelled air is clearly discernible as you approach the "hot pots" a phenomenon known that local people call "dragons breath". If the air temperature at the summit is 6 degrees Celsius, then, the air emerging from the interior of Kwun Yum Shan is somewhere between 13 and 21 degrees Celsius.These "hot pots" are now just mild remnants of the intense superheated steam vents of the volcanic past The volcanic rocks are mainly coarse ash crystal tuff. To the northwest, the west and the south of the peak, the valleys contain large deposits of colluvium. The upper slopes are distinctly "ribbed", as is especially evident after a hill fire. These are stone terraces, running obliquely downhill to the valleys.Due to the height of the mountain,it is claimed to be Hong Kong's most misty area,so it is often covered in clouds.In Summer,it is frequently covered Cumulus clouds,and in winter, Stratus clouds,and fog often cover the peak.

It is rather easy to hike to the peak as there is a road all the way at a comfortable gradient.People actually cannot assess the highest point on Tai Mo Shan as it is occupied by a Hong Kong Observatory (ex-RAF) weather radar station.

Vegetation

There are forest plantations in the southeastern part of the park. Limited by climatic and geographic factors, these plantations end at the 550 metre contour, above which shrubs and grasses dominate.

In the past, Tai Mo Shan was famous for a type of green tea, called mist or cloud tea, which grew wild up on the mountain side. Occasionally, local people can still be seen picking the tea shoots for brewing green tea.

More than 1500 species of plants has been recorded in Tai Mo Shan including 27 species of native,wild orchids,and the protected native lily,Chinese Lily(scientific name:Lilium brownii) which mostly grows on the east side of the Mountain,24 species of native ferns, including tree ferns,in which,a total of only 4 tree ferns has been recorded in the entire mountain.19 species of native grasses,and 7 species of native Bamboos. Camellia sinensis var. waldenae (formerly Camellia waldenae) are also found on the mountain.

A few types of wild,native Orchids also grow in the streams of Tai Mo Shan including the Chinese Pholidota Orchid,Hong Kong's most commonorchid,and the Bamboo Orchid so called, because of a distinct stem that looks like a bamboo,also grows in the streams of Tai Mo Shan.

During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in World War II, most of the trees in the park were cut down. Extensive reafforestation was carried out after the war. Trees that were planted, are mostly non-native such as: Pinus massoniana, Acacia confusa, Lophostemon confertus, Paper Bark Tree. The area has now become one of the major forest plantations in Hong Kong.

Wildlife

Some montane birds and rare species of snakes and butterflies breed here. There are also freshwater crabs, feral dogs, feral cats, oxen and wild boar.

Places of interest

A series of barbecue and picnic sites are provided along Route Twisk, the Shek Kong - Pat Heung catchwater and the Tuen Mun catchwater.

The Rotary Park at Tai Mo Shan which has a car-park and extensive picnic facilities, is especially popular. Tourist groups often come here for a brief stop to enjoy the panoramic view. On a clear day even Lantau and its adjacent islands can be seen. Tai Mo Shan Visitor Centre is located not far away from the carpark, along Tai Mo Shan Road, which leads to the weather station on the top of the mountain.

There is a Hiking Practice Trail for learning the techniques of hiking adjacent to the Tai Mo Shan car park. Those who would prefer short walks may visit the family walks in the park.

The country code

Visitors in country parks are asked to help keep the parks clean and prevent hill fires so that the facilities can be enjoyed by all. In 1986, a 34 hour blaze destroyed 282,500 trees at Shing Mun and Tai Mo Shan and ravaged 7.40 km² of countryside. Fire is the greatest threat to the beauty of the country parks.

Transportation

Servicing the entrance of Tai Mo Shan Country Park, is Route Twisk's route 51, operating between Tsuen Wan Nina Tower I (near Tsuen Wan West MTR Station) and Kam Sheung Road MTR Station at approximately 30-minute intervals. The bus also stops at Tsuen Wan MTR Station. (HK$7.80)

Cycling

Cyclists can sometimes be seen cycling up Tai Mo Shan on Route Twisk as part of their hill training regimen. The road is narrow at times and can be dangerous. In the winter, if the weather is cold there is frost on the top of the mountain, little icicles form on the trees. Temperatures can fall below 0 degrees Celsius.

See also

• Geography of Hong Kong
• Country parks and conservation in Hong Kong
• List of areas of Hong Kong
• List of mountains, peaks and hills in Hong Kong

Notes and references

• Initial text based on information provided by the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), under the provision that the re-dissemination or reproduction is for non-commercial use. [1]

External links

• Tai Mo Shan Country Park