Tai Mo Shan and Sam Dip Tam

Located between Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long, and approximately at the geographical centre of the New Territories, Tai Mo Shan is famous for being the tallest mountain and having the most rainfall in Hong Kong. It is known for being very foggy during spring, hence the name Tai Mo Shan (“big fog mountain”, or written as “big hat mountain”). It is also the coldest spot in Hong Kong during winter, attracting many tourists to visit the mountain-top and view the formation of frost, a rare sight in Hong Kong. The panoramic views of Tsuen Wan and most of Kowloon also make Tai Mo Shan a hotspot for hikers and tourists; distant mountain ranges of Guangdong can also be seen from the highest point. Another interesting sight would be the old milestones carved only with numbers with no other texts, found along the trails, since Tai Mo Shan was used as military grounds in the past as well.

Sam Dip Tam is located on Tin Fat Shan (or literally Thousand-Buddha Hill) near to Tsuen Wan, and was originally named Dai Shui Hang (or “big water hole”). It was later renamed as Sam Dip Tam (or “three-layer pond”) by Master Mao Fung, founder of Tung Po Tor Monastery. The water originates from Tai Mo Shan and the ponds are divided into three sections. The highest section can be further divided into the front part which has a waterfall and the back part which flows beneath the waterfall forming rapids. The mid-section provides a safe area for tourists and locals to play in and swim. Near the mid-section lies the “Hero Rock”, a testimonial to Japan’s invasion of Hong Kong. Sam Dip Tam used to be an attraction for leisure and sightseeing in the past, but the building of Shing Mun Reservoir directed water away from the streams and pollution made the waters unsafe for people to play in and thus it slowly lost its previous popularity as a water hole.

Address: Tin Fat Shan, Tsuen Wan