Tai Po Kau Special Area, Nature reserve in Tai Po District, Hong Kong
Tai Po Kau Special Area is a protected forest covering about 460 hectares across eastern slopes of Grassy Hill, home to more than 100 tree species and numerous streams running through the land. The reserve contains a network of walking paths that connect different sections and allow visitors to move through various elevations and forest types.
The government established this forest reserve in 1926 as a tree-planting project, beginning with Chinese Red Pine before gradually introducing many other species. Over the following decades, this initial plantation effort grew into the large subtropical forest that exists today.
The forest reveals a landscape restored over decades, now thriving with interconnected ecosystems that visitors can explore and observe. Walking through the reserve, you encounter signs that explain what lives here and how the forest functions in daily practice.
The reserve has marked walking trails of varying lengths, allowing you to choose a route that fits your time and fitness level. Along the way, you will find educational signs that help explain the plants and animals you might encounter.
The forest harbors an exceptional diversity of wildlife, supporting hundreds of bird species alongside countless butterflies and dragonflies in its streams and canopy. This concentration of animal life is rare in the urban region and makes the site a significant refuge for creatures large and small.
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