Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail - Explore Hundred Years of History of Waterworks
Reservoir trail is popular among Hong Kong people, as it is easy to walk and be reached by convenient public transport. Every reservoir in Hong Kong has its own distinctive scenery for landscape photography. For example, Shing Mun Reservoir is famous for its “flooding paperbark forest” and war remains while Tai Lam Chung Reservoir is well-known as “Thousand-Island Lake”. This time we will visit Tai Tam Reservoir, which is one of the places having the greatest number of declared monuments in Hong Kong.
Transportation
Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail that goes around Tai Tam Reservoir is about 5km long and can be completed within 2 hours. The trail covers 21 historic waterworks structures which have been declared monuments, including Tai Tam Upper Reservoir with over a hundred years of history, Tai Tam Byewash Reservoir, Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir, Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir Masonry Bridge and Dam etc. The two ends of these waterworks structures connect to Tai Tam Road and Tai Tam Reservoir Road respectively. Located next to Hong Kong Parkview, Tai Tam Road is only accessible by taxi or resident’s shuttle bus. Alternatively, we can go to Tai Tam Reservoir Road. Take New World First Bus route 14 at Sai Wan Ho and get off at Tai Tam Reservoir (North). Start your walk at Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir, then head to the masonry bridge next to Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir along the waterworks heritage trail. You can enjoy some of the major waterworks structures along the way. After the shooting, you can get back to Tai Tam Country Park to leave.
Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir Dam
Tai Tam Reservoir comprises a number of reservoirs and waterworks structures. Among those, Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir and Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir are the best locations to take photos. Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir Dam features 12 large spillways. The spectacular sight of water overflow is a popular photographic topic among photo lovers. However, there is no exact timetable for this. Just try your luck and go after a rainy day when the reservoir is full.
Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir Masonry Bridge
There are altogether 4 masonry bridges inside Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir. Along the waterworks heritage trail connecting Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir and Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir, the masonry bridge on the west shore of Tai Tam Reservoir – i.e. the first masonry bridge you reach when you go from the bus stop near the waterworks heritage trail to the Hong Kong Parkview direction - offers the best shooting location.
Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir Dam
Before reaching the fourth masonry bridge of Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir, we can enjoy a view of Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir Dam. This dam of smaller-scale is one of the earliest built waterworks structures. We can get close to this historic monument to take photos.
Our photo journey officially ends after shooting at Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir Dam. Take the same route back and enjoy the views of these waterworks structures once again from another angle. Then you can take buses or minibuses to get back to town at Tai Tam Country Park.