Shing Mun fung shui wood
The 6-hectare Shing Mun fung shui wood in Shing Mun Country Park is situated
on the northeastern side of the reservoir. One of the earliest Sites of
Special Scientific Interests in Hong Kong, it was listed for preservation
in 1975.
You may wonder why the forest is not sheltering any village.
But it was, until 1929, when the old hamlet of Tai Wai was relocated to
make way for Shing Mun Reservoir. Today only a fung shui wood remains
to stand witness to its history. Undisturbed by human activities for decades
and further protected by the Country Park Ordinance, this pristine forest
excels in species richness, size and integrity. Indeed, it is one of the
most representative fung shui woods of Hong Kong.
Nam Fung Road fung shui wood
The
4-hectare Nam Fung Road fung shui wood spreads along the south face of
Mount Nicholson. The northern boundary runs along the catchwater, while
Nam Fung Road marks the border to the south. The forest is now traversed
by Lady Clementi's Ride. Visitors can follow this path to see the trees
and structure of the forest. The Nam Fung Road fung shui wood was designated
a Site of Special Scientific Interests in 1993.
The Nam Fung Road fung shui wood is the only one of its
kind on Hong Kong Island, with its ecological value comparable to the
Shing Mun fung shui wood. Boasting an impressive variety of trees and
climbers, it ranks top in plant diversity in the AFCD survey on Hong Kong
fung shui woods.
Mui Tsz Lam fung shui wood at Ma On Shan
Mui
Tsz Lam fung shui wood sprawls across 2 hectares of countryside near the
border of Ma On Shan Country Park. It is a habitat of high ecological
value.
Mui Tsz Lam is a fine exhibition of plant diversity.
Supporting 72 fung shui wood indicator species, by far the greatest number
in Hong Kong, it stands out from other Fung shui forests. Set on mid slopes
some 130-160m above sea level, it is a fung shui wood of unusually high
elevation.
Lai Chi Wo fung shui wood
Lai Chi Wo fung shui wood sits on the northwestern side of Lai Chi Wo
Village in Sha Tau Kok. A substantial part of the wood lies within the
Plover Cove Country Park. Offering picturesque scenery and a unique collection
of trees, this remote forest has become a hot eco-tour destination in
recent years.
Lai Chi Wo fung shui wood has more than 100 plant species,
which is quite impressive for its humble size. Many of the trees are rare
in Hong Kong, and there are some well preserved specimens of individual
charm, such as the Five-finger Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)
and White-flowered Derris (Derris alborubra).
She Shan Tsuen fung shui wood
Nestled in Lam Tsuen Valley, She Shan Tsuen has a 5.7-hectare fung shui
wood. Part of the forest is now listed as a Site of Special Scientific
Interest.
There are many uncommon and protected species in this fung shui wood, such as the Bird-nest Fern (Neottopteris nidus), Hance’s Ardisia (Ardisia hanceana) and Illigera (Illigera celebica). Illigera is the host plant for the rare butterfly White Dragontail (Lamproptera curius). Lam Tsuen Valley, in which She Shan Tsuen fung shui wood stands, is home to a host of native birds. Uncommon bird species such as Rufous Woodpecker (Celeus brachyurus) and Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) have been recorded in the She Shan fung shui wood, demonstrating the value of this sylvan environment as a habitat for wild animals.