Take the 64K bus from Xindong to Xinxi
People who like to run to the countryside, some people choose to travel by car, and many people like to take a bus to tour the river. Sit on the upper floor of the bus and look at both sides, as the countryside develops, the ding house, the rotten car yard, and the container brown field gradually bury the original field and green forest. Fortunately, after getting off the bus, crossing the developed area, the ancient temple of more than 600 years and the longest waterfall in Hong Kong still silently guard Hong Kong; many people have brought restaurants and small shops with diverse styles into Tai Po and Kam Tin Town, supporting local culture and injecting vitality and enthusiasm into the community.
Those of you who are familiar with the New Territories should be familiar with 64K buses. The 64K bus line is famous for its 53 stops, running from New East to New West, departing from downtown Tai Po, slowly driving through the rural countryside of Tai Po and Yuen Long, and finally reaching the bustling city centre of Yuen Long.
<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Wutongzhai Waterfall: Tranquil Waterfall</h1>
Located in the area of Tai Mo Shan and Lin Cun Valley, WuTong Zhai Waterfall is the largest waterfall group in Hong Kong and is listed among the ten natural wonders of Hong Kong. Starting from Wutongzhai Village, you will first pass the Taoist cultivation court Wande Garden through the path, and after picking up the stairs and going back to the road, you will first see the lower waterfall.
Wutongzhai Waterfall is divided into four sections, namely Well Bottom Waterfall, Horsetail Waterfall (Middle Waterfall), Long Waterfall (Main Waterfall) and Scattered Waterfall. The long waterfall is particularly spectacular, especially from a distance like the sky hanging white practice, in the dry season, the well bottom waterfall and horsetail waterfall water flow is still good, the long waterfall and the scattered waterfall are more watery. Along the road, the jungle is dense, the sun is slightly sprinkled with leaves, and it is dark and quiet, which can make people escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and it is also worth a trip.
How to get there: Take the 64K bus to Wutongzhai Station
<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Qingtan Pond: Irrigation Spring</h1>
Located in the valley behind the village of Qingtan in Jintian, The Qingtan Pond is an irrigation pond divided into two ponds, mainly supplying fresh water to the farmland around Qingtan and Yuangang. The two ponds are separated by and surrounded by lush green forests, which are not as famous as the nearby river back ponds, and the holidays are not many people, and the environment is quiet and quiet.
Get off at the Yuangang Village bus stop and walk along Qingtan Road, about 30 minutes to arrive. Along the way, passing through the vibrant farmland and recreational facilities such as pavilions and barbecue grills, the road is smooth and easy, and the upward slope is not too difficult, and when you arrive, you can enjoy a moment of tranquility with the scenery of the Eight Townships area.
How to get there: Take bus 64K to Yuangangcun Station
<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Kadoorie Farm & Botanical Garden: In Search of the Great White Pig</h1>
Located in the 150s by the Kadoorie brothers in the 1950s, the Kadoorie Farm and Botanical Garden, located next to the Linjin Highway in Bainiushi Village, Lin Cun, was established by the Kadoorie brothers and opened a pilot house on Guanyin Mountain to teach farmers the techniques of growing and raising livestock locally, and to provide low-interest loans to farmers to help the original residents and migrants fleeing from the mainland to maintain their livelihoods. Kadoorie Farms' role as an auxiliary farmer has faded with local agriculture, and is now dominated by conservation and education.
There are many wild animals that have been rescued but not released in the park, such as falcons, mahjong eagles, red chamois, ocelots, etc., and the most eye-catching one must be the large-flowered white pig. Several pigs with a very large weight take on the work of publicizing life care and environmental protection, and during the exhibition time of two periods a day, everyone can see the big flower white pigs that the breeders care for and prepare, and when it is hot, the pigs will temporarily stay indoors. Don't miss the organic farm and farm kiosks that sell farm produce, have an open-air vegetarian café, and occasionally fly in with the sparrows to accompany the food, truly close to nature. (Temporarily closed during the pandemic)
Getting there: Take bus 64K to Kadoorie Farm & Botanical Gardens Station
<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Tai Po Kwong Phuc Bridge: The Fourth Largest Heron Bird Forest</h1>
Tai Po Guang Fu Bridge was originally built in the late Qing Dynasty, and in the past, Tai Ho and Tai Po Market were originally separated by the Lin Cun River, and the "Seven Covenants" villagers built the Guang Fu Bridge to connect the two markets and revitalize the economy of the nearby area. The bridge was demolished in the 1980s, but the current pedestrian bridge was built later, retaining the original stone railings and bridge piers and turning into an antique Chinese-style red-pillared green tile bridge. On the Lincun River, there are also the same design of the Jinshi Bridge, Jinhe Bridge and Taihe Bridge.
Guangfu Road is the main traffic artery in the area, and pedestrians and bicycles are endless. Looking up, there are a large number of herons on the top of the surrounding trees. This is the fourth largest heron bird forest in Hong Kong, and the forest is over a hundred bird nests inhabited by different species of heron birds, which will feed on the Lam Cun River and nearby Tolo Harbour. The birds in the downtown area are constantly sounding, and we must be grateful that nature does not abandon human beings.
Getting there: Take bus 64K to Tai Po Kwong Phuc Road Station and walk for 3 minutes
<h1 style="text-align: left;">Muse Furniture Lab: British furniture store cafe</h1>
Why would a suburban town have an English-style furniture store? Muse Furniture Lab was founded in 2014 and moved to Kam Tin in 2020, a local furniture that showcases a variety of British-style cabinets, classical-style sofas, coffee tables, chandeliers, etc., which guests can customize to suit the style and size. Amazingly, the smell of coffee wafted from the furniture store, which turned out to be a cafe that offers light salads, cakes and coffee.
The "Lab" in the name of the shop is experimental, and the owner says that this is not a place for pure business, but wants to use this space to share with the acquaintances what they like, taste, life attitude, and even the taste of a cup of coffee. The owner of the shop also feels that everyone who comes to Kam Tin should leave the rapid rhythm of the city behind, adjust the breathing and heartbeat to the slowest level, and enjoy the slow attitude of The Furniture Lab. Due to the epidemic situation, the small shop has switched to the appointment mode to control the flow of people, and remember to make an appointment before visiting.
Getting there: Take bus 64K to Shangcun Stadium Station, a five-minute walk away
<h1 style="text-align: left;">VW Vegan Cafe: Vegan Idyllic</h1>
Tai Po can be said to be a vegetarian desert, and vegan coffee shop VW Vegan Cafe has been a clear spring in the region since it entered Tai Po in 2020. The restaurant is family-run, with the owner and his wife vegetarian, the wife delving into vegan cakes, the husband who has worked as a chef in the UK is the chef, and the sister of the female owner is in charge of Japanese cuisine and coffee. The dishes are simple but thoughtful, the "Impossible Burger" is the most popular among the "carnivores", the plant burger grill with vegan cheese, sour cucumber, the meat is juicy and juicy, very full.
Sit in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass window and look out over the trees on the street while drinking coffee. The shelves in the restaurant consign local products such as local barista stir-fried beans, Er Ao Farmers' Society sauces, local handicrafts, etc., and the small restaurant supports local handicrafts in Hong Kong.
<h1 style="text-align: left;">K Kok: meat-based communion Thai street food</h1>
Kok Kok, located on Kam Tin Street, formerly known as Kowloon City 'Cho Pai Ya' Thai Restaurant, still has a superb taste quality after relocation, and soon after opening, it became a neighborhood canteen on Kam Tin and Kam Shang Road, which also attracted many people from afar. Kok Kok takes the Thai street food route, from upholstery to food, bowl and chopsticks are full of Thai street flavors.
Extremely recommend the vegetarian menu here, both high-quality and multi-choice! There are over 20 vegan dishes on the menu, and new dishes are introduced from time to time. Thai vegetarian fish cake is made with vegetable pork, added with Thai spices such as lemon leaf shreds, and served with Thai sweet and sour sauce, which is delicious and fragrant. Thai lemon tea is also a must-try, Thai spices make the tea very unique, add a slice of lime, sip a sip thought to go to Bangkok for a holiday.
Getting there: Take bus 64K to MongYang Elementary School Station and walk for 5 minutes
<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Forest Village: Slow Living in Tradition</h1>."
Located north of Da Mao Shan, Lin Village began in the Song Dynasty and has a history of more than 700 years. The Lin Cun Wishing Tree is famous throughout Hong Kong and carries the profound culture of the village. Villagers regard the two large banyan trees in the village as gods, but the blessing and wishing treasure are too heavy to break the branches of the tree, and the villagers try their best to repair the tree in order to protect the tree, and the so far Wishing Day has been changed to a simulated tree, so that the sacred tree can breathe, reflecting the balance between tradition and ecological conservation.
The Wishing Tree in Lin Village is open all year round, so instead of praying for blessings when the Lunar New Year is crowded, it is better to come to the village on a leisure day to feel the simplicity of the homes of ordinary people in the surrounding village. Passing through the Lincun Archway, you will see the Wishing Tree and the Wishing Corridor, and further ahead is the Tin Hau Temple. After about ten minutes along the Lin Jin Highway, you will reach the Hermit Forest Cafe, which is a good choice for a slow stroll.
How to get there: Take bus 64K to Fangmapu Station
<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Lingyun Temple: a historical temple</h1>
Ling Yun Temple, one of the three ancient temples in Hong Kong, is managed by monks. The ancient temple is located on Guanyin Mountain, built during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty, and has a history of more than 600 years. At first, it was an ashram, but later the temple gate was expanded and the Daxiong Treasure Hall was completed after ten years of cold and summer. At present, there is a Zen hall building, a jizo hall, and a bell tower on the side of the temple, and a lotus pond has been carved out in front of the mountain gate.
During the epidemic, Lingyun Temple only opened some gardens, but the quiet surroundings have become popular. The aroma of osmanthus flowers in the ancient temple is fragrant, the birdsong is particularly loud in the quiet environment, a few temple dogs are basking in the sun and stretching their waists, there are several farmlands next to the temple full of vegetables, and everything in front of them is like an ancient painting. The Kannon statue in the center of the lotus pond makes people feel peaceful and peaceful, and if you want to have a variety of good roots and wisdom, you may wish to participate in the temple's regular sermons, meditations and other common cultivation activities.
How to get there: Take bus 64K to Lingyunsi Station and walk for 8 minutes along the signs