A day in Tai Mei Tuk

Written by LUXE City Guides, Images by Calvin Sit

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Tai Mei Tuk is a high-spirited destination that promises a weekend of fishing, cycling, boating and barbecuing. Located next to the Plover Cove Dam, it's actually a cluster of several distinct villages, each with their own shrines and ancestral halls. All of them have sprawled together to form a kind of holiday destination for people looking to escape the pressures of city life.

“I like to come out here to sit on the dam. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Hong Kong,” says Greg Brown, a regular visitor. On a clear day, you’ll find families flying kites and riding bicycles back and forth across the dam, the waters of Plover Cove lapping against one side of the dam, the waters of Tolo Harbour on the other.

Cycling is one of the best ways to reach Tai Mei Tuk. Start in Tai Po town centre, where bicycle rental shops and app-controlled share bikes compete for customers. From there, dedicated cycle tracks take you along the Lam Tsuen River to Tai Po Waterfront Park , which is home to an insect enclosure, a flower garden, a model boat pool and an observation tower that spirals up into the sky. A large lawn overlooking the harbour is a great place for a picnic.

The next point of interest along the cycle track is the Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info , home to 200 different species of butterfly — about 80 per cent of all the species that live in Hong Kong. There’s a butterfly festival on the last Sunday of each month, with carnival games and guided tours.

You’ll spot another landmark as you head west: an enormous white statue of Kwun Yam, or Guanyin, the Chinese goddess of mercy. Built in 2015, this is the second-tallest statue of the deity in the world, and at 76 metres, it is more than twice as tall as the famous Big Buddha on Lantau Island.

Another 10 minutes of pedalling gets you from the monastery to Tai Mei Tuk. This place is designed for escape. Cafes like Pimary (part of a lovely lifestyle store) offer tranquil spaces to while away the afternoon, while the row of al fresco restaurants along Sam Wo Road attract a constant stream of diners for lunch and dinner. Many opt to cook their own meals at the expansive public barbecue site overlooking Tolo Harbour. Each of the marble-clad pits is free to use; bring your own food and charcoal or buy it from the kiosks nearby.

Just past the barbecue area is Tai Mei Tuk Water Sports Centre, where you can rent canoes, sailboats and windsurfing boards for as little as HK$14 per hour. A small hill nearby takes you to Tai Mei Tuk Family Walk, an easy path that rewards you with views over the surrounding mountains and water.

Beyond that, you have a choice. You can continue beyond Tai Mei Tuk into Plover Cove Country Park, where you’ll find Bride’s Pool Waterfall — named for a bride who drowned after the men carrying her sedan chair slipped on a rock. Despite the morbid history, it’s actually quite a romantic place.

Or you can make your way to Plover Cove Dam. It’s one of the most beguiling spots in the district, especially as the sun slips behind the mountains across the harbour a perfect end to a playful day.

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The Hong Kong Tourism Board disclaims any liability as to the quality or fitness for purpose of third party products and services; and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, adequacy or reliability of any information contained herein.