Shuen Wan

🏞️ 【Shuen Wan】 (Plover Cove) is a scenic bay in the Tai Po District. Located just north of Tolo Harbour, its English name pays tribute to the HMS Plover, a British naval vessel. Back in the 1960s, to tackle Hong Kong’s severe water shortage, the government built the world’s very first “reservoir in the sea” right here. By constructing a massive dam connecting Tai Mei Tuk and Harbour Island (Pak Sha Tau), the bay was split in two: the eastern side became the freshwater reservoir, while the western side remained open sea. Spanning about 2 km with a massive capacity of 230 million cubic metres, Plover Cove Reservoir is not only Hong Kong’s second-largest reservoir but is also recognized as part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark for its groundbreaking engineering and stunning geological landscapes. —

📌 Quick Facts

Category Details

📍 Chinese Name 船灣 (Shuen Wan)

🌐 English Name Plover Cove

🗺️ District Tai Po District, Northeastern New Territories, Hong Kong

🧭 Location Situated between Tai Mei Tuk and Harbour Island. Originally a coastal bay, it was divided into the reservoir and the cove by a mega-dam project.

🏗️ History & Engineering Construction kicked off in 1960 and wrapped up in 1973, making it the world’s first-ever freshwater reservoir built out of the sea.

💧 Reservoir Stats The main dam is about 2 km long and 28 metres high, holding up to 230 million m³ of water across a whopping 1,200 hectares.

🐟 Ecological Twist After pumping out the seawater and refilling it with fresh water, the reservoir naturally became a massive fish pond, now home to various freshwater species.

🦜 Conservation The 2.1-hectare Plover Cove Egrettery is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), hosting over a hundred Grey Heron nests.

🐾 Wildlife East Asian Porcupines, Pangolins, Leopard Cats, Plaintive Cuckoos, Chestnut-winged Cuckoos, Common Tit, and Red-ring Skirt butterflies, among others.

🏕️ Country Parks Plover Cove Country Park (established in 1978, spanning 4,594 hectares) connects seamlessly with Pat Sin Leng Country Park.

🍖 Leisure Facilities Tai Mei Tuk BBQ site, viewing platforms, hiking trails, and nature education facilities.

🏘️ Village History Six original villages were submerged during the reservoir’s construction; residents were relocated to Luk Heung San Tsuen in Tai Po Market.

— The Plover Cove area is an absolute goldmine of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Established in 1978, the sprawling 4,594-hectare Plover Cove Country Park covers iconic hotspots like Bride’s Pool and Mirror Pool, alongside vital ecological reserves like mangroves and egretteries. The area was once dotted with traditional Hakka villages, including the “Luk Heung” (Six Villages) like Siu Kau and Tai Kau, which relocated to Luk Heung San Tsuen in Tai Po Market to make way for the reservoir. Meanwhile, Sam Mun Tsai New Village has beautifully preserved its old-school fishing village charm. Today, the reservoir’s main dam is a massive hotspot for cycling and day trips, while the Tai Mei Tuk waterfront has evolved into a go-to hub for water sports lovers. — Getting there is a breeze: Ting Kok Road serves as the main artery connecting Plover Cove to Tai Po town centre, well-served by the 75K bus and 20C green minibus lines. From its ancient roots as a pearl farming site to today’s world-class reservoir and country park, Plover Cove serves up a perfect mix of engineering marvels, breathtaking nature, and deep history, showcasing the very best of Hong Kong’s unique landscape. —

💧 Plover Cove Reservoir

Construction started in 1960, with the dam-raising project completed in 1973.

Boasts a massive capacity of 230 million cubic metres (230 million m³).

The main dam stretches about 2 km and was built by layering sand and crushed rocks.

The reservoir is teeming with various fish species, and back in the day, the bay was actually famous for pearl farming.

Hop on the Green Minibus 20C from MTR Tai Po Market Station straight to the Tai Mei Tuk terminus.

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🌳 Plover Cove Country Park

Established in 1978, this massive 4,594-hectare park is surrounded by the sea on three sides and connects directly with Pat Sin Leng Country Park.

🌊 Local Favourites Include:

Bride’s Pool: A gorgeous waterfall spot named after a legendary folk tale about a bride who tragically drowned here.

Mirror Pool: Known for its serene, crystal-clear water that reflects the surrounding greenery like a mirror.

Tai Mei Tuk Family Walk: An easy, breezy trail that is perfect for families and casual hikers.

🐾 Wildlife Spotting

Animal English Name

豪豬 East Asian Porcupine

穿山甲 Pangolin

豹貓 Leopard Cat

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🐦 Plover Cove Egrettery

Located at Cham Uk in Plover Cove, this area was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1994.

Spanning around 2.1 hectares, it is a crucial breeding ground hosting over a hundred Grey Heron nests.

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🏘️ Hakka Culture & Heritage Trails

Lai Chi Wo

One of Hong Kong’s best-preserved, authentic Hakka walled villages.

Famous for its ancient “Fung Shui Forest” and the iconic “Hollow Tree King”.

A biodiversity hotspot where you can spot rare species like the Yellow-breasted Bunting and Paris Peacock butterfly.

🛤️ Wu Kau Tang to Lai Chi Wo Hiking Trail

A classic hike that takes you through the Miu Sam Ancient Trail and Sam A Wan.

Keep your eyes peeled along the coast for thriving mangroves, scurrying crabs, and mudskippers.

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🚴‍♂️ Transport & Amenities

The main access road is Ting Kok Road, which features an incredibly popular cycling track running right alongside it.

Tai Mei Tuk is the ultimate launchpad for day-trippers, packed with public BBQ spots and plenty of bike rental shops.

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🚶‍♂️ Recommended Hiking Route

Main Dam to Sub-dam Route: Around 3 hours round-trip, Difficulty: ⭐️⭐️

Starting Point: Tai Mei Tuk

Getting There: Catch the 20C green minibus from Tai Po Market Station and take it all the way to the terminal stop.

Quick Tip: There is absolutely no shade along the dam, so make sure to pack plenty of water and load up on sunscreen!

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🏘️ Villages around Plover Cove

Village Name English Name

沙欄 Sha Lan

陳屋 Chan Uk

李屋 Lee Uk

詹屋 Cham Uk

圍下村 Wai Ha

䃟頭角 San Tau Kok

布心排 Po Sam Pai

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🔎 Adventure More

If you love exploring off-the-beaten-path trails, definitely check out our travel log on 🥾 〖Hung Shek Mun • Daydreaming Trip〗. —

Category	Details
📍 Chinese Name	船灣 (Shuen Wan)
🌐 English Name	Plover Cove
🗺️ District	Tai Po District, Northeastern New Territories, Hong Kong
🧭 Location	Situated between Tai Mei Tuk and Harbour Island. Originally a coastal bay, it was divided into the reservoir and the cove by a mega-dam project.
🏗️ History & Engineering	Construction kicked off in 1960 and wrapped up in 1973, making it the world’s first-ever freshwater reservoir built out of the sea.
💧 Reservoir Stats	The main dam is about 2 km long and 28 metres high, holding up to 230 million m³ of water across a whopping 1,200 hectares.
🐟 Ecological Twist	After pumping out the seawater and refilling it with fresh water, the reservoir naturally became a massive fish pond, now home to various freshwater species.
🦜 Conservation	The 2.1-hectare Plover Cove Egrettery is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), hosting over a hundred Grey Heron nests.
🐾 Wildlife	East Asian Porcupines, Pangolins, Leopard Cats, Plaintive Cuckoos, Chestnut-winged Cuckoos, Common Tit, and Red-ring Skirt butterflies, among others.
🏕️ Country Parks	Plover Cove Country Park (established in 1978, spanning 4,594 hectares) connects seamlessly with Pat Sin Leng Country Park.
🍖 Leisure Facilities	Tai Mei Tuk BBQ site, viewing platforms, hiking trails, and nature education facilities.
🏘️ Village History	Six original villages were submerged during the reservoir’s construction; residents were relocated to Luk Heung San Tsuen in Tai Po Market.

Animal	English Name
豪豬	East Asian Porcupine
穿山甲	Pangolin
豹貓	Leopard Cat

Village Name	English Name
沙欄	Sha Lan
陳屋	Chan Uk
李屋	Lee Uk
詹屋	Cham Uk
圍下村	Wai Ha
䃟頭角	San Tau Kok
布心排	Po Sam Pai