Sharks and Parks.

Shark Rock.

Today I didn't really feel like doing anything, but aware that Easter weekend is about to start and that all the hiking trails will be heaving with people for a while, I decided to get out and about before that happened. My left leg has been a bit iffy since I completed the Rhino Rock Assault Course, so I opted for a short walk involving another weirdly shaped monolith and headed out to Shark Rock near Diamond Hill.

Just as an aside, why is Diamond Hill called Diamond Hill? Well it's not because it's got any diamonds. Apparently this area was known for mining in the past and the Cantonese word for diamonds is the same as the Cantonese word for to drill, only using a different tone. The British misunderstood the local area name which was based on drilling and thought it referred to diamonds. I like that the MTR station name is sparkly to go with the idea of diamonds.

Diamond Hill MTR, note the sparkly bits.

Getting to Shark Rock is easy, take the MTR to Diamond Hill and leave via exit C. Walk towards Nan Lian Gardens, but when you reach them, don't go in, instead cross to the other side of Fung Tak Road. Go right. You will pass lots of sights: the Nan Lian Gardens, the Chi Lin Nunnery, Hammer Hill Park. I promised myself I would do them all on the way back. After a while Fung Tak Road becomes Hammer Hill Road, follow this. It will change again to Po Kong Village Road. Eventually you will reach Fu Shan Bus Station. It sounds long, but to get there from the MTR only takes around 15 minutes.

Hammer Hill Road becomes Po Kong Village Road.

Just past the bus station you will see a barrier across a road on your right. Go round this barrier and walk downhill towards the stream.

This is the barrier you go round.

Follow the stream and where the road splits, go left.

The water level in the stream is low at the moment.

After a short walk, you will reach a cemetery, go left and walk through it. This is Diamond Hill Urn Cemetery. I'm one of those weird people who actually like cemeteries and this one is old and peaceful, so I enjoyed passing through it.

Diamond Hill Urn Cemetery.

Diamond Hill Urn Cemetery.

Diamond Hill Urn Cemetery.

Diamond Hill Urn Cemetery.

Towards the end of the cemetery you will see a tree hanging precariously across the path, walk under this.

Tree looming over the path.

Tree looming over the path.

Selfie with tree.

Not far after this there is a path down to the stream. This is not the way you want to go, though I investigated this way on the way back and found it had some nice little bridges.

Bridges over stream.

I was starting to really enjoy the lush jungle vegetation all around me and the fact that earlier manmade structures: buildings, stairs, walls, paths were being reclaimed by the jungle. The whole area felt a bit like exploring the temples of Angkor Wat, minus the temples, if that makes sense. Overall I think the jungly nature of the surroundings were the highlight of the walk.

It's a jungle out there.

Pathway through the rocks.

Fallen logs and broad leaved plants.

Tree roots overwhelm a wall.

Stairway to nowhere.

Stay on the path or the jungle will get you.

Beautiful Leaves.

Beautiful Trees.

Dense Vegetation.

Are you staying on that path?

Gorgeous flower near the path.

Gorgeous flower near the path.

It takes around twenty-five minutes from the barrier at the start of the walk to a little bridge where you will find the hollow tree. This is a weird attraction that someone somewhere decided to step inside, get their photo taken and post it on Instagram. They started a trend. On some days I believe there are long queues. There were only two people there when I arrived. I got them to photograph me. It was a bit of a disaster. I forgot to put my bags down before climbing in and I've put on so much weight since middle age and COVID both hit me at the same time. I think I was too fat for the hollow tree, but I got the picture anyway.

Bridge with hollow tree on its far side.

This is where you climb in.

This is where you stick your head out.

This is the result if you don't quite fit.

Not far past hollow tree is Shark Rock. There was a serious photo session going on when I arrived involving numerous people and a dog. I'm always way too impatient to wait, so I just photographed the people doing the photo session and got them to photograph me. If I hadn't, I might still be there queueing even now.

Shark Rock is supposed to be shaped like a great white shark leaping out of the water. People have added pebbles for the teeth to enhance the effect. My friend Catherine thought it looked like a frog. (My friend Jason thought Rhino Rock looked like an alien.)

Close up of Shark Rock.

Shark Rock with people and pet dog.

Lots of people at Shark Rock.

Posing with Shark Rock.

It's possible to continue the walk to the top of Hammer Hill and onto Jat's Incline, but I wasn't sure of the way and it was hoooot, so I just came back.

I passed a very attractive looking church building on the way back. This is the Abounding Grace Baptist Church.

The Abounding Grace Baptist Church.

Then I entered Hammer Hill Gardens. There was a magnificent brightly coloured bougainvillea bush here and several pretty irises. I managed to photo a little bird that was hopping around on the grass.

Entrance sign for Hammer Hill Park.

Bougainvillea bush.

Bougainvillea bush.

Iris.

Iris.

Bird in Hammer Hill Park. I think it is an oriental magpie robin.

Bird in Hammer Hill Park.

The Chi Lin Nunnery is just past Hammer Hill Park. I have been here once before, but it's lovely so I was happy to visit again. The Chi Lin Nunnery was founded as a retreat for Buddhist nuns in 1934. The nunnery building is made of cypress wood and no nails were used in its construction.

Chi Lin Nunnery.

Chi Lin Nunnery.

Chi Lin Nunnery.

Selfie in Chi Lin Nunnery.

Doorway Chi Lin Nunnery.

In front of the nunnery there is a lovely garden filled with ponds and bonsai trees. My favourite thing here was the magnificent waterlilies which filled the ponds. I think it's safe to say I got carried away photographing them.

Bonsai Chi Lin Nunnery.

Pond and water spouts Chi Lin Nunnery.

Close up of water spout.

Pond Chi Lin Nunnery.

White Waterlilies.

Yellow Waterlilies.

Pink Waterlilies

Pink Waterlily.

Pink Waterlilies.

Purple Waterlily.

Beautiful Waterlily.

Waterlilies on stripy lily pads.

This flower looks so fragile. Apparently it's Nymphoides indica or Water Snowflake. How lovely!

This flower looks so fragile.

Next I wandered into Nan Lian Gardens which are attached to the nunnery via a bridge. These were opened to the public in 2006. They are built in Tang Dynasty style and occupy an area of about 3.5 hectares. The gardens have ponds, the pavilion of absolute perfection, tearooms, a vegetarian restaurant, a watermill, museums and lots of beautiful rocks and plants.

Bridge connecting Nunnery and Gardens.

Bonsai on bridge connecting Nunnery and Gardens.

Museum and Bonsai.

The pavilion of absolute perfection

The pavilion of absolute perfection

Temple like building.

Bird statue on roof of temple like building.

Artificial waterfall

Waterwheel.

Beautiful leafy plants.

Rock Garden.

Rock lined path.

I loved these beautiful rocks.

Sun dial.

Sparrow Nan Liang Gardens.

Sparrow Nan Liang Gardens.

Chinese wisteria.

Chinese wisteria.

Brightly coloured koi fish.

Brightly coloured koi fish.

Brightly coloured koi fish.

From the gardens I could see the rainbow coloured Choi Hung Estate. People like to photograph themselves with the basketball court here.

After enjoying the gardens for a while I wandered back to the MTR. I had a quick look at Plaza Hollywood Shopping Mall on the way. Then I travelled back home.

Plaza Hollywood Shopping Mall.

Plaza Hollywood Shopping Mall.

Plaza Hollywood Shopping Mall.

I loved this painting near the lifts.