Tung Chung is surrounded by two large
country parks, cover an area of Lantau Island as large as Hong Kong Island: The
Lantau North and
Lantau South Country Parks. The presence of
mangroves and freshwater streams in Tung Chung provides excellent ecologically valuable habitats for freshwater fish species,
dragonflies and rare
amphibians. However, the reclamation and other civil engineering works in Tung Chung has heavily damaged these habitats and produced irreversible damage to native wildlife and the surrounding environment.
Tung Chung Valley Tung Chung Valley is the home of some of the steepest and most primeval mountain streams in Hong Kong. The formation of spectacular
waterfalls is facilitated in the presence of the sheer cliffs and deep gorges in the valley. Almost all the streams in the area have their name related to
Lung (the Chinese word for
dragon) which is the
Chinese mythological creature of the waters and the favorite metaphor for the towering waterfalls. As the main branch of the Tung Chung Valley, the deep-set
Wong Lung Valley is the home of the Wong Lung Stream (The Yellow Dragon). The mainstream has its source on the saddle at the east of
Sunset Peak, but the stream collects water through a large network of feeder streams on both sides of the valley, including the famous Tung-Lung, Pak-Lung, Chong-Lung, and Ngo-Lung Streams, which are known collectively as "The Five Dragons of Tung Chung".
Wong Lung Waterfall Wong Lung Waterfall is located in the
Lantau North Country Park. It is named "Wong-Lung" since, during a heavy rainstorm, when we view from the high ground, the stream resembles a yellow dragon ready to take off for heaven when it and its feeders are flooded with torrential muddy water, with Wong-Lung as the trunk and the feeders its limbs.
Tung Lung Stream The spectacular Tung Lung Stream includes what appear as continuous waterfalls of more than 700 feet (213 m). Tung Lung Stream is rich in varieties of rare local wild plants and animals, especially in the primeval forest at an upper stream, among them the unique Hong Kong
newts (
Paramesotriton hongkongensis) as well as several species of wild
orchids.
Tung Chung River Tung Chung River is the only known Hong Kong site for the rare
fish,
Acrossocheilus (Lissolichthys) wenchowensis beijiangensis (北江光唇魚) and one of only two sites on Lantau where the locally rare
crested kingfisher,
Megaceryle lugubris, has been recorded.
Upper Tung Chung Valley The upper Tung Chung Valley is an important habitat for
birds, including thrushes and warblers (Hopkin, pers. comm.). Eagle owls, a species highly sensitive to any disturbance around their nesting sites, breed here (Wilson, pers. comm.). The locally rare
Hainan blue flycatcher probably breeds here (Chalmers, pers. comm.). The largest population of the reptile
tokay gecko,
Gekko gecko, occurs in the cliffs and boulder crevices in upper Tung Chung Valley (Lau, pers. comm.). The woods in the upper Tung Chung Valley are reportedly some of the best on Lantau for rare plant species and for butterflies, including the
birdwing butterfly which breeds here (Reels, pers. comm.).
Hiking trails The
Tung O Ancient Trail is a hiking trail that links Tung Chung to the fishing village of
Tai O. This trail follows the north-western coast of Lantau Island; providing a view of the runway approach to Chek Lap Kok as well as a number of villages and local scenery. This, however is a strenuous four-hour trek. An easier and well-wooded walk with picnic and barbecue sites also link
Shui Hau to Tung Chung Road. Turning south from Tung Chung Road, visitors can get to the
Cheung Sha beaches.
Hong Kong Buddhist Youth Camp Located on a 4,877 m2 site near Tung Chung, the Buddhist Youth Camp was built in 1979 at a cost of HK$3 million, the camp is run by the
Hong Kong Buddhist Association. Facilities available at the camp include table tennis, chess, books and television, playground for basketball, badminton, archery, barbecue and a swimming pool. ==Recreation==