Shing Moon Reservoir 城門水塘

【Hong Kong Nostalgia】Shing Moon Reservoir was built in 1923. The original 8 villages in the area were moved to Kam Tin, Tai Po and Fanling for resettlement.  In 1937, the construction of the reservior was completed with a capacity of three thousand million gallions. It was the largest reservor compared with those in Britain and her other colonies. That was also the year King George V had accession to the throne for 25 years. Therefore, the reservior was also named as "Jubilee Reservior".

Today, we can see the memorial stone, main dam, steel bridge, water valve room, funnel shape outlet valve and the fortress with walled-gate. They were accorded as Grade 1 status by the Antiquities Advisory Board of Hong Kong.

I have never been to Shing Moon Reservior except appreciating its beautiful scenes through Hong Kong movies and TV comedies. Some martial arts movies were also taking shots there. Last year, I paid my first visit to this reservoir but only reached up to 1/3 of the journey because it was near the dusk. This time, I completed the whole trip by following the hiking trail around the reservoir. I loved to stay at the site where the paper-bark trees were planted by the waters. As I have spent too much time on photography, I was nearly missing the return trip. I was so lucky to have met a hiker Mathew who was so kind to lead me back to the right track and finally caught the mini-bus at the station before dusk.

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Photo Equipment:
Nikon Coolpix P7700 28-200mm
Nikon Coolpix P520 28-1000mm
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【香港情懷】城門水塘於1923年開始興建，原有的八條村落：城門老圍、白石窩、碑頭肚、石頭見、芙蓉山、南房肚、大碑瀝和張屋的居民，均被安排搬遷到新界的錦田、大埔及粉嶺等地區安置。城門水塘於在1937年完工，儲水量達30億加侖，成為當時英國及殖民地屬土中最大的儲水庫。由於落成時，正值英皇佐治五世登基25年，水塘曾因此易名為「銀禧水塘」，以作紀念。

今天仍能看到紀念碑、主壩、鐵橋、水掣房、鐘形溢流口、城門碉堡等多座歷史建築，被評訂為香港法定的一級古蹟。

我從未去過城門水塘，祇從香港的電影和電視劇在水塘畔取景時，才欣賞到水塘怡人的景色。武俠片也在密林中拍攝武打鏡頭。去年初訪，可惜走到三份一路程便因近黃昏便取消行程。今年，我專程沿水塘的行山徑環繞水塘一周，終於完成整個行程，我也在「白千層」景點拍攝照片。由於花太多時間拍攝景色，差點誤了回程的時間。幸好遇到行山友馬菲爾, 他提點並帶領我急步行走，在天黑前終於趕到大壩的小巴站。在此要多謝他的仗義幫忙！

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(Click photo for a larger view)

【Declared Monuments ● 法定古蹟】

1.  The giant dam was covered with green grass. The mini bus stop station is located here.
Nikon Coolpix P520 @24mm, f/7.4, 1/1600s, ISO 800
城門水塘入口處的大壩，罕有地鋪上綠草。小巴總站就在這裡。

2.  Memorial Stone (Courtesty: Antiquities Advisory Board)
紀念碑 (鳴謝﹕ 香港古物處)

3.  The main dam was constructed with sturdy and strong granite stones.
Nikon Coolpix P520 @30mm, f/7.6, 1/2000s, ISO 800
主壩頂可見堅固的大理石所建成。

4.  This hiker climbed through the wire net to enjoy his free walk on the dam.
Nikon Coolpix P520 @88mm, f/8, 1/1000s, ISO 800
這位行山客爬過鐡絲網走過大壩頂，享受自由獨往的樂趣！

5.  Strolling alone on the dam
Nikon Coolpix P520 @245mm, f/7.4, 1/1000s, ISO 800
大壩頂上我獨行

6.  A charming scene may not have gorgeous hills, beautiful flowers or greenish plants.  It is only with the suitable sunlight which presents the distant hills in different layers, as if a simple ink and wash painting that makes me enchanted!
Nikon Coolpix P520 @88mm, f/4.1, 1/2000s, ISO 200
迷人的風景不一定要有壯觀的山河、明艶的花朵或青蔥的樹木。正正有合適的光源，將遠山的層次表現出來，如斯淡淡如水墨畫的景色，可令我陶醉。

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【Lovely Paper-bark Trees ● 迷人白千層】

7.  The hiking trail starts with a meandering flight of cemented steps.  With companion to overcome hardship in the journey, it is really an unforgetable and joyous moment in our life!
Nikon Coolpix P520 @59mm, f/4.2, 1/30s, ISO 200
沿水塘行山徑開始的一段路程，三合土建成的梯級，蜿蜒而上，能與伴同行，分憂解困，是人生難得的喜樂！

8.  When I reached here, the trail turned into a wide road.  The paper-bark trees (Melaleuca quinquenervia) were planted on the roadside.  This is one of the beautiful sites in the reservoir's country park.
Nikon Coolpix P520 @39mm, f/4.2, 1/125s, ISO 200
我走到這裡，小徑已進入寛闊的柏油路。兩旁種滿著名的「白千層」，乃城門水塘區其中一處迷人的景點。

9.  Finally I came to this beautiful and famous site in the reservoir.  Many Hong Kong movies and TV comedies were taking scenic shots here.
Nikon Coolpix P520 @24mm, f/4.2, 1/1640s, ISO 200
我終於抵達著名的水塘景點，景色怡人。很多香港的電影和電視劇集都在這裡取景。

10.  The reservoir was planted with many paper-bark trees.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @28mm, f/5.6, 1/40s, ISO 200
水塘四周都種了「白千層」。

11.  All trees have strong and old roots exposed that make the site more unique and charming.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @33mm, f/5.6, 1/60s, ISO 200
水塘畔的白千層，雖已「老樹盆根」，但仍是一處迷人的景點。

12.  Sunlight helps make a beautiful picture of the tranquil reservoir and trees.  Hurry up to capture the lovely moment with your camera before it vanishes.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @33mm, f/5.6, 1/80s, ISO 200
這裡的光線，將水塘區的樹木和憇靜的水邊展示了一幅美麗的圖畫，不譲美景消逝，便要趕快用相機記録下來。

13.  Let these old trees witness their oath of eternal love.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @33mm, f/5.6, 1/100s, ISO 200
情侶相依，就譲圍繞著他們的老樹，見證他們互道的海誓山盟。

14.  I gazed at the shore across carefully and found the angler there.  The fishing line shone in the sun.  It is because the angler, the main target of the photo, was not eye-catching, I am not very satisfied with this shot .....
Nikon Coolpix P520 @46mm, f/3.9, 1/1400s, ISO 200
細看對岸，釣魚客蹲在岸邊，祇見魚絲在陽光下發亮。就因為主角的釣魚客不「顯眼」，我對這幅照片不甚滿意⋯⋯。

15.  I finally waited till the angler stood up and walked close to the waters.  I pressed the camera shutter immediately to capture this lonely angler.  Comparatively, I prefer this photo with a blurred background and the shiny fishing line with ripples.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @122mm, f/7.1, 1/20s, ISO 200
我終於等到釣魚客「現身」，待他站起來，走近水邊，馬上按下快門，拍下這幅「獨釣圖」。相對之下，我較喜歡這幅照片，濛濛的背景，魚絲在水中泛起波光。

16.  I came to the location where the angler was standing.  I took shots of the reflections of the trees.  The still waters displayed reflections of thousands of the trees.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @88mm, f/4.5, 1/13s, ISO 200
我走到釣魚客的位置，獵取了塘畔樹影。四周的水平如鏡，影照「千層」樹。

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【Trees in Waters ● 水浸白千層】

17.  Here used to be famous site where the "Thousands of White Layers" (Paper-bark Tree) had submerged into the waters.  The waters had retreated a bit and the shore became wetland.  Its scene is unique as before.  The trunks in the foreground look like a dancing dragon.  All these are good scenes for movie-making!
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @33mm, f/2.5, 1/50s, ISO 800
這裡本是水浸「白千層」的景點，潮水稍退，塘畔成沼澤，但仍保持獨特的氛圍。老樹枝桿遊走似飛龍，特意作為前景，配合凋零的環境，難怪不少武俠電影都喜在這裡取景！

18.  It is a peculiar phenomenon that the air roots of the trees grow above the waters.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @236mm, f/4, 1/40s, ISO 800
遠處可見水浸「白千層」，氣根在水面部分生長，成為奇景。

19.  It appears that these old trees resemble thousands of old monks standing by the shore.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @69mm, f/2.8, 1/50s, ISO 800
生長在水邊的「白千層」，排列有序，看來更似站水邊的千年老僧。

20.  I was squatting aside by the shore as if I was hunting animal in the bush.  In fact, I was using a zoom lens to capture the trees on the waters.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @236mm, f/4, 1/80s, ISO 800
靜靜的水邊，我蹲在一旁，似在叢林打獵，實則用長焦鏡頭拍攝浸在水中的「白千層」。

21.  Waters add light. Light creates shadow.  Shadow reflects stone.  Stone shows twig. Twig reaches sky.  Sky makes waters .... ?  In this quiet moment, I understand the essence of vicious circle for all beings on earth!
Nikon Coolpix P520 @735mm, f/7, 1/130s, ISO 200
水加光、光生影、影照石、石露枝、枝衝天丶天降水⋯⋯？在這靜寂的一刻，我明白世間事物循環不息的道理！

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【Encounter In the Dusk ● 黃昏恩遇】

22.  Eventually, I continued journey till dusk!
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @236mm, f/4, 1/640s, ISO 800
不経不覺，走到夕陽快下山了！

23.  I woke up immediately and realized that I had only reached half of the journey.  I needed to hurry up to finish the whole trip and reached the mini bus stop at the reservoir dam before night came.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @45mm, f/2.2, 1/1250s, ISO 800
頓時醒來，祇走了一半路程，仍有一半路程要在曰落天黑前趕回大壩下的小巴站。

24.  Finally I reached the dam and still had time to take some photos before dusk.  Some other hikers also arrived here at the same time.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @45mm, f/2.2, 1/6s, ISO 800
終於趕抵大壩，仍可以在這裡拍攝水塘日落前景色。其他行友也剛好同一時間抵達這裡。

25.  This is to prevent access to the outlet of the valve.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @33mm, f/2, 1/3s, ISO 800
防止行人進入水塘去水口的圍欄。

26.  A funnel shape of the outlet valve of the reservoir.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @33mm, f/2, 1/3s, ISO 800
水塘漏斗型的防溢去水口。

27.   It shows that Mathew, a kind-hearted hiker, was still awaiting me at the dam when I was taking my last minute photography here.  All people have gone and dusk was coming.  Eventually he led me the way to catch up the mini-bus on time.  I have decided to delete this blurred photo. However, it is becuase of the encounter of his kindness that I have finally kept this photo for remembrance.  Thanks Mathew!
Nikon Coolpix P7700 @88mm, f/3.2, 1/2s, ISO 800
這時，天色已晚，所有遊人已離去。好心的行山友馬菲爾仍呆呆地在大壩上等候著我，要帶領我趕上回程的小巴。我本來要刪除這張矇朧的照片，就是這恩遇，我最後還是把它保存下來，作為留念。馬菲爾，謝謝你！  

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