Ma On Shan (peak)

Ma On Shan (Chinese: 馬鞍山; literally: Saddle Peak) is a saddle-shaped peak in east of Tolo Harbour in the New Territories of Hong Kong. With a height of 702 metres (2,303 ft), it stands among the ten highest mountains in Hong Kong. The mountain borders Sha Tin and Tai Po districts.

Ma On Shan
馬鞍山
View of Ma On Shan across Tolo Harbour
Highest point
Elevation702 m (2,303 ft)
Hong Kong Principal Datum 
Coordinates22°24′32″N 114°15′6″E 
Geography
Ma On Shan
Location of Ma On Shan in Hong Kong
Location Hong Kong

Beneath the west face of the mountain along Tolo Harbour, the Ma On Shan new town extension, administratively part of Sha Tin, is named after the hill. It ends north in Wu Kai Sha.

A group of villages located east of the peak is named Shap Sze Heung and the harbour of Three Fathoms Cove.

Overlooking Sha Tin Racecourse, Ma On Shan and its saddle is unmistakable
Ma On Shan

Geography and geology

Ma On Shan can be distinguished by the west face which looks like a saddle, and "Ma On Shan" can be translated as "horse saddle mountain". Nine streams flow down from Ma On Shan, with the biggest located on the southwest slope of Ma On Shan, near Ma On Shan Village.

The mountain was formerly mined for its high-purity (60%) iron ore, with annual output in the 1950s and 1960s exceeding 100,000 tonnes.[1] An extensive network of tunnels is buried under the hill. The iron mine was abandoned when it became uncompetitive, in the 1970s.

Vegetation

The north slope of Ma On Shan is mostly tree-covered, while the south slope is mainly shrubs and grasses. On these hostile volcanic hills, only hardy and highly adaptable plants survive. There are some rare flora species, including Rhododendron simsii, which blooms with red flowers in late March, and two other species of native Rhododendron. Rare and protected species of plants also grow on Ma On Shan including the Chinese Lily (Lilium brownii) which is found on the mountain's eastern slope.

A few types of wild orchid grow in the streams of Ma On Shan, including Hong Kong's most common orchid, the Bamboo Orchid, so called because its distinctive stem resembles bamboo.

Wildlife
Bamboo Orchid flower

The natural environment of Ma On Shan is relatively undisturbed, so this valuable sanctuary gives shelter to many wildlife species. Common mammals are Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), Chinese porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and common muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac).

Summitting for sport

Ma On Shan is one of the peaks used in the annual '4 Peaks' running and sailing race in Hong Kong. It is a much prized feat among Hong Kong trail runners to test themselves on running to the top. The current Strava course record of 19 minutes and 8 seconds is held by local runner Matt Moroz and was set on 28 February 2014. However a local outdoor adventure club have a biannual event which also hikes Ma On Shan as a competition. The winning time is consistently under 18 minutes with the record of 17.46 set in 1991 by a then 49-year-old scout leader Wong Yip.

See also

References
  1. Take a glimpse of Hong Kong’s mining past, EJ Insight, 26 Sept 2015
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