導賞點 4
尋找茅坪古道
Where is the Mau Ping Ancient Trail?
茅坪古道 Mau Ping Ancient Trail
「茅坪古道」是連接住梅子林及北港的道路,是當時村民往來馬鞍山和西貢的主要路徑。這條古徑至少有百年歷史。
“Mau Ping Ancient Trail ” is a trail connecting Mui Tsz Lam and Pak Kong, which was the main route for villagers to and from Ma On Shan and Sai Kung. This ancient trail is at least a hundred years old.
根據香港歷史文化研究會副會長葉德平博士在2018年撰寫的網上文章提及,在清末,由瀝源石古壟村許永慶先生所編撰的《圍名歌》中,其中有五句就是詠贊馬鞍山附近的五村:
According to an online article written in 2018 by Dr. Yip Tak Ping, vice President of the Hong Kong society of historical and cultural studies, in the late Qing dynasty, Xu Yung Ching from Lek Yuen Shek Kwu Lung village compiled a poem named “Wai Ming Ge “, which included five lines praising the five villages near Ma On Shan:
梅子林間再一行,遊遊不覺到茅坪,迴環聳翠多奇景,黃竹山高不必驚。石壟仔是定行蹤,直上昂坪捉地龍,回首馬鞍山頂望,居然人在廣寒宮。
When you walk along another side of Mui Tsz Lam, you can not feel that you are in the Mau Ping. There are many unique scenery of the trail. Please do not be sacred about the height of Wong Chuk Shan. Shek Lung Tsai is a good place to know your trace where you can go straight to Ngong Ping to catch the dragon. Looking back to the to top of Ma On Shan, unexpected people in the palace.
《圍名歌》中點出了5條村,包括梅子林、茅坪、黃竹山、石壟仔及昂坪,可見這裡一帶昔日非常多鄉村,十分熱鬧。這裡就是茅坪古道(現稱梅子林北港古徑),此古道是以不規則的石頭堆成的石路,石塊未經處理,都是村民就地取材而建成的,可以說是古老的「手作步道」。
Five villages, including Mui Tsz Lam, Mau Ping, Wong Chuk Shan, Shek Lung Tsai and Ngong Ping, are identified in the poem, which can be seen that there used to be many lively villages around here. This is Mau Ping Ancient Trail (now known as Mui Tsz Lam Pak Kong Ancient Trail). This ancient trail is made of irregular stones piled up with untreated stones, which are built by villagers with local materials. It can be said that it is an ancient “handcrafted trail”.
沿途可以見到已經被廢置多年的茅坪村屋,可以想像一下這裡昔日村民在古道上來來往往,在屋內生火炊米的景象。
Along the way, you can see Mau Ping village houses, which have been abandoned for many years. You can imagine what it used to be like for villagers to come and go on the ancient trail and cook inside.