The hiking trail near Wong Chuk Yeung in the Ma On Shan Country Park is part of the popular MacLehose Trail Section 4, which is heavily used throughout the year. Coupled with the gradient of the trail, soil erosion has occurred as a result of water runoff and human trampling. Worse still, tourists frequently take shortcuts at the zigzag bend, resulting in vegetation loss along the trail. This exacerbates soil erosion, hollowing out the soil and exposing tree roots, which increases the risk of small trees along the trail collapsing.

Photo: The triangle of bare path between the tree trunks is a shortcut made by tourists, while the leafy path on the right is the original path.

Photo: The washout problem is evident along the route, with a long gully visible above the shortcut.

In late 2019, volunteers were led by AFCD and trainers from the Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association to move the raw timber from the trailhead to the repair site.

The steps were made of timber to mend the gullies in the path.

A number of water bars were built to divert runoff from the trail to the adjacent vegetation, thereby minimising water erosion of the trail.

On the other hand, volunteers collected fallen wood and branches from the surrounding area, cut them to suitable length and placed them on a shortcut, securing them with stakes.

Barriers at the corner direct visitors back onto the main path and prevent further soil erosion on the shortcut.