Bride’s Pool disastrous bad fortune that spawned its horrific mythology
Tragic ghost haunts Bride’s Pool
Bride’s Pool
Exploration for the brave and foolish
Filled with thrilling lore and lush flora, the trail leading to the Bride’s Pool is a must-visit. But not at night.
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Nestled deep in the New Territories’ Plover Cove Country Park lies a stunning waterfall that rushes into a calm pool below.
The rocky stream, calm during our visit, would have been a torrent for the poor bride
All brides have worries on their wedding day. Death shouldn’t be one of them. Nestled deep in the New Territories’ Plover Cove Country Park lies a stunning waterfall that rushes into a calm pool below.
Wedding day death
The tranquility of the pool’s atmosphere masks the heartbreaking legend that gave the area its name, “Bride’s Pool”.
Pin cherries often found by riverbanks
No matter the culture, weddings are rife with superstitions. In ancient Chinese wedding traditions, it was believed that the louder the bride cried, the better.
Life teems throughout the trail as spindly trees settle their roots along rock faces
For the blushing young lady of “Bride’s Pool” fame, how was she to know that her wedding-day tears would forever flow with the river’s waters? Perhaps all the better that her vision was blurred.
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On the day of her nuptials, local legend tells of stormy weather that would have greatly reduced visibility. For the bride, raised high on a sedan chair, the rain would have pattered relentlessly against the ceiling and walls.
Bride’s Pool aerial view of the water fall
Earlier that day, as per custom, the sedan’s four porters had collected the bride from her family’s home.
Now they were taking her to her husband’s family home, where the wedding ceremony was to be held. There was just a matter of cutting through the dense forest that separated the two houses and crossing over a towering waterfall.
Young life lost at Bride’s Pool
Whether due to the poor conditions, lack of visibility, or horrible luck, one of the porters lost his footing – and the bride lost her life.
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In an instant, the porters’ secure hold on the sedan chair was undone, and the bride fell to her death.
Down down down…drowned in Bride’s Pool
Down, down, down her sedan fell, her cries lost among the stormy squalls as she washed down the fifteen-metre-tall waterfall before the sedan plunged into the pool below.
An ancient trail, the boulders intricately laid out to prevent cracking and allow rainwater to flow easily downhill
A two-metre-deep plunge pool lies at the base of the waterfall, and it was in these crystal-clear waters that the bride spent her last moments among the living.
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Weighed down by her heavy ceremonial clothing, her death was forever marked in the memories of locals and visitors alike. It is said that the bride’s ghost still haunts the pool.
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Visitors claim to see her delicate foot in the pool water, possibly trying to regain the balance that the porter had failed to.
Cremated remains names of deceased
Spirit tablets, small placards that typically have the names of deities or deceased ancestors, have been found abandoned under the shade of trees nearby Bride’s Pool.
With trees branching up and out into wide canopies, visitors can enjoy whole stretches of the trail in cool shade
Some terrified hikers have even found cremated remains in the pool itself. Our visit to the strange site was, gratefully, accident-free.
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When we reached the first stream that crossed the trail, a triptych of warning signs was impossible to miss. Text in Chinese and English was written in a cherry red.
Bride’s Pool from above
The middle sign held a foreboding image of a skull, the universal symbol of caution, death and despair. They warned that the area was prone to flooding.
As such, the government never constructed trails that take visitors directly to Bride’s Pool.
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Instead, intrepid spirits must climb up the stream bed in order to reach the falls. With steep, slippery climbs and rocks prone to sliding, this is an adventure that few choose to take.
Bride’s Pool water fall
Steep slippery rocky route
Unfortunately, the bride didn’t have a hand in organizing the route to the home of her betrothed.
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The afternoon sun beat down a fierce heat that kept us toasty warm despite it being the start of winter. The trail, comprised of concrete paths, manmade boulder trails, and gnarled tree roots, provided quite the workout.
New growth and old – some trees show their growth in shocking red
Like most of Hong Kong, the route ran much like a rollercoaster – with ups, downs and occasional plateaus that allowed us brief respites. We exchanged polite “hellos” with fellow hikers.
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Most appeared to be small family groups, making the most of their weekend and the stunning natural landscape. Several times, I had to stop to admire the scenery.
Ferns were aplenty along the Bride’s Pool trail, most thriving in low-lying areas
Large clusters of bamboo groves were a common sight. Slash Pine, Brisbane Box, Gray Holly and Camphor are just some of the tree species forming a wide, airy canopy that kept the sun’s rays from irritating our eyes.
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Australia’s Swamp Mahogany tree, an import from the mid-1980s, was mix-planted with the locally sourced China Fir to improve soil conditions.
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Judging by the lush greenery that comprises the country park, the government’s efforts back then were fruitful indeed.
Young life abrupt halt at Bride’s Pool
As we continued along the trail, it was striking how co-dependent the many parts of the park’s ecosystem are.
RIP hope amongst landscape
The dragonflies that hovered around us lay their eggs in the streams, which are also home to the tiny fish that swam wide circles around wading feet.
One of the miniature pools found along the Bride’s Pool river
The streams allowed necessary minerals to seep into the soil, which fed all of the foliage. One can only hope that the bride had a chance to enjoy the sights before the storm hit and her life came to an abrupt halt.
The further we went, the older and trickier the path became. Boulder trails became a more common sight.
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Serving as the main route from Wu Kau Tang village to Chung Mei, the wide and smooth boulders are specifically spaced approximately half an inch apart in all directions.
Instead of metal railing marking the edge of trails, smooth rock faces line the steep drop-offs
This accommodation allows for rainwater to pass and avoid pooling and helps prevent the boulders from cracking due to not having enough space to expand and contract throughout the year.
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The villagers, clever constructors as they were, did not account for the slippery streams.
Bride’s Pool stream
By 1906, after the bride met her tragic end, provisions had been made for the development of the Bride’s Pool Stone Bridge.
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Made up of three parts, two original stone sections remain standing while the third has since been replaced with concrete.
Bride’s Pool Stone Bridge
Donations for the building funds were made in Pounds Sterling and US dollars, demonstrating the international movement of Plover Cove villagers as well as their continued devotion to their old communities.
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It was no surprise how old residents still reserved a place in their hearts for Plover Cove. Away from the rush of city life, rolling mountains are seen in all directions. Colossal, moss-covered boulders act as cushioned lean-tos.
A large specimen of purple slate, marking the start to the Bride’s Pool Trail
Surrounded by so much nature, a sense of calm easily overcomes even the most stressed spirit. But even in such a haven, one must remember to exercise caution.
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Locals, wary of the death toll attached to it, have named the road directly above Bride’s Pool as the “deadly curve”. The sharp turn is a terrible blind spot that has led to many fatal car accidents over the years.
Between a Maiden Pool and a Bride’s Pool, we took the road of past misfortune
The modern woes don’t stop there. Almost as if the bride’s spirit acts out in her anguish and loneliness, there have been three recorded deaths associated with the waterfalls near Bride’s Pool.
In July 2011, a 27-year-old man climbed up the waterfall, slipped and hit his head on a rock.
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Five and a half years later, a 56-year-old retired male teacher died when he fell six metres from the waterfall, meeting his grisly fate in the pool below.
All male victims of Bride’s Pool
In 2020, a 59-year-old hiker fell forty metres to his death in Sin San Stream – close to Bride’s Pool. Eerily, all of the victims were men.
Instead of metal railing marking the edge of trails, smooth rock faces line the steep drop-offs
Were they called on by the spirit of the lonely bride? Probably not. To be on the safe side, visitors should avoid visiting Bride’s Pool at night.
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Locals claim that under the cover of night, evil spirits that call the waters home search for any souls to join them
Text Victoria Mae Martyn / Photos & Video Werner Schulz
