Tai Tam or Tytam is an area in Southern District

Southern District, Hong Kong

The Southern District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the southern part of Hong Kong Island. It had a population of 290,240 in 2001. This district has the fourth lowest population of Hong Kong.-Geography:...

 on Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...

, Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

. Tai Tam means a big pool in the Chinese language

Chinese language

The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...

 which illustrates a triangular bay, namely Tai Tam Bay between Stanley Peninsula

Stanley Peninsula

Stanley Peninsula , formerly known as Tai Tam Peninsula , is a peninsula on the southern Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Located between Tai Tam Harbour and Stanley Bay, it joins north to Hong Kong Island at the town of Stanley and ends south at Wong Ma Kok.-See also:* Wong Ma Kok Road - The main...

, D'Aguilar Peak and Tai Tam Tuk (大潭篤, lit. innermost of Tai Tam, also known as Tytam Took). The meaning of Tai Tam varies greatly between the early colonial days and present-day.

Current usage

The present-day Tai Tam is the area around Tai Tam Tuk, the location of Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir. It is covered by the Tai Tam Reservoirs

Tai Tam Reservoirs

The Tai Tam Reservoirs , also known as Tai Tam Reservoir Group, is a group of reservoirs located in the Tai Tam Country Park in the eastern part of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong.The reservoirs consist of:* Tai Tam Upper Reservoir ,...

, the Tai Tam Country Park

Tai Tam Country Park

Tai Tam Country Park is a country park in the Tai Tam area in the south end of Hong Kong Island. The park was also expanded with the addition of the Tai Tam Country Park...

 and Tai Tam Country Park (Quarry Bay extension)

Tai Tam Country Park (Quarry Bay extension)

Tai Tam Country Park is the eastern part of the park system in Hong Kong Island called Tai Tam Country Park. This 270 hectare section of the park is located near Quarry Bay opened in 1979.Sites include:...

. Along Tai Tam Road

Tai Tam Road

Tai Tam Road in Hong Kong, links between Chai Wan and Stanley, on Hong Kong Island. The famous Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir's dam is a part of the road, which is a narrow road section.-Bus routes:* 9 - Shau Kei Wan to Shek O...

 are some luxurious apartment towers and houses.

The innermost of Tai Tam Bay is Tai Tam Harbour

Tai Tam Harbour

Tai Tam Harbour is a harbour in the innermost part of Tai Tam Bay in Hong Kong. It is located at the estuary of Tai Tam Tuk. The resited village of Tai Tam Tuk is located at the estuary by the harbour, after construction of Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir. The harbour was once a gathering water of Tanka...

, close to Tai Tam Tuk. The Red Hill Peninsula just south of Tai Tam Road is an area of low-rise luxurious apartments and houses.

Tai Tam Scout Centre is a Scout campsite of The Scout Association of Hong Kong

The Scout Association of Hong Kong

The Scout Association of Hong Kong is the overall Scouting organization in Hong Kong. After the first Scouting initiatives in 1909, the Hong Kong branch of The Scout Association of the United Kingdom was started in 1914 by registering the St. Joseph's College Scout Group, and was formally...

 on the shore of Tai Tam Harbour. From the campsite to the foot of the dam of Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir is the Tai Tam Village. The shore outside the village is mudland with some mangrove

Mangrove

Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...

 plants.

The high school and middle school campuses of the Hong Kong International School

Hong Kong International School

Hong Kong International School is a prestigious international private school in Tai Tam and Repulse Bay, Hong Kong. Founded in 1966 by a group of Christian businessmen, HKIS spans from reception one to the twelfth grade. Its Lower and Upper Primary Divisions are located in Repulse Bay, and the...

 are also in Tai Tam.

Historical usage

In 1845, Tai Tam was a small habitat east of the market of Stanley

Stanley, Hong Kong

Stanley is a town and a tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It located on a peninsula on the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It is east of Repulse Bay and west of Shek O, adjacent to Chung Hom Kok...

, facing Tai Tam Bay. (It still uses the postal address of Tai Tam Village, Stanley). Later, the Stanley Peninsula was also known as Tai Tam Peninsula. The southeast cape of the peninsula is Tai Tam Head. Tai Tam Tuk, the site of Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir, was a valley

Valley

In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...

 habitat with extensive cultivation. The village of Tai Tam Tuk was moved to Tai Tam Harbour due to the construction of the reservoir. The Tai Tam area was the scene of heavy fighting between Commonwealth and Japanese forces in December, 1941.

Places in Tai Tam

• American Club Hong Kong has its main, larger location in Tai Tam
• Hong Kong International School
  Hong Kong International School
  Hong Kong International School is a prestigious international private school in Tai Tam and Repulse Bay, Hong Kong. Founded in 1966 by a group of Christian businessmen, HKIS spans from reception one to the twelfth grade. Its Lower and Upper Primary Divisions are located in Repulse Bay, and the...
  
  
• Hong Kong Parkview
  Hong Kong Parkview
  Hong Kong Parkview is the largest private housing estate in Tai Tam, Hong Kong. It is located at Mount Nicholson, Wong Nai Chung Gap, with the east of Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park. Its three sides are surrounded by Tai Tam Country Park...
  
  
• Red Hill Plaza
• Tai Tam Scout Centre
• Pacific View
• Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail
  Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail
  The Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail is a heritage trail in Hong Kong that comprises 21 waterworks structures with historical value near the Tai Tam group of reservoirs. The Trail is about 5 km long and takes about 2 hours to complete...