It would be no exaggeration to say that Tai Tong Sweet Gum Woods is where the craze for Sweet Gum trees started. In winter, the leaves of Sweet Gum trees turn red and can be seen in the nearby Tai Tong Nature Trail, which is not lined with Sweet Gum trees though. The trail also overlooks Yuen Long Plain, the largest local alluvial plain, and Tin Shui Wai New Town in the north. Across the streams, there are rows of caged stone retaining walls. Constructed with stones enclosed by iron grids, these walls are particularly used in trails in the countryside as they can prevent rain wash and loss of soil, and the crevices are great rooting places for vegetation. The footpath can connect to Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail, which was once a major route for villagers of Shap Pat Heung to transport farm produce to Tsuen Wan Market. The verdant forests we see today were once a borrow area and an infertile land. It was only after years of afforestation work that the area is revitalised. Visitors planning to go on a hike there should note that the trail is undulating and therefore requires a certain level of physical fitness.