At least from 1646 to 1659, Southern Ming loyalist Li Wanrong (李萬榮), leading a cohort numbering in thousands, controlled Kowloon and much of today's New Territories, collecting taxes and fortifying villages,[2][3] including erecting a fortress in the lower part of the Shing Mun River valley.

[citation needed] After 1669, when the Great Clearance imposed by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty was rescinded, many Hakkas settled in this area, growing rice, tea and pineapples.

By the conclusion of Phase Three of the scheme in 1937, the dam had been extended to 85 metres in height and 13.6 billion litres capacity.

[4][5] The local inhabitants were resettled in other parts of the New Territories, including Shing Mun San Tsuen, Wo Hop Shek, Pan Chung and Kam Tsin Wai.

The remains of Gin Drinkers Line on the nearby hills show the defences of British forces against the Japanese invasion during World War II.

[12] To preserve the natural environment of the reservoir, the surrounding area is managed under Shing Mun Country Park.