| 7 mins read
By Rachel Barac
The bustling, international city of Hong Kong attracts a large number of visitors each year, mostly for it’s enviable shopping, incredible food scene and action packed nightlife. But did you know that beyond the skyscrapers Hong Kong is also home to amazing, natural beauty - that could easily be experienced from one of many hiking trails. While this can come somewhat as a surprise, as hiking is not something that first springs to mind when thinking about a trip to Hong Kong, there are incredible hikes not far from the city that are easily accessible by public transport. So get your hiking boots on, and be rewarded with panoramic views, beautiful beaches, wildlife and traditional villages offering charm and tasty meals.
Dragon’s Back Ridge
The beautiful Dragon’s Back Ridge is one of the easier hikes and a good starting point for inexperienced hikers. It can be completed in half a day. Take bus 9 from Shau Kei Wan station to To Tei Wan bus stop where the hike begins. From here the path will wind through lush woodland before opening up to impressive ocean views. The scenery becomes even more striking along the ridge of the mountain, the dragon’s back, and at Shek O Peak. Standing at 284 metres, this is an ideal spot to stop and catch your breath while taking in the views of the surrounding islands. On a clear day people can be seen flying kites and taking to the skies while paragliding.
A great way to finish this hike is to head down towards Big Wave Bay and have lunch at one of the many restaurants in the village below. Then head over to the beach and take a refreshing dip – there is nothing better after a long hike! Big Wave Bay is also the site of an ancient rock carving that was discovered by a police officer in 1970. A short, sign posted path, will lead to the ancient carving. A bus can be taken from Big Wave Bay back to Hong Kong city in time for the beckoning nightlife!
MacLehose Trail
For something a lot more challenging try the MacLehose Trail. It is named after the longest serving governor of Hong Kong, Sir Murray MacLehose, who is said to have enjoyed hiking himself. For experienced hikers the trail continues for 100km. For the less experienced and those with less time, the trail has been broken into ten different sections of varying lengths so that the full trail does not need to be completed in one go. The trail runs through the New Territories providing some of Hong Kong’s most varied countryside. It starts at Pak Tam Chung in the east and finishes at Tsuen Mun in the west. Along the way it crosses many of Hong Kong’s highest peaks, volcanic lakes, forest and beautiful private beaches. Different sections of the trail will be harder than others, with section 4 often being reported as the most difficult. However the trail is very well maintained making it easy to navigate.
An alternative way to tackle this trail is to register for the Oxfam 100km walk. It is held each year with teams of four aiming to complete the trail in 48 hours!
The Wilson Trail
Named after David Wilson who was governor of Hong Kong in 1987, the Wilson Trail runs from Stanley Gap road, near the pretty seaside town of Stanley, to Nam Chung in the north.
The Wilson Trail is 78km long and like the MacLehose Trail, is divided into 10 separate sections. Be prepared for a challenging start with stairs heading straight into the hillside of the double hill known as “The Twins”. There is intermittent relief with down hills following some of the up hills and beautiful scenery peeking through the greenery along the way.
Most of Wilson’s trail runs through eight of the Country Parks, each having their own unique characteristics. The views from Jardine’s lookout in section 2 provide a startling contrast showing the skylines of Kowloon and Hong Kong on one side and the beautiful Tai Tam Valley and Tai Tam Bay on the other.
The dramatic cliffs at Devil’s Peak can be seen as hikers move along section 3. As the trail progresses it moves between open mountain peaks and valleys to narrower pathways of thick trees, gurgling streams and moist air, with occasional breaks in the trees revealing impressive panoramas. If you’re lucky you might spot rhesus macaques along the way. However don’t show food to the monkeys, they can be far from shy and might even display signs of aggression where food is concerned. There are supermarkets and bathroom facilities usually at the end of each section; however it would be wise to take a map so that it is clear where these amenities are located.
Lantau Peak
The best views of Lantau Island and surrounding areas are viewed from the top of Lantau Peak, which are actually two peaks called Fung Shun (male phoenix mountain) and Wong Shan (female phoenix mountain). At 934 metres this is the second highest peak in Hong Kong, and not a hike for the faint of heart! The Lantau Peak trail is part of the larger Lantau Trail. A popular starting point is at Pak Kung Au. If catching the bus to Pak Kung Au let the bus driver know where you want to get off as there is no official bus stop there and you might miss it. When you get off the bus you will see three Chinese characters engraved in a large rock. This will mark the beginning of the trail. The ascent to Lantau Peak takes approximately 2 hours and is steep, but the view is worth it.
On a clear day views across Lantau Island, neighbouring islands, Hong Kong city and the Tian Tan Buddha can be seen. On the descent, enjoy some culture and head back down towards Wisdom Path. It will be recognizable with its tall wooden planks arranged in a pattern to represent infinity and inscribed with prayers from Confucians, Buddhists and Taoists. Keep walking a short while further until you reach the bronze, 34 metre sitting Buddha in Ngong Ping. An alternative route is to begin the journey at Ngong Ping and head back towards Pak Kung Au. However the ascent is somewhat more difficult from Ngong Ping. For those wanting to catch a stunning sunrise from the peak, staying overnight on Lantau Island is the best option so that hikers can get an early morning start.
Before heading off, remember to pack sunscreen, a good supply of bug spray, water and swimmers. Also, hiking in Hong Kong can be organized through a number of experienced tour guides who can cater the hike to suit individual fitness levels and sightseeing requirements. An added benefit of going with a Hong Kong tour guide is being initiated into the history and culture of an area that might otherwise be missed in its urban jungle. It is hard to believe that such natural beauty and tranquility is so close to the city of Hong Kong…just hiking a few miles in the right direction will make you feel a million miles away!
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