While most see Hong Kong as a bustling urbs primus saturated with its glass and steel skyscrapers, there’s another, equally vertiginous sporty facet to this island city. We bring you some of HK’s most scenic and adrenaline pumping hikes to recharge yourselves with.
By Raul Dias
Dragon’s Back
Without a doubt, the meandering path up Dragon’s Back is HK’s most widely followed path
by both hiking enthusiasts and general thrill seekers alike, making it the city’s number one
hike at a comfortable 8.5km. Also known by the drabber sounding ‘Hong Kong Trail Section
8’, this southside island hike is not very challenging and perfect for families and those with
moderate levels of fitness. At around 284 metres high, the sightseeing platform on Shek O
Peak is the perfect place to take a nice mid-hike break while enjoying the panorama of Shek
O and Tung Lung Island below. Once at the top at Tai Long Wan, you will be rewarded with
sights of golden sanded beaches and picturesque little fishing villages dotted along the South
China Sea coast.
Getting there: Metro to Shau Kei Wan MTR, then take bus number 9 to To Tei Wan on Shek
O Road which is close to the start of the hiking trail.
Morning Trail
Another easy, relaxed hike, this approximately 3-hour, 2.8km trail reaches an altitude of only
400 meters, starting at one the city’s most enduring icons—The Peak. Turning off Harlech
Road, stunning vistas can be found along the paths surrounding the Peak, where you will
encounter lush bamboo forests and extensive birdlife and insects. A few meters in and the
trail curves downwards along the Hatton Road fitness trail, where a short diversion on the left
of the trail half deposits you at the abandoned Pinewood Battery. Constructed in 1903 during
British colonial rule, with two six-inch guns installed for the defence of the harbour, the
battery makes for a great snack stop. Here’s a little insider tip we found useful: Never mind
the ‘morning’ in the trail’s name, if possible, time your hike towards sunset time and see all
of HK and Kowloon below bathed in the ethereal golden glow!
Getting there: Tram, taxi, bus number 15 or minibus number 1 to the Peak Galleria and then
follow Harlech Road to start the hike.
Lantau Peak Hike
Characterised by its low mountains and serene environment, Lantau Island is the perfect
getaway from the frantic city life. No great surprise then that the hiking paths on this island
are among HK’s best. As the second highest peak in HK at 934 meters, the 4km hike to the
top of Lantau Peak is adrenaline packed thanks to the beautiful scenery, though the climb to
the summit can get a tad rugged. Designed in such a way that you can end the hike at various
points, one of the best options is to end your hike after about three hours of ascent at the
stunning Big Buddha statue where you can refresh yourselves with a snack and a drink while pottering around the Ngong Ping park with its monastery. For those who wish to continue,
you can hike down to Tung Chung along the tree-covered Tei Tong Tsai Country Trail, as
you take in the beauty of the monasteries you will pass by. Alternatively, seasoned hikers
may want to continue down towards the Shek Pik Reservoir.
Getting there: Metro to Tung Chung MTR Station. Cable car at Tung Chung Ngong Ping
Cable Car terminal to the Ngong Ping terminal. From there follow the signs to the start of the
Lantau Trail.
Violet Hill and The Twins
While it may not be a very long hike at just around 4.8km, this hike also known as Wilson
Trail Section 1 isn’t for the faint hearted. Try working your way uphill at the steep Violet Hill
for a good half hour and then descend around 1,000 or so stairs to start the Twins section of
the hike. For an added twist, many hikers try incorporating the easier Tze Lo Lan Country
Trail after completing the main Violet Hill-Twins trail. This can be done by hiking a little
way back up Violet Hill then turning left where the sign says Wong Nai Chung Reservoir.
But for those preferring to stick to the original trail, you will finish the hike at the beautiful
Repulse Bay where you can reward yourself with a nice relaxing meal at one of the many
restaurants that dot the beach.
Getting there: Taxi or hire a car to Parkview, then walk back uphill to the marked entrance of
Wilson Trail section 1 at Violet Hill.
MacLehose Trail
We’ve truly saved the best and the most challenging hike for the last. Yes, the MacLehose
Trail makes the strenuous Violet Hill-Twins seems like a walk in the park in comparison!
Truly the mother of all HK hikes, this one in the city’s New Territories area clocks in a
mammoth 100km, winding through beautiful countryside. While no one actually does all of
this hike in one go, the hike is divided up into 10 sections of varying degrees of difficulty,
with hike times ranging from 1.5 hours to five hours each. If we had to pick, we’d go for the
Sai Kung section that boasts an impressive collection of natural formations along the way,
including sea caves, sea stacks and the Giant’s Causeway-esque hexagonal columns that add
a sense of mystery to the hike.
Getting there: Bus number 94 to the Pak Tam Chung Terminus. The hike starts at the junction
of Pak Tam Road and Man Yee Road.
Naturally Speaking
It’s not just scenic hiking trails that bestow HK with some serious street cred as a nature
lover’s paradise. Here are a few more places to take in all that serenity:
Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park-Not just a protected area that contains 60 types of hard
coral and 120 species of marine life, this park—that means ‘Bay Beneath the Sea’—inthe city’s New Territories area, is also the place for those interested in snorkelling and
coral diving.
Tai Po Kau Special Area-Listed by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society as one of
the best places to see rare birds and insects, this protected ecosystem near Chung Tsai
Yuen is also a treasure trove of indigenous flowers and fruits.
High Island-Part of the Hong Kong Geopark, this island alone has some of HK’s most
spectacular rock formations that take the form of angular patterns. Don’t miss
checking out the hill at Po Pin Chau that’s split into two sections by natural forces.
Hong Kong Wetland Park-with over 60 hectares of swampland, this park in Tin Shui
Wai is teeming with everything from birds and butterflies, to amphibians and reptiles
like Pui Pui the resident salt water crocodile.
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the May 2018 issue of Jetwings Domestic in-flight magazine of Jet Airways http://www.jetairways.com/EN/IN/jetexperience/magazines.aspx)
By Raul Dias
Dragon’s Back
Without a doubt, the meandering path up Dragon’s Back is HK’s most widely followed path
by both hiking enthusiasts and general thrill seekers alike, making it the city’s number one
hike at a comfortable 8.5km. Also known by the drabber sounding ‘Hong Kong Trail Section
8’, this southside island hike is not very challenging and perfect for families and those with
moderate levels of fitness. At around 284 metres high, the sightseeing platform on Shek O
Peak is the perfect place to take a nice mid-hike break while enjoying the panorama of Shek
O and Tung Lung Island below. Once at the top at Tai Long Wan, you will be rewarded with
sights of golden sanded beaches and picturesque little fishing villages dotted along the South
China Sea coast.
Getting there: Metro to Shau Kei Wan MTR, then take bus number 9 to To Tei Wan on Shek
O Road which is close to the start of the hiking trail.
Morning Trail
Another easy, relaxed hike, this approximately 3-hour, 2.8km trail reaches an altitude of only
400 meters, starting at one the city’s most enduring icons—The Peak. Turning off Harlech
Road, stunning vistas can be found along the paths surrounding the Peak, where you will
encounter lush bamboo forests and extensive birdlife and insects. A few meters in and the
trail curves downwards along the Hatton Road fitness trail, where a short diversion on the left
of the trail half deposits you at the abandoned Pinewood Battery. Constructed in 1903 during
British colonial rule, with two six-inch guns installed for the defence of the harbour, the
battery makes for a great snack stop. Here’s a little insider tip we found useful: Never mind
the ‘morning’ in the trail’s name, if possible, time your hike towards sunset time and see all
of HK and Kowloon below bathed in the ethereal golden glow!
Getting there: Tram, taxi, bus number 15 or minibus number 1 to the Peak Galleria and then
follow Harlech Road to start the hike.
Lantau Peak Hike
Characterised by its low mountains and serene environment, Lantau Island is the perfect
getaway from the frantic city life. No great surprise then that the hiking paths on this island
are among HK’s best. As the second highest peak in HK at 934 meters, the 4km hike to the
top of Lantau Peak is adrenaline packed thanks to the beautiful scenery, though the climb to
the summit can get a tad rugged. Designed in such a way that you can end the hike at various
points, one of the best options is to end your hike after about three hours of ascent at the
stunning Big Buddha statue where you can refresh yourselves with a snack and a drink while pottering around the Ngong Ping park with its monastery. For those who wish to continue,
you can hike down to Tung Chung along the tree-covered Tei Tong Tsai Country Trail, as
you take in the beauty of the monasteries you will pass by. Alternatively, seasoned hikers
may want to continue down towards the Shek Pik Reservoir.
Getting there: Metro to Tung Chung MTR Station. Cable car at Tung Chung Ngong Ping
Cable Car terminal to the Ngong Ping terminal. From there follow the signs to the start of the
Lantau Trail.
Violet Hill and The Twins
While it may not be a very long hike at just around 4.8km, this hike also known as Wilson
Trail Section 1 isn’t for the faint hearted. Try working your way uphill at the steep Violet Hill
for a good half hour and then descend around 1,000 or so stairs to start the Twins section of
the hike. For an added twist, many hikers try incorporating the easier Tze Lo Lan Country
Trail after completing the main Violet Hill-Twins trail. This can be done by hiking a little
way back up Violet Hill then turning left where the sign says Wong Nai Chung Reservoir.
But for those preferring to stick to the original trail, you will finish the hike at the beautiful
Repulse Bay where you can reward yourself with a nice relaxing meal at one of the many
restaurants that dot the beach.
Getting there: Taxi or hire a car to Parkview, then walk back uphill to the marked entrance of
Wilson Trail section 1 at Violet Hill.
MacLehose Trail
We’ve truly saved the best and the most challenging hike for the last. Yes, the MacLehose
Trail makes the strenuous Violet Hill-Twins seems like a walk in the park in comparison!
Truly the mother of all HK hikes, this one in the city’s New Territories area clocks in a
mammoth 100km, winding through beautiful countryside. While no one actually does all of
this hike in one go, the hike is divided up into 10 sections of varying degrees of difficulty,
with hike times ranging from 1.5 hours to five hours each. If we had to pick, we’d go for the
Sai Kung section that boasts an impressive collection of natural formations along the way,
including sea caves, sea stacks and the Giant’s Causeway-esque hexagonal columns that add
a sense of mystery to the hike.
Getting there: Bus number 94 to the Pak Tam Chung Terminus. The hike starts at the junction
of Pak Tam Road and Man Yee Road.
Naturally Speaking
It’s not just scenic hiking trails that bestow HK with some serious street cred as a nature
lover’s paradise. Here are a few more places to take in all that serenity:
Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park-Not just a protected area that contains 60 types of hard
coral and 120 species of marine life, this park—that means ‘Bay Beneath the Sea’—inthe city’s New Territories area, is also the place for those interested in snorkelling and
coral diving.
Tai Po Kau Special Area-Listed by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society as one of
the best places to see rare birds and insects, this protected ecosystem near Chung Tsai
Yuen is also a treasure trove of indigenous flowers and fruits.
High Island-Part of the Hong Kong Geopark, this island alone has some of HK’s most
spectacular rock formations that take the form of angular patterns. Don’t miss
checking out the hill at Po Pin Chau that’s split into two sections by natural forces.
Hong Kong Wetland Park-with over 60 hectares of swampland, this park in Tin Shui
Wai is teeming with everything from birds and butterflies, to amphibians and reptiles
like Pui Pui the resident salt water crocodile.
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the May 2018 issue of Jetwings Domestic in-flight magazine of Jet Airways http://www.jetairways.com/EN/IN/jetexperience/magazines.aspx)
No comments:
Post a Comment