As a mountainous place, Hong Kong has many picturesque hikes. On weekends, country park trails are crammed with city dwellers hoping to escape the concrete jungle. During the pandemic, more novice hikers started going to the country parks.
For Matthew Au and Herman Mok, hiking is not just a hobby – it is also a way to make deeper connections with the place they call home.
The two friends started a walking group, Hkhiker, to venture into the city's hidden corners.
"Hong Kong mountains are riveting," says Matthew. "While hiking, you meet different people and uncover something new in nature. It gives you a different angle to see the place that is our home."
For Herman, what intrigues him most is the joy of discovering history preserved in the mountains.
"I was not an athletic student and never thought I would like outdoor activity, but I was fascinated by the hidden history in the countryside on my first hike, as well as the scenic views."
Writing nine books
"Known as a 'mountain city', Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world where the boundary between urban and rural areas is close," says Herman.
"In the mountains, there are some once-lively villages that have been abandoned," says Matthew. "Meanwhile, the places we live in urban areas could have been part of the forest many years ago."
"There is a lot of knowledge available in Hong Kong's hills, in terms of history and ecology. It's more than just a spot for photos."
The pair started Hkhiker to share what they learn from their hikes with others. Their Instagram has 12,000 followers, and they have written nine hiking books. The group goes on hikes every Sunday.
"We will rent a boat to outlying islands to visit villages, temples or tombs. If the destination is not far, we will just swim there," says Herman.
Into the wilderness
Photo: SCMP
Before going off the trails, Herman and Matthew do hours of research to plan routes and understand each place's history. Most of their knowledge comes from books and senior hikers.
"Some places are not recorded on the map, so we must rely on experienced hikers' memories or records from ancient books, and visit the spot to see for ourselves," they say.
Hkhiker hopes to inspire others to venture into Hong Kong's wilderness.
The group made an expedition to Ngong Ping. It is renowned for the Po Lin Monastery and Big Buddha. But few people know that beneath the mountains are the ruins of many temples.
To research these places, Herman and Matthew read Lantau Chronicle, written in 1958 by a monk. After roaming Ngong Ping for five hours, the group located all of the old stone temples.
"You could feel that the buildings had not been visited by people for a long time. During our search, we even found a hidden chamber that was not in the book," they say.
"Of course, it's satisfying to get to the top of a mountain, but it's more exciting to get to know something new about the place."
Fun facts
About four-tenths of Hong Kong's land is country parks. There are four long-distance trails that you can follow: the Hong Kong Trail, the Lantau Trail, the Maclehose Trail and the Wilson Trail.
Quick questions
- Which island have Herman and Matthew explored recently?
- If places are not on the map, how do they find out about them?
- Which word in the story means "sporty"?
