Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
Fresh air, lush greenery and diverse wildlife are just a few of the wonders in Hong Kong’s country parks. But if you’ve never been hiking, you might be scared to try it.
We spoke to Cathy Hilborn Feng, the health and wellness editor at South China Morning Post, to find a few simple hikes. Throughout her decades in Hong Kong, she has hiked more than 250 peaks in the city. Here are her recommendations.
Lamma Island Family Walk Trail
Easy and beautiful, this hike is the perfect introduction to Lamma Island. Located between the island’s two central piers of Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan, the 5km track takes an hour and a half. Take the ferry from Central to Yung Shue Wan Village on Lamma Island to get there. The trail finishes at Sok Kwu Wan, where you can take a ferry back to Central Pier 4.
“You’d be amazed how many people live in Hong Kong and never get to the islands,” Hilborn Feng noted.
As you gain experience on the easy trail, you can discover the deeper areas of the island. For example, Mount Stenhouse, the island’s tallest peak, has a pathway to Sham Wan Beach, where you can find green turtles.
Dragon’s Back
As one of the city’s most famous urban hikes, the friendly trail includes astonishing views of beaches.
Hilborn Feng said: “Even people who come to Hong Kong as tourists want to go to Dragon’s Back because it sounds cool and the views are incredible.”
To get there, take MTR exit A2 at Shau Kei Wan, walk to the Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus and take bus 9 to To Tei Wan. Get off at the Dragon’s Back stop on Shek O Road.
After 8km and four hours, you’ll finish at Big Wave Bay Beach, where a bus can take you back to the city. From showers to a barbecue and food kiosk, it has everything you need to finish and celebrate the hike.
Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve
This reserve of nine easy trails in Tai Po offers several refreshing streams and a great place to see forest birds and other wildlife.
“I have seen, mostly at night, porcupines. You can hear them rattle, and there are lots of boars and all kinds of snakes,” Hilborn Feng shared.
The trails are labelled with different colours. The yellow and brown trails bring you to a higher altitude and cover 10km. The blue and red trails are shorter options, keeping you closer to the forest and streams.
Take bus 72 to Tai Po Mei from Tai Po Market MTR station and begin exploring!
Quiz time
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Before you read: Answers may vary.
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Stop and think: There are beautiful streams and lots of wildlife to see. That includes porcupines, boars, and snakes, which all tend to come out at night.
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Consider: More experienced hikers can visit Mount Stenhouse, which is the tallest point on Lamma Island. You can also visit a beach known for having turtles.
