Discovery Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island

In Hong Kong Island’s bustling downtown districts, it can be difficult to see that you are in the middle of a very green and compact paradise. You truly are! Most of the island is dedicated country parkland, boasting mountain hiking trails with unforgettable ocean vistas and harbour views.

Keen hikers can plan to traverse the island’s grassy heights and wooded valleys on the Hong Kong Trail. This booklet recommends a few easier, shorter trails for first-time explorers. On all of them. The rich diversity of Hong Kong’s history and heritage can be spied.

There are coastal villages and towns that still illustrate how much of Hong Kong ‘s past belonged to fishing and families. Centuries-old temples and other relics also remind us that the island’s inhabitants worked, prayed and prospered long before British colonists took control in the middle of the 19th century.

Their island became a thriving imperial outpost, international Interpol and financial center. Reservoirs were created, roads sculpted, schools and mansions built. So was a great galaxy of country parks and public beaches that no other world-class city possesses. Take any of this section’s trails to see and sense the happy contrasts of Hong Kong – ancient and modern, Chinese and Western, traditional and futuristic.

Hong Kong – The Peak Circle Walk

Victoria Peak (The Peak) is Hong Kong’s most popular attraction. On a clear day, its views of Hong Kong, the harbour and the South China Sa are breathtaking! It also offers great shopping and dining with The Peak Galleria and The Peak Tower being must-visits.
Visitor say that half the fun of any trip is getting there, and that is certainly the case with the Peak Circle Walk. Hop aboard the modernized Peak Tram at the Lower Prak Tram Terminus on Garden Road (if possible sit on the right-hand side) and watch in amazement as the famous funicular railway glides up the 373 meters to the top. The grade is so steep that the buildings outside seem to lean at a 45-degree angle!

You’ll disembark at the Upper Peak Tram Terminus; around to the right of The Peak Tower is Lugard Road and the Peak Circle Walk. Walk along Lugard Road past trees and low-lying scrub for about 20 minutes, and you can enjoy some of the most beautiful picture-postcard views of any city anywhere in the world! Laid out beneath you are the world-famous Victoria Harbour and Kowloon. This is also a spectacular place to visit around dusk, as the city lights come on.

Continue along Lugard Road until you come to Harlech Road, where you have a choice of either following Harlech Road past a pretty waterfall, which is about 15 minutes from the end of your walk back to the Peak Terminus. Alternatively, from the junction of Harlech and Lugard roads, you can turn right and head down Hatton Road to the historic Pinewood Battery, part of Hong Kong’s defenses during WWII. This spot commands a panoramic view University of Hong Kong. You can take bus 13 at Kotewall Road back to Central.

How to get there: The Peak Tram is surely the way to travel here, providing a unique and exciting journey to the top. Take bus 15 from Exchange Square or walk from MTR Central Station Exit J2 to the Lower Peak Tram Terminus on Garden Road. For more thrills when returning to Central, take bus 15 preferably a seat upstairs at the front.

Hong Kong – Wong Nai Chung Gap Trail

Wong Nai Chung Gap Trail features green and heritage attractions. It was here on 19 December 1941 that one of the bloodiest days of fighting took place in the short but brutal struggle for Hong Kong during WWII. The trail connects some of the defensive positions, with explanations provided by information boards.

From the petrol station on Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, walk uphill along Tai Tam Reservoir Road For about 10 minutes until you reach a car park and nearby is Station 1 (Starting Point). Follow the trail to a small hilltop where you’ll find the ruins of an anti-aircraft gun position that shot down a Japanese aircraft.

The trail run along a narrow catch-water offering views across northeast Hong Kong Island and southwest through the gap to Aberdeen and Ocean Park, one of Hong Kong’s top attraction for families. Here, you can learn about the strategic importance of Wong Nai Chung Gap. At a junction, there’s a pillbox close by the trail and information boards telling all about the fierce fighting.

Follow the catch-water until you come to more information boards telling of battles fought and lives lost. As the trail drops down the hillside, you might just see a cricket match going on below. Leaving the wooded hillside, the trail drops again to the highway. Go down to the pedestrian crossing across from the petrol station, and you will find the remains of three bunkers that were the headquarters of a Canadian brigade. The nearby final station tells of over 1,000 men being killed at Wong Nai Chung Gap on 19 December 1941. Hong Kong fell seven days later.

How to get there: Take bus 6 or 66 from Exchange Square, Central up to Wong Nai Chung Gap – the stop is just after the cricket club at the petrol station. To reach the starting point, walk up a flight of steps then up the Tai Tam Reservoir Road for about 10 minutes, and look for the first trail information board, by a small car park on the left. Or, MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit A, then take a taxi to HK Parkview.

Hong Kong – Dragon’s Back

Once voted Asia’s favorite hike by Time magazine, the Dragon’s back is the aptly-named spine of a headland on the east coast of Hong Kong Island. It offers hiking enthusiasts views of majestic hills, dazzling coastline and distant islands – all within easy reach of the city. And at the end of your excursion, you can relax in Shek O, where there’s a great beach and fun restaurants.

Get off the bus at the Cape Collinson stop on Shek O Road. Look for the sign: Shek O Country Park, walk up the steps next to the sign and take the narrow road to another signpost: Shek O Peak. The Dragon’s Back is to the right, along the footpath. The winding path take you through woodland; you cross a couple of small streams, which can dry up entirely in winter. As the trees thin out, you can see a lovely view of Tai Tam bay below. But it gets even better.

At the next junction, turns left and proceed uphill. The woodland gives way to wilder-looking scrub. At the crest of the ridge, fantastic new vistas are revealed. The shimmering waters of the South China Sea, outlying islands and Clear Water Bay Peninsula of eastern Hong Kong spread out before you.

Now the trail climbs to the right, and you can soon pause and look out over big Wave Bay, popular with local windsurfers.
Then it’s on to Shek O Peak, which at 284 meters is the highest point along the route. From here you’ll enjoy views of Shek O Village, a fine place to visit after hiking the Dragon’s Back. Follow the trail down to Shek O Road (To Tei Wan Village), and then take the bus back to Central or Shek O Village.

How to get there: MTR Shau Kei Wan Station Exit A3; take bus 9 or taxi. On Sunday and public holidays you can take bus 309 from Exchange Square in central. Then get off at Cape Collinson bus stop (the bus will pass a wooded hillside, then a tiny roundabout. Alight at the stop just after this).

Hong Kong – Jardine’s Lookout

This classic Hong Kong walk in the central part of the island offers fantastic views of the city and lovely reservoirs – an extraordinary contrast. Enjoy picnic spots, beautiful surrounding and the brilliant blue waters of the reservoirs. Stop at the viewpoints and soak up the atmosphere!

Begin your hike at the petrol station at Wong Nai Chung Gap, where the historical road slices through the upper hills of the island. Head up the signposted path where the trail starts opposite to HK Parkview. Continue along the route (Hong Kong Trail) and follow the signs to Jardine’s Lookout. It’s a fair climb, but well worth it! The climb eases as you reach the top of Jardine’s Lookout. You are right above the green slopes of eastern Hong Kong Island, looking southeast down to reservoirs amidst woodland, the coastline and the sea beyond.

Take a short side trail to the left and hey presto, you’re suddenly right over the city. Far below is Happy Valley in the northwest, famed for its racetrack. Beyond are the glistening high rises and shopping malls of trendy Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Central. On a clear day, you can enjoy stunning views of Kowloon and the hills of the New Territories. This is surely one of Hong Kong’s finest vantage points.

Back to the main trail, which now drop to the east and it’s soon time for another steep climb. Once again, you’re in for picture-postcard views. Stay on the Hong Kong Trail and you soon climb Mount Butler, where the trail tunnels through woodland and bamboo before emerging at another great viewing spot.

From here, it is downhill – Jacob’s Ladder to Quarry Gap, then follow Mt. Parket Road. Still following the Hong Kong Trail, head right to pass Tai Tam Reservoir – the largest reservoir on Hong Kong Island.

How to get there: Take bus 6 or 66 from Exchange Square, central up to Wong Nai chung Gap – the stop is just after the cricket club at the petrol station. Or, MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit A, then take a taxi. Returning from Tai Tam Road, there are stops for buses heading for MTR Shau Kei Wan Station (on the left).

Hong Kong – Eastern New Territories

The Eastern New Territories is predominantly a scenic stretch of hills and greenery surrounding the historic rural settlements of Tai Po and Sha Tin (now high-rise New Town developments). From the Mainland China borderland in the north to the peninsulas of Clear Water Bay and Sai Kung in the south, this swathe of country parks and ancient farmland contains some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Hong Kong. Much of the Sai Kung Peninsula is protected as country park and has become a prime recreation area affectionately known as the ‘Back Garden’ of Hong Kong.

Exploring here, you’ll encounter abandoned villages and farms-offering a chance to reflect on Hong Kong’s bygone days, when farming was the backbone of the community. One must do hiko is a trip to Tai Long Wan (Big Wave Bay), which offers magnificent photo opportunities and once-in-a-lifetime views. And after a day of hiking, stop by Sai Kung town for superb seafood and alfresco dining.

Hong Kong – Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden

Situated on the slopes of one of Hong Kong’s highest mountains, the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden offers a profusion of activities for the whole family. Wander the paths of this delightful conservation center admiring vegetable gardens, lovely greenhouses full of beautiful flowers and plants, and scores of different animals. You will be impressed by the farm’s conservation efforts.

Located near the town of Tai Po, the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden is a sprawling green sanctuary established by the main gate you can get a taste of the bygone farming days of Hong Kong by visiting the Farm museum featuring fascinating pictures and old farm implements.

The farm has pioneered organic growth methods in Hong Kong, and helped introduce local strains of pigs and chickens that you can see in their pens. Follow signposts in the lower part of the farm and you can visit small pools with waterfowl including flamingos and see deer in an enclosure.

The farm extends up the side of the mountain, and the higher reaches can be accessed by shuttle bus. Go to the top near the Kadoorie Brothers’ Memorial Pavilion and enjoy fantastic views of the countryside. This area features a wood and scrub-land, which is a conservation area. Here you just might see porcupines, pangolin or barking deer – though the best chance to see them is at dusk, as they are mainly nocturnal.

You can spend hours exploring the many paths and visiting the different areas like the Butterfly Garden, Rainbow Pavilion and the nearby Great Falls. But be sure to collect a map at the entrance, so you don’t get lost!
Please note: Admission fee for the farm is HK$10 (exemption for children under 12 or visitors over the age of 60). The farm is open daily, 9:30am-5pm, though entry is not permitted after 4pm.

How to get there: Take bus 64K. You can catch one either at MTR Tai Po Market Station (bus heading towards Yuen Long) or at MTR Kam Sheung Road Station Exit C (bus for Tai Po Market), and get off at the Kadoorie Farm stop. Or, take a taxi from MTR Tai Wo Station to Kadoorie Farm.

Hong Kong – Hoi Ha Wan Marine Pack

If you like marine life and you fancy some snorkeling, then head for Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. The name translates as ‘Bay Beneath the Sea’ and it contains more than 60 species of hard corals and 120 varieties of coral fish. Enjoy the bay, explore the mangroves, see some of the magnificent coral and soak up the ambiance of Hoi Ha Village.

When you arrive at the village, walk down the path through the village past a rural restaurant and a small temple, and on by a protected old limekiln. The path then climbs a little, affording a good view of the shimmering waters in the bay. Then, tune left down a flight of steps to a pier. Here you’ll fine one of the best sports for coral in the bay and – if the tide is low and the water is clear – you should be able to see coral heads. These are mostly brain coral, named for their rounded shapes and convoluted surface patterns. You will also see some nicely patterned fish swimming amongst the coral.

If you want a closer look, it is possible to rent marks and snorkels from the local village stores. Just remember that corals are protected, so be careful not to bump into or break any!

To see more of the bay’s habitat, retrace your steps and head just beyond the minibus stop and then take the path down to the right. This leads through trees and crosses a former rice field and then a stream. Climb over some boulders and you’ll see a signboard explaining all about the mangroves here. The patch is small but this is a pleasant spot to enjoy the bay.

How to get there: Take bus 92 or on Sundays and public holidays take bus 96R to Sai kung town from MTR Diamond Hill Station Exit C2, then interchange with green minibus 7 or take a taxi to Hoi Ha Village.

Hong Kong – Bride’s Pool

The Bride’s Pool offers a unique Hong Kong experience – two wonderful waterfalls set in the midst of steep ravines in the wilds of the northeast New Territories. Legend has it that a young bride who drowned after tumbling into a ravine sometimes reappears to comb her hair by her reflection in a pool.

From the Bride’s Pool car park (opposite the bus terminus), walk down the steps past barbecue pits for a good vantage point to admire the waterfall. After heavy rain, the foaming white torrents offer a splendid contrast to the surrounding greenery, making for a picturesque scene.

Continue down the steps and cross a footbridge over the stream. Walk past another large barbecue area, turn left and cross a footbridge built of sturdy stone slabs. A stone tablet says it was built in 1960, with donations from as far away as the USA and Jamaica. Follow the directional markers and turn into a ravine. The path soon levels, and leads you through woodland until you round a corner to find the end of the path and the fabulous Mirror Pool waterfall right in front of you! This lovely waterfall plunges 20 meters (60 feet) into Dragon Ball Pool, where you can perhaps clamber onto a hug rock in the stream. The Mirror Pool is just above these falls.

Please note: The rocks are slippery, especially when wet with spray or rain. So take care if you clamber down for a closer view and to take photos.

How to get there: There is a daily minibus 20C (infrequent service) from near MTR Tai Po Market Station to Wu Kau Tang, passing by Bride’s pool. Better yet is the service to Bride’s pool on Sunday and public holidays: bus 275R from MTR Tai Po Market Station. Or, take a taxi from MTR Tai Po Market Station to Bride’s Pool.

Hong Kong – Sheung Yiu

Combine a relaxing hike with a trip back in time to a simpler age! The Sheung Yiu Folk Museum was originally a walled village that has been renovated and opened to the public. Here you can find small houses furnished like they would have been 150 years ago.

Once you alight at Pak Tam Chung, walk along Pak Tam Road and head for a small footbridge on the right, and you’ll be on the Pak Tam Chung Nature Trail. It’s an all-concrete path with lots of signboards covering aspects of the area’s history, flora and fauna. Enjoy the mangroves and keep an eye out for fiddler crabs scurrying over the mud.

After a small farm house and orchard, there are woods and you’ll see an information board situated by an incense tree. It note that the cultivation of this tree gave rise to Hong Kong’s name as Fragrant (tree) Harbour. You’ll also see an old limekiln – a relic of another ages-old industry in these parts: baking shells and coral fragments. To create lime that was sold by the building and agricultural purposes.

The trail leads to the folk museum that still has a watchtower with lookout windows, and stout doors that once guarded the village – suggesting that residents were relatively wealthy and exposed to bandits. The village was established by the Wong clan in the late 19th century but was abandoned in the 1960s – around the same time that farming began its gradual decline in Hong Kong. Inside, you’ll find small houses. Wander around and you’ll find an assortment of wooden tables, benches and farm implements like simple threshing machines on the ground floor. Residents slept on the upper floors, while the building at either end were for pigs and cows. Doors open onto a spacious terrace where villagers relaxed and held banquets.

Please note: The museum is open daily, 9am-4pm, except Tuesdays, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and the first three days of Chinese New Year. This area can be very busy on Sundays and public holidays.

How to get there: Take bus 92 from MTR Diamond Hill Station Exit C2 or green minibus 1A from MTR Choi Hung Station Exit B to Sai Kung Town; then take bus 99 (to Nai Chung) or 94 (to Wong Shek Pier) and keep an eye out for the road barrier at Pak Tam Chung. Get off at the next stop. On Sunday and public holidays, you can take bus 96R (to Wong Shek Pier) from MTR Diamond Hill Station Exit C2 and get off at the same stop. Or, take a taxi from Sai Kung Town to Pak Tam Chung.

Hong Kong – Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung

Tai Long Wan (Big Wave Bay) is set amidst perhaps Hong Kong’s most stunning scenery and offers some of the territory’s most beautiful beaches. The pounding surf and the stunning views make for a sublime experience. Honestly, you’d never know you were in Hong Kong!

This great outing begins at Pak Tam Au where you join the MacLehose Trail (named after the former Governor of Hong Kong who established Hong Kong’s country park system). The first bit of the trail is fairly easy, but once you reach Check Keng, it is a sustained climb to a ridge. It’s not that sleep but you’ll be glad you’ve reached the top for a well-deserved rest. There are wonderful views over hillsides, beaches, bays and islands.

From here the route is downhill as the path drops into a natural amphitheater with Tai Long Wan ahead of you. You’ll pass two hamlets: Tai Long, white houses and further along, Ham Tin. The path is now level, running beside a stream and Ham Tin lies above one of the main beaches – which is an exhilarating place to be, You’ll see two beachfront restaurants. Follow a rough trail from beside them and you discover a long sandy beach that sweeps northward past former rice fields. This beach is popular with surfers and is a wonderful place to stroll. The water here is probably the cleanest in Hong Kong. But be careful of the strong current that can catch swimmers unawares, as there are no lifeguards on duty. Hike back to the road, and then enjoy a meal and drink in Sai Kung Town before returning to the city.

How to get there: Take bus 94 from Sai Kung Town or, on Sundays and public holidays take bus 96R from MTR Diamond Hill Station Exit C2 and get off at Pak Tam Au. Or, take a taxi from Sai Kung Town to Pak Tam Au.

Hong Kong – Ma On Shan

Ma On Shan (Horse Saddle Mountain) is one of the grandest peak in Hong Kong. It’s tough reaching the top, but make for marvelous views of the Sai Kung countryside. Absolutely stunning!

Your trip to the top of one of Hong Kong’s highest peak (702 meters) start at Shui Long Wo, the beginning of stage four of the MacLehose Trail. The terrain is gentle at first with great views over Port Shelter and the tiny islands off Sai Kung. Further along the road, you’re in for a steep climb for about 300 meters. Cresting the ridge, you can decide if you have the energy to make the small detour to the summit of Ma On Shan.

If so, turn right, following a small path that crosses a narrow ridge, before you have to scramble up to the top. On a clear day you have panoramic views north to Shenzhen in Mainland China and south to Hong Kong Island with the lower hills of Sai Kung in the east and Tai Mo Shan in the west.

Follow the MacLehose Trail down, passing the aptly-named Pyramid Hill, following which you will arrive at a junction on the Ngong Ping plateau. Here you can decide which route to take out of the hills. There is an easy but rather long exit to the right, first along the Ma On Shan Country Trail, which leads to a former iron mining area and then down a narrow road to the edge of Ma On Shan Town. Or keep to the MacLehose Trail, which leads down to Po Lo Che near Sai Kung.

How to get there: From MTR Sha Tin Station, take bus 299 at Sha Tin Town Centre and get off at Shui Long Wo. Or, take bus 92 from MTR Diamond Hill Station Exit C2, or green minius 1A from MTR Choi Hung Station Exit C2, or green minibus 101M from MTR Hang Hau Station Exit B1 to Sai Kung Town. Once there, interchange with bus 299 or take a taxi to Shui Long Wo.

Hong Kong – Western New Territories

The northern part of the Western New Territories is an area rich in nature and heritage, offering you an exceptional opportunity to experience another side of Hong Kong, including Hong Kong’s greatest ecological resource – the 607-hectare (1,500-acre) Mai Po and deep Bay wetlands. This area is recognized internationally as a region rich in biodiversity and an important wildlife sanctuary along the South China coast. In 1995 it was declared a Ramsar Sidte, under a global convention that aims to protect wetlands of international importance.

You can learn about the importance of wetlands, and much more about the natural environment, at Hong Kong’s newest green attraction, the Hong Kong Wetland Park. It is not just an educational outing; it’s great fun for the whole family!
And while you’re in the area, take time to check out towns like Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai, both of which give insights into local culture and heritage. Walk through old temple, see an ancient pagoda and visit a local market for an unforgettable experience. Not to be missed, of course, is some local cuisine to top off a great trip to the New Territories.

Hong Kong Wetland Park

If you’re unfamiliar with wetlands, this state-of-the-art facility provides a fantastic insight into Hong Kong’s world-famous wetlands with their stunning array of birds, amphibians, dragonflies, mammals, reptiles, butterflies and fish. The park covers more than 60 hectares and contains exhibits, outdoors experience for nature loves and of course, the kids will just love all the hands-on stuff to do!

Located close to the world-famous Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve near the town of Tin Shui Wai in the New Territories, the Hong Kong Wetland Park is dedicated to promotion green tourism, education on environmental protection and wetland conservation. It’s 10,000m2 visitor centre contains galleries featuring arctic displays, a tropical peal swamp, live fish and education exhibits on pollution and conservation.

A special enclosure houses Hong Kong’s famous crocodile Pui Pui, a salt-water croc that mysteriously appeared in a nearby river chanel in 2003 and evaded capture for several months.

The Wetlands Interactive Worls is a great place for the whole family to learn about wetlands. Kids are also encouraged to take a specimen jar to collect water from the ponds. Back at the Discovery Centre, park staff help the children test the water’s acidity, and use a microscope to hunt for life forms.

You can also get up close to nature by visiting one of the hides near the park boundary. At low tide the exposed mud attracts birds such as egrets, duck and shorebirds. At high tide, herons and egrets and (in the winter) ducks drift on the water. The best place for bird-watching is from the furthest, single-storey hide. Located beside a shallow pool, it has been landscaped to ensure that there are wet muddy margins. Here, you might find shorebirds such as little ringed plovers or even the endangered black-faced spoonbill.

Between the hides are walkways through natural wetland mangrove swamps where fiddler crabs – with each male waving an outsized claw – and mudskippers scamper over the mud.

For more details, check the park’s website (http://www.wetlandpark.cpm/en/index.asp) where you can book tickets online and find out about the various tours and ‘get-to-know’ sessions on offer.

Please note: While touring the park, visitors should avoid contact with wild birds, their dropping or feathers. If you should come into such contact, thoroughly wash your hands with water and liquid soap, alcohol-soaked tissue paper or alcohol-based hand wash. If you see a sick or dead wild bird, please immediately inform the Wetland Park staff who will arrange for collection and laboratory testing.

How to get there: MTR Tin Shui Wai Station Exit E1, then interchange for Light Rail (route 705, 706, or 761) and get off at the Wetland Park stop. The Peak is a five-minute walk from the station. Alternatively, take bus 967 from Admiralty (West) Bus Terminus – Drake Street outside Lippo Centre and get off at Grandeur Terrace bus stop, then walk for about three minutes.

Hong Kong – Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve

This restricted-access site on the northern edge of the New Territories is a bird sanctuary comprising abandoned fishponds and shrimp ponds beside a broad belt of mangroves within the Deep Bay wetland. Huge flock of migratory birds stop here to rest and feed on their passage to and from far-off countries, with a wide variety of species sighted here at various times of the year.

You need a permit to visit. But even if you’re not a bird-watcher, you’ll be awed by the stunning array of these winged creatures. Egrets and herons are commonplace, while you might be lucky enough to see spectacular chevrons of cormorants moving purposefully overhead. And at certain time of the year, you can witness tight-packed flocks of ducks wheeling over ponds, or thousands of gulls, ducks and shorebirds on the Deep Bay mudflats.

Bird-watching at Mai Po varies from season. Winter (mid-November to late March) has the greatest overall variety. From late March to mid-May, there are passage migrants, especially shorebirds. The longer autumn brings migratory flocks including shorebirds. During summer (late May to early August), there is a marked lull in active as many birds breed in cooler climes.

Remember, bird activity is also affected by the Deep Bay tidal flow (check www.hko.gov.hk/tide/cTBTtide,htm). When the tide is above 2.1 metres, a visit to the boardwalk hides can be very rewarding, with some spectacular bird-waching. Even if the tide is low you can still enjoy a walk on the boardwalk as it leads you along a creek through mangroves where you may see fiddler crabs and, on the open mud, mudskippers.

Please note: 1. Mai Po is administered by the World Wide Fund (WWF) Hong Kong, which strictly controls visitor numbers. Local residents can apply to take a WWF tour, while overseas visitors can more readily apply for a half-day or full-day permit. You can book permits from WWF Hong Kong by phoning 2526 4473, or by emailing them at publicvisit@wwf.org,hk

2. Visitors should avoid contact with wild birds, their droppings or feathers. If you should come into such contact, thoroughly wash your hands with water and liquid soap, alcohol-soaked tissue paper or alcohol-based hand wash. If you see a sick or dead wild bird, please immediately inform the staff at Mai Po who will arrange for collection and laboratory testing.

How to get there: MTR Sheung Shui Station or MTR Kam Sheung Road Station Exit C, then take a taxi. Alternatively, from the MTR Sheung Shui Station take minibus 17 or bus 76K to Mai Po village, then walk along the access road through fishponds for about 20 minutes. For your return trip, take the minibus 17 or ask the staff at Mai Po who will arrange for call a taxi for you.

Hong Kong – Outlying Islands

There are over 260 outlying islands in Hong Kong. Four are popular destinations by ferry for hikers and sightseers – Lantau, Lamma, Cheung Chau and Peng Chau. Lantau is home to some of Hong Kong’s most visited attractions (Giant Buddha, Ngong Ping 360, Wisdom Path), and the other islands also offer a rich cultural and heritage experience as well as exuding a charming ambience and rural setting from a bygone era.

Each of these outlying islands has its own character, but they all offer scenic walks with fine beaches and trails meandering through the hills and along the coastline. You’ll find lots to explore, and getting there by ferry is an experience in itself!

Hong Kong – Cheung Chau

Just two kilometers long, Cheung Chau is the most densely populated outlying island. Surprisingly and charmingly, it also has temples, popular beaches and interesting footpaths that wind over hills and headlands and along some wild stretches of coastline.

Approaching Cheung Chau, the ferry passes an array of fishing vessels, testament to the vibrant fishing community that still exists on the island. As you alight, turn left and walk along the praya (main street) a few minutes and you come to the Pak Tei Temple dedicated to the Northern King. The sports ground in front is where the main celebrations are held every year for the incredibly popular Cheung Chau Bun Festival.

From the Pak Tei Temple, you can walk a short distance to Tung Wan, the main beach and the one preferred for swimming. Turn right and you can see the Cheung Chau Windsurfing Centre where Lee Lai-shan began the sport in which she won a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Near the centre is an ancient rock carving, and beyond is Kwun Yam beach.

Follow the path up from Kwun Yam beach, where there are a couple of trails leading into a small wooded valley, which are great for exploring. But for the best Cheung Chau path, follow the signs pointing left to the ‘Mini Great Wall’- which is not really a wall but a grand coastal path. Climb up a headland for some expansive views over Cheung Chau to Lantau Island. At the top is a pavilion that also look out towards Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island. On a clear day, you can see Kowloon and the New Territories.

Further along, you’ll Vase Shape Rock and Human Head Rock, which stand as tall as a house on the scrubby hillside! If you scramble down and around, you can reach the best vantage point for seeing the rock’s neck, indented ‘ear’, and nose-like silhouette. From Human Head Rock, you can continue along the coast by zigzagging up flights of steps.
At the top of the steps get ready for another surprise. Here you’ll find another junction. Keep hugging the coast, turning left at this and the following junctions. There is an abandoned building on the next headland. Walk through the overgrown grounds and you’ll find a status of the Viirgin Mary, a relic of the time when missionaries working in China came to Cheung Chau to rest.

After another headland, you come to the Seascape Peninsula Apartments and a short path winds down to Nam Tam Wan, where you’ll find one of many temples on Cheung Chau dedicated to Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea and protector of fisherman. A path from the temple archway climbs the hillside behind to a path that follows a low ridgeline. This is Peak Road, which runs east-west along much of southern Cheung Chau. You’re now heading back in the direction of the village and you can turn right for the ferry pier. Or you can go left towards more coastline.

Turning left you pass private houses, then a small public housing estate. The path runs through woodland and as you drop down by the cemetery you can turn left to Pak Tso Wan. Again there is a coastal trail up to a headland where you’ll fine a cluster of huge boulders, including the reclining rock – a mass of granite around the size of a container, balanced above the rocky shore.

From here you can follow a rocky trail down past another Tin Hau Temple to Sai Wan village, where you can catch a Kaido back to the public pier or take the beachfront road back to town.

How to get there: Ferry from Central Pier 5; the journey by fast ferry takes around 35 minutes and the regular ferry almost an hour.

Hong Kong – Lantau Island

This is Hong Kong’s largest island, with some of the most popular attractions, like the Giant Buddha and the Ngong Ping 360 with its fantastic cable car ride, as well as Hong Kong Disneyland. It also offers some of Hong Kong’s best beaches, hiking trails and peaks to explore.

Hong Kong – Ngong Ping

Enjoy grand views of the Ngong Ping plateau and surroundings by climbing the steps to the Giant Buddha. From near the bottom of the steps, take the path through the Lantau Tea Gardens to a restaurant. Just beyond this is a magnificent view of Lantau Peak, which is the second highest peak on the island and offers exhilarating hikes, expansive views and a fantastic selection of flora.

Nearby is the start of the Lantau Trail section 3, which leads you to the summit of the 934-metre peak. It’s a rather steep and strenuous climb and could take over an hour, depending upon the heat. But on a clear day, it’s well worth the effort! The views of the surrounding hills, mountains and the South China Sea are breathtaking. You also get a fantastic view of Hong Kong’s award-winning international airport below you.

Back at the start of Lantau Trail and to the right is the Wisdom Path, another new Hong Kong attraction. Make a quick visit and then head to the hilltop for more fantastic view of the South China Sea and the outlying islands, and west for another memorable view of the Giant Buddha.

Below Wisdom Path is Ngong Ping Tree Walk, featuring different types of trees. At the end go straight on and climb a short distance up to the751-meter Nei Lak Shan to enjoy breathtaking views of the north coast of Lantau Island, with Tung Chung and the airport in the distance. Farther along the trail, which now curves round the hillside, you get wonderful views over Po Lin Monastery and there is a junction taking you to the upper station of the Ngong Ping Cable Car, where you can follow paths back to the Giant Buddha and the bus terminus.

How to get there: Ferry from Central Pier 6 to Mui Wo (Silver Mine Bay), then interchange with bus 2 to Ngong Ping plateau. Or, MTR Tung Chung Station Exit B, then take bus 23 or by the Ngong Ping Cable Car.

Hong Kong – Tai O

Tai O is a unique fishing village with many houses built on stilts. When you disembark from the bus you’ll find a small museum full of traditional clothing, farming and fishing gear. Walk along the narrow pedestrian-only lane, where there are stalls selling souvenirs, as well as fish products, and another museum. You can’t miss the pungent odour of shrimp paste! Paths on the left lead to the stilted houses hanging over the creek. Cross the footbridge, the path soon leaves the main village, and follows the coast to a ferry pier below the police station – built in 1902. It is the oldest one in Hong Kong!

From the bus terminus, you can walk along a promenade to the south to an expanse of mudflats where mangroves have been planted. Farther along through a hamlet there is more wetland that used to be salt fields. The salt industry combined with fishing made Tai O a leader in the production of salted fish.

How to get there: Ferry from Central Pier 6 to Mui Wo (Silver Mine May), then interchande with bus 1; or MTR Tung Chung Station Exit B, take bus 11 or take bus 21 from Ngong Ping to Tai O.

Hong Kong – Southwest Lantau Island

Lantau’s southwest corner boasts some of the wildest landscapes and best hiking in Hong Kong. There are also some hidden treasures such as a marvelous Chinese landscaped, which you can only reach on foot. There’s also a flying Dragon Sculpture, Qing dynasty fort and an ancient stone circle.

Alight from the bus and follow the service road alongside the catchwater just below the beautiful Kwun Yam Monastery. Near the road’s end, turn left up a fairly steep path to the Lantau Trail. Keep legt and proceed until you come to an enchanting Chinese landscaped garden at Lung Tsai Ng Yuen.

It’s not usually open to the public, but you can have a look in and admire the garden. The trail now climbs and you reach another junction. Stay left (this is a short cut) and join the Lantau Trail atop a line of hills that march along the eastern margin of the peninsula. Go straight on and the trail dips to a campsite and then crosses a stream.

Keep on the trail and you will arrive at the 490-metre-high Ling Wui Shan, the highest point on the peninsula. On a clear day, the views are spectacular, with Lantau Peak dominating the island and Hong Kong Island just visible in the east, Macau and Zhuhai to the west, and western Shenzhen to the north.

The trail drops through picturesque grassy uplands before following a switchback route up to hilltops, down and up steep gullies before you reach the last line of hills at Kwun Yam Shan. From here you can look down on the magnificent Kwun Yam Monastery and Tai O on the coast. The trail leads down to the road and a bus stop.

How to get there: The catchwater road lies on bus routes from Mui Wo (bus 1), Tung Chung (bus 11) and Ngong Ping (bus 21) to Tai O. Alight just below the entrance to the Kwun Yam Monastery.

Hong Kong – Lamma Island

Conveniently located just a 40-minute ferry ride from the city, Lamma Island is a favourite with locals and visitors because of its idyllic walks, bohemian ambience and seafood dining. A must on everybody’s itinerary!

Ferries for Lamma leave Central Pier 4 at regular intervals to either Yung Shue Wan or Sok Kwu Wan, but our excursion takes us to Yung Shue Wan, a village known for its cafes and the bohemian habits of its expatriate community. Interestingly, archaeologists have found evidence that Lamma was populated more than 6,000 years ago with farming, seafaring and fishing being the economic mainstays from then till very recently.

Today, there are a few cottage industries and the island is mainly a pleasant escape for locals and a place for foreigners looking for low rents and a more laid-back lifestyle. Walking the narrow streets between the tightly packed buildings, you’ll see shops and restaurants that reflect this mixed heritage.

Leaving the village, walk to Yung Shue Wan Back Street and you’ll come to a junction: follow the sign and turn left towards Hung Shing Ye Beach and Sok Kwu Wan. The beach is clean and popular with bathers in summer. If you’re hungry, there’s a good restaurant up the hill behind the beach that is famous for its pigeon dishes. Various eating places around also serve the local specialty of homemade bean curd dessert (just ask for tofu fa)! After Hung Shing Ye Beach, the path climbs the hillside around Lamma’s west coast. Here you can enjoy unfettered views of the lovely South China Sea with Cheung Chau away to the west, Lantau beyond and, on clear days, the Chinese island outside Hong Kong’s waters.

A pavilion here is a good place to rest and stock up on refreshmants. After the pavilion, the path curls left and you are overlooking a bay – Sok Kwu Wan (Picnic Bay). At the bottom of the slope is a hamlet, Lo So Shing. There used to be a lime industry here as evidenced by the limekilns that have been preserved.

From Lo So Shing, follow the shore to the bay, passing the Kamikaze Grottoes – tunnels dug deep in the foot of the hills where Japanese forces established a naval base during WWII. Across a bridge over a small stream you’ll find a temple to the Goddess of the Sea – Tin Hau.

After the temple, the main path through the village is lined with seafood restaurants fronted by tanks of live shellfish and fish, and tables laid out alfresco along the waterfront. Many locals head over here on pleasure junk or sailboats for the fantastic seafood. There’s also a pier at the end of the village where you can catch a ferry back to Central or Aberdeen (a former fishing village and home of the Jumbo restaurant).

How to get there: Ferry from Central Pier 4 or Aberdeen Pier.

Hong Kong – Peng Chau

This is a tiny island with a distinctly rural charm. The main street is little more than a footpath and what little policing is needed is carried out on bicycles. You can walk through old farms with echoes of old South China, and along the coastline and up hills offering views over Hong Kong’s main western harbour.

Arriving on Peng Chau, turn left past housing blocks near the waterfront, then past a series of old buildings that were once Southeast Asia’s largest match factory. Nearby are three tiny temples, shrines to the Seventh Sister, the Monkey King, and Buddhist goddess Kwun Yum. The Seventh Sister is associated with the colours of the rainbow, so her temple is very colourful.

You’ll come to a bridge and see an islet that, according to surveys, contains 35 different coral species just offshore– a very high total for western Hong Kong. The shells and corals were the basis of Hong Kong’s lime industry.

Back on Peng Chau, follow the coastal trail that skirts the hillside just above the rocky shoreline. Past another narrow beach, there is an islet topped with a tor (craggy rock) known as Old Fisherman’s Rock. Head uphill, turn left at the junction, and walk between two small farms and the fruit trees. At the next junction, turn right, continuing through farmland and you will come upon exciting views of Hong Kong. Hard to believe you’re on a small island just off Hong Kong!

The path takes you to Tung Wan – East Bay. Here you will see a relatively new red-brick temple dedicated to Lung Mo, the Dragon Mother. Behind the temple, you can follow winding narrow streets, to return to Peng Chau’s main street: Wing On Street. Now is a good time to visit the temple dedicated to Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea. Beside it you’ll find an intriguing Qing dynasty stone tablet that tells of officials decreeing that soldiers pursuing pirates were not allowed to commandeer islanders’ fishing boats!

From here you can walk the narrow streets and wander around the shops and stalls selling
fruits and vegetables, crafts and the like. Continue south past more village housing and you will come to the island’s organic farm, run by the Green Peng Chau Association.

There are big bamboos behind the farm. Walk past these and you can begin your hike to Peng Chau’s highest peak.Turn right after the pavilion, then right again on to a path that skirts the hill, onto a narrow road and up a flight of steps to the top of the 95-metre Finger Hill. Here you can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of much of Peng Chau below, with Lantau nearby and Hong Kong Island away to the east. Then it is down a nearby flight of steps and turn right for the village.

How to get there: Ferry from Central Pier 6.