Beyond its urban jungle, Hong Kong offers many walking trails suitable for hiking and workouts, writes Vemanna Appannah
BEING in Hong Kong and not hiking is like missing out on half of the city. Hiking takes you away from the city’s hustle and bustle.
While it sets your eyes towards the territory’s lushly forested areas, hiking up the mountains treats you to its sprawling city view.
Though Hong Kong is densely populated, it is home to surprisingly rich greenery that allows you to discover the incredible landscape beyond the city.
It is also an excellent way to bring on exercise while on a holiday, offering an abundance of trails with different degrees of gradient, terrain and scenery.
Here are my favourite hiking trails in Hong Kong.
DONKEY TRAIL @ LANTAU ISLAND
This is a stunning trail from the beginning.
Prior to my visit, I have made plans with my friend who resides in Hong Kong, Leong Bee Leng, for some hiking at Lantau Island.
On the agreed day, I take the MTR train from Tsim Sha Shui and alight at Tung Chung station. Bee Leng and her friend Amanda greet me at Tung Chung and we head towards the hiking trail, passing by some high-rise condominiums.
Twenty minutes into walking, we reach the Tung Chung Outdoor Recreation Camp and soon after that hit the Donkey trail heading up towards Ngong Ping 360 and the Big Buddha.
A steep elevation greets us at the beginning of this trail. Thirty minutes up the trail, we will be able to catch scenic views of Tung Chung Bay and Hong Kong International Airport. The trail passes a cross mountains just under the Ngong Ping 360 cable car.
This isn’t my first time going up to Ngong Ping. In 2009, I took the cable car.
However, hiking up by foot to the highest point on the cable at 585 metres above sea level certainly exposes me to its astonishing landscape.
Directly under the path of the cable cars, we pass valleys, spanned along the cable car towers and helicopter landing pads.
Almost the entire trail is well-paved. The trail was also used by mules for transportation of materials during the construction of the cable car system which gave it its name Donkey Trail.
It also serves as a rescue trail and for cable car maintenance purposes by the Ngong Ping 360 management.
Halfway through the trail, in the distance is the new Hong Kong - Macau - Zuhaisubsea tunnel disappearing into the sea.
From the mountain, one can see the bridge disappearing under sea at the Hong Kong boundary.
It looks like a dragon has taken a plunge into the sea with its tail sticking out. Opened last October , the tunnel is the latest tourist attraction.
At every elevation, the surrounding unfolds the beauty of Lantau Island. The trail has steady upward pace broken by even grounds. Part of the trail is paved with wooden boards and steps as a way to preserve the natural environment.
The wooden stairway down and up the ravine between the hilly mountains is also known as “stairway to heaven”. It is so captivating, naturally slowing you down to get the most out of its beauty.
Nestled between the lush green forests and canopied with shade from tall trees, the forest gives a tranquil feel with the sound from the birds, insects and the wind caressing the tree branches and leaves.
After two hours and 40 minutes, we reach the Ngong Ping 360. Howmuch time you take depends entirely on individual pace and interest on how one wants to spend the time along the trail.
I suggest hikers enjoy the forest walk.
Don’t rush, take your time to take it all in, take photographs and move on. Ngong Ping 360 brings you to a charming cultural village that house several souvenir shops and restaurants.
High up sits Big Buddha, the world renowned outdoor seated bronze statue. It stands at 34metres high. Visitors are seen flocking in numbers taking the 25-minute cable-car ride up, inevitably making this place highly commercialised.
Energised with a bowl of hot tau fu fah (beancurd dessert) at the cultural village, we march up the 260-step staircases leading to the Big Buddha atop the hill. The day ends at Big Buddha. Going down, we hop into a taxi. It’s a 40-minute ride to the Tung Chung MTR station.
PAK SHA O-YONG SHUE TRAIL @ SAI KUNG
Up next is another great hike in Sai Kung district introduced by my Hong Kong cousin, Alex Poon.
The district is known for its quaint fishing villages, hiking trails, beautiful scenery and low-key lifestyle.
Here, I am welcomed by a group of 27 hikers. We gather at the hiking start point - Tai Po District in Sai Kung. We decide to take the Pak Sha O trail to Yung Shue O, a four-hour-long trail.
The group is made of Alex’s friends. They usually gather everymonth for an outdoor hike and end the afternoon with lunch.
Joining this group, I get to know more of Hong Kong and the surroundings. Everyone has something interesting to share, most of all is to live life healthily and live life to the fullest.
The trail takes you from abandoned old villages into the forest. The landscape is stunning with streams running along. It is also a popular place for bird-watching.
The trail path is straightforward and nicely paved. It is hilly with flat grounds, making the hike relatively easy. It is very suitable for newbies.
As any other trails, this trail branches out to many different routes and you can cut the trail according to your plan.
We follow the trail pointing to Sham Chung village to get to Yung Shue O.
Crossing the topside of the hill, the view opens to breathtaking panoramic sight of Ma On Shan town along the eastern coast of Tolo Harbour in the New Territories.
As we descend to Sham Chung village, we see more dilapidated village houses that are abandoned.
Sham Chung was once synonymous with Hong Kong’s largest wetland areas.
The trail brings us to a vast grass field that connects to Yung Shue O mangrove forest close to the sea. It promises a great view of the sea along the fairly shaded pathway.
We finally reach the village in Yung Shue O. Though we have completed our hike, it is another hour to walk out to the nearest public transport.
After a good four-hour hike, our hungry stomachs are treated to a scrumptious seafood feast at the famous fishing village known as Sai Kung. Apart from the fishing village and hiking, the low-key lifestyle here has a lot to offer visitors.
Known as the “back garden of Hong Kong”, it is part of the Unesco Geopark network.
The geopark consists of two regions of formations, volcanic rocks from 140 million years ago and sedimentary rock from 400 million years ago. Behind the modern development, it houses geological treasures.
To know Sai Kung truly, you need to get out of its urban zone and hit its natural treasure.
I shall return to this place to explore the traditional customs and cultures of this rural village and for some good geological hunts.
PEAK CIRCULAR WALK @ VICTORIA PEAK
From far and out, I return with my mother and cousin Cynthia to Victoria Peak.
Victoria Peak is undoubtedly Hong Kong’s top attraction for its spectacular views of the city, its harbours and surrounding islands.
The best and most memorable way to get up The Peak is by the Peak Tram, one of the world’s oldest and most famous funicular railways. The experience is unforgettable.
One of the attractions at the peak is the Peak Circular Walk.
The peak is encircled with a 3.5km flat contour stretch that offers trail hikers and runners stunning views of the Victoria Harbour and its surroundings.
The circular walk is less populated compared to The Peak Tower which is usually crowded with tourists. The shaded scenic pathway is perfect for a leisurely stroll, walk, jog or run.
There are joggers making several rounds fulfilling their exercise regime. The pathway is a circular route which comes back to its origin, making it a perfect chance to see many wonderful views from the peak.
The circuit walk takes slightly over an hour to complete.
The Peak Tower also has a shopping complex with an array of restaurants, shops and entertainment hubs.
THE END
Hong Kong, beyond its urban jungle, provides wonderful short getaways.
There are many walking trails suitable for hiking and workout that are easy and challenging. Just pick the one that best suits you.
This densely populated place has the best of both worlds to offer: concrete jungle and leafy green forest jungle.
Can’t you tell how much I love Hong Kong? This city stands out in many ways. I can’t wait to be back!