When the weather gets chilly, then comes the perfect excuse to drop everything and take a hike. Literally. Hong Kong has a lot to offer, and it’s not just shopping malls and yummy eats. Think big, think green, think hidden nature gems away from the buzz of city life. Think hiking trails for days and plentiful picks for those willing to go the distance.
If you’ve been staring longingly at the leafy foliage and jaw-dropping views shared by hikers on social media, take this as a sign that you can do it too. Beginner? Expert? Just looking for something fun? Keep reading to check out five underrated hiking spots that you should absolutely try out this fall.
Bowen Road Fitness Trail
Tucked away in the Mid-Levels, the Bowen Road Fitness Trail lines the hills above Wan Chai and Happy Valley. It is a 3 km path that is mostly flat, making it the perfect trail for outdoor runners, dog walkers, and those who want a walk to clear their heads.
How to get there
Bowen Road Fitness Trail has three main entry points, which are reachable by public and private transport. For those coming from Bowen Drive, get there by taking a taxi and walking up the slope to the Bowen Road intersection, which leads to a starting point of the trail. You can also opt for walking from Admiralty Queensway to Garden Road, and taking a left at Kennedy Road to go uphill to Bowen Drive. Parking spaces are available nearby if you’re coming by car.
You could also come up from Wan Chai Gap Road, which is a bit of a steep climb. For those coming from Stubbs Road, which is another starting point of the trail, take Bus 15 from Central Pier 5 and alight at Stubbs Road, Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, which is the closest stop to the other starting point of the trail.
Scenic Highlights and Facilities
Visitors to the trail will be treated to close-up views of the Hong Kong skyline, featuring famous buildings in Central and Wan Chai.
Reachable by a series of steep stone steps located to the right side of the Bowen Road Fitness Trail, the Lover’s Rock sits above a red platform. The giant rock formation is believed to grant happy marriages and solve fertility problems.
At Bowen Road Garden located at the beginning of the trail, there is a drinking water dispenser and a children’s playground. Along the trail, there are several resting areas and public bathrooms. There is also plentiful signage that indicate the direction of the trail, as well as telling visitors how far they are from the end-point.
Desmond Chan, a 53-year-old runner, said he was happy with the trail’s accessible facilities. “Along the trail, there are signs that show you how far away a public bathroom is, I like that there are many resting spots, which is good when I need to take breaks because of my bad knee.”
Lung Fu Shan Morning Trail
Winding smoothly up Hong Kong Island‘s famed and tallest hill, the Lung Fu Shan Morning Trail going through Lung Fu Shan Country Park is one of the many ways to get up The Peak. It’s around 2.8 km, and slopes uphill until it joins with Harlech Road Fitness Trail, a flat path that takes you in the direction of the Peak Tower and Peak Galleria.
How to get there
The start of the trail sits near Kotewall Road and Hatton Road, which can be accessed by taxi and bus. Take Bus 13, which has stops in Admiralty, Central and in the Mid-Levels. Alight at the Hatton Road stop, and turn to the left to go up the slope. The slope should lead to the start of the Lung Fu Shan Morning Trail.
For those who want a longer trail, accessing Kotewall Road via walking from The University of Hong Kong is an option. Take HKU Exit A2, and go down via the escalator on the right or the stairs straight ahead. Go through the Union Restaurant and walk uphill from University Drive, where it leads you past Graduate House and Robert Black College to the intersection at Kotewall Road.
Scenic Highlights and Facilities
On your way uphill, views of Hong Kong and Victoria Harbour can be seen through the dense greenery that line the trail.
Early into the Lung Fu Shan Morning Trail, an iconic piece of Hong Kong’s history can be found at the side of the road. Marked with “City Boundary 1903”, the boundary stone is one of six laid in 1903 to mark the boundaries of Victoria City, Hong Kong’s name back in 1843.
After five to 10 minutes on the slope of Lung Fu Shan Morning Trail, the spacious Hatton Road Sitting-Out Area allows you and your hiking group to ready yourselves for the climb ahead. There are public bathrooms, a drinking water dispenser and many shaded seating areas. 600 metres in, you will arrive at the entrance to Lung Fu Shan Country Park, where there is a flat area with seats and directional signs. Until the trail joins with Harlech Road, there will be fewer seating areas, and the slope can be challenging.
Kowloon Reception Reservoir Jogging Trail
Just one among the multitude of trails in Kam Shan Country Park, the Kowloon Reception Reservoir Jogging Trail is an adventurous 1.6 km loop that circles the reservoir, with stone paths leading you over running streams and babbling brooks.
The country park lies to the north of Kowloon, in the Shatin District, and is home to four reservoirs, all completed before 1932. Kam Shan, or Golden Hill, is also affectionately dubbed Monkey Hill for its macaques.
How to get there
The trail or the country park itself is directly accessible from multiple districts in Hong Kong, namely Tai Po District, Yau Tsim Mong District and Shatin District. For public transport, take Bus 72 or 81, alighting at the Shek Lei Pui Reservoir stop, which is the closest to the start of the jogging trail. For those coming by taxi, ask the driver to drop you off at Monkey Hill Cheung Yuen Road.
Right after getting off the bus, there should be a seating area and some vending machines. To the left lies a downward slope marked “Cheung Yuen Road,” follow this slope until you see a forked path.
Take the left path and keep walking. This should lead you across the Kowloon Byewash Reservoir before you come to the signs that signal the start/end of the Kowloon Reception Reservoir Jogging Trail.
For a jogger, the path can take 25 minutes. Yet, it’s best to reserve around an hour and a half for both the loop and the walk from Cheung Yuen Road.
The trail begins with a steep series of stone steps, but remains flat until the descent at the end. Remember to pay attention when you’re walking, as the terrain is uneven. The trail is made up of narrow stone steps and paths, alongside fallen branches and small dirt mounds that can catch you off guard if you’re not careful.
Scenic Highlights and Facilities
Dotted along the trail are seating spots that allow you to rest and take gorgeous pictures of the reservoir. There are also no barricades or railings, which means you can take photos to your heart’s content without worry for obstructions. Do be careful, as the path is narrow and you may have to stand aside for incoming joggers.
Aside from the vending machines and resting areas nearby the bus stop, there is a map of the entire country park, peppered with icons that indicate different facilities, such as bathrooms, shelter and rest areas. Right before the fork in Cheung Yuen Road, public toilets can be found to the left.
For those looking to have a meal before exploring Kowloon Reception Reservoir Jogging trail or the other trails, feel free to take the right path at Cheung Yuen Road. It will lead to a flat grassy barbecue site and picnic tables.
Woh Chai Hill
Frequented by local residents looking to get their morning exercise in, this small hill in the Sham Shui Po District boasts a hike of around 1 km. Depending on whether you’re comfortable with steep stairs, the hike can take up to an hour or more. Wo Chai Hill is also home to the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir, which was declared a Grade I historic building in 2021 due to the discovery of Roman style architecture.
How to get there
Relatively close to urban areas, it’s a short journey from both Shek Kip Mei and Prince Edward. For the former, Exit B1 of Shek Kip Mei MTR station is closest to Woh Chai Street, setting you on the path that can take you uphill.
For those approaching from Prince Edward, take Exit A of the MTR station, turn right and cross the road. Walk straight ahead on Nathan Road, and cross Boundary Street to get to Sai Yeung Choi Street North. A taxi can also drop you off here. Keep walking straight ahead and turn right at the end of the road to get to Tong Yam Street Hillside Sitting-Out Area. Follow the path, and look to the left to see a set of stairs going uphill.
Scenic Highlights and Facilities
It might be small but it is mighty, and the hike is quite a workout. It is made up of steep stone stairs for the initial climb, with railing for the most part. Eventually, the stairs branch off into dirt and concrete paths, with intersections that lead to recreational facilities built by locals and regulars, such as pingpong tables, seating areas and a small playground.
“I came here to hike because my neighbour told me of the historical reservoir attraction,” said Wendy Lam, a 56-year-old retiree who lives in the area. “I’m finding it hard because the stairs are too steep for my taste, and the paths alternate between concrete and dirt.”
The hike is a bit of an intuitive one as signage is limited, and Lam advised newcomers to talk to fellow hikers. “If you’re lost, the regulars are very friendly and will point you in the right direction.”
Be sure not to miss the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir which was built in 1904 and well-preserved to this day. Since August 1 this year, it has been open to the public without need for prior reservation, allowing visitors to walk amongst its brick structures. To enter, there is a first come, first served quota of 100 visitors at a time. For those interested in a guided tour, these are available to register for on the Water Supplies Department website.
Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail
History buffs looking for a day of monument-spotting would love this trail. Around 5 km long, it is family-friendly and filled with many photo ops. Located in the eastern side of Hong Kong Island, the Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage trail takes you through Tai Tam Country Park, and past 21 historic waterworks structures.
How to get there
To get there, visitors can choose to start from the northern or southern end of the trail. Starting from the north means entering Tai Tam Country Park near Hong Kong Parkview. Take Bus 6, 63 or 41A to alight at Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park, Wong Nai Chung Gap Road.
Keep walking past the entrances of Wilson Trail and Hong Kong Trail towards Hong Kong Parkview, where you can access the gate to Tai Tam Country Park. Follow the map at the entry of the park, and the official start to the waterworks heritage trail begins around a kilometre from it, nearby the Tai Tam Byewash Reservoir. As it is a bit of a walk, reserve more than two hours for your entire hike.
For those coming from the south, Bus 14 from Sai Wan Ho and Bus 314 from Siu Sai Wan can take you to Tai Tam Road. Alight at the stop for Tai Tam Country Park, which has vending machines and toilets.
Scenic Highlights and Facilities
According to an informational pamphlet by the Water Supplies Department, the 21 waterworks structures were declared monuments in 2009. Some have begun construction as early as 1883. Along the trail, masonry bridges, dams and waterworks related buildings can be seen.
From both ends of the trail, there are public bathrooms and resting pavilions. For those planning an entire day there, picnic and barbecue areas can be found along Tai Tam Reservoir Road.
Written by Yu Wing Chan
Photos by Yu Wing Chan and Y.H Yeung
Edited by Renee Law and Zhu Xi