As the seasons transition from winter to spring, early February is one of the rare periods during which Hong Kong enjoys moderate weather. Without the need to stay indoors to avoid the sweltering heat of Hong Kong’s summers, early spring is perfect for outdoor activities, like hiking. Despite the Pearl of the Orient’s international reputation as a futuristic concrete jungle, the city has many picturesque trails and mountains for people to take a break from the hustle and bustle.
Out of all the possible options, these three trails are a must-go for Hong Kongers and tourists alike.
Lion’s Rock
Lion Rock has been famous throughout Hong Kong’s history for its resemblance to a seated lion. It has come to represent the perseverance and determination of the Hong Kong people in the face of adversity. Lion’s Rock, positioned near Wong Tai Sin in Kowloon, possesses an amazing view overlooking all parts of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and New Territories. The view from the peak of the mountain is just breathtaking to see in person. The lush green hill-scapes contrast against the densely packed residential buildings in Kowloon. However, after arriving at the top, the shape of the seated lion cannot be made out from the perspective of a hiker, so those with drones should definitely consider bringing theirs to take some unique photos.
This hiking trail is around 6 kilometres long and takes two to three hours on average. A long stretch of stairs and relatively steep slopes pave the beginning of the climb, which can seem intimidating. But after braving through the initial ascent, there are pagodas and other rest sites that provide a brief preview of the views to be admired from the peak, helping keep morale high. Some parts of this trail lack natural cover from vegetation and can get quite sunny, so travellers should bring extra sunscreen and water to err on the side of safety. Also when planning this hike, it would be best to go earlier and avoid reaching the summit during midday, as even in Spring, the Hong Kong sun can be quite unrelenting.
When descending, hikers can choose to return the way they came from back down to Fat Jong Temple, or choose to continue down the other side of the peak in a slightly shorter path to Lion Rock Park. All those who possess the Lion Rock spirit should take this brief pilgrimage to experience Hong Kong from the eyes of its guardian beast.
The trail begins at Temple Hill Fat Jong Temple, near the Wong Tai Sin MTR station. For those who want a longer continuous hike, it is a 1.1 kilometer uphill walk from the MTR station. There is also the 18M minibus from Exit E of the Wong Tai Sin MTR station that arrives directly at Fat Jong Temple.
Victoria Peak
A close competitor to Lion Rock for its iconic representation of Hong Kong, Victoria Peak in Hong Kong Island is a massive tourist attraction that doubles as a short little hike right next to the city’s financial hubbub. The view from the Peak is much closer to the sea than that from Lion Rock and highlights the towering skyscrapers that make Hong Kong one of the most used inspirations for futuristic cities in science fiction. This is further embodied in the night view of Hong Kong with its neon lights and colourful skyline. Unlike many of the other hiking trails in Hong Kong, because it is such a tourist attraction with built-in infrastructure, it is one of the only spots where you can get a comprehensive view of the city at night. Tourists from the United Kingdom, Jane Clarke and her husband Colin, admired the view and said, “We have always heard about what a beautiful city Hong Kong is, but nothing compares to how it looks in person.”
The hike up to the Peak is quite relaxing, only taking somewhere around an hour, with parts of the climb covered by an escalator. The escalator in question are the famous Central-Mid-Levels escalator, which is the World’s longest outdoor-covered escalator, spanning about 800 metres. For those who do not want to take the steps alongside the escalator, try not to arrive too early as the escalators only switch to go uphill at 10:30 a.m. every day. The escalator ends at the Morning Trail and is a comfortable slight incline up to the Peak. To get to the Mid-Levels escalator, it is around a 500 meter walk from Exits G or D1 of the Central MTR station. Otherwise, by taking city buses 7, 37A, 90B, 3A, 4, 4X, 91, 94, you can also reach Queen’s Road Central, right next to the escalator.
For those who want to skip the ascent and just admire the views, there is a tram that brings thousands of people to the top every day. The Peak Tram can also be very helpful for those who spend too long exploring Madam Tussauds wax museum at the Peak and are too exhausted to hike back down. To get to the tram, it is a 15 minute walk from Admiralty station, or alternatively taking bus 15 from the Exchange Square in Central.
Tai Tam Country Park Trail
Tai Tam Country Park, also positioned on Hong Kong Island, overlooks the less travelled parts of the city. This country park is a great pick as it has more than a dozen trails for hikers to pick from depending on their level of fitness and will. All the while providing a different version of Hong Kong, in its green peaks and deep valleys. For those who just want a leisurely stroll amidst nature, there is the Tai Tam Reservoirs trail. Those looking to take on an intermediate challenge can go on the Jardine’s Lookout Trail to get a great vantage point to admire Victoria Harbour. Hiking enthusiasts confident in their fitness also have options to take on the Twin Peaks or the Wilson Trail, which yields majestic views of creeks and valleys worthy of the effort put in to reach. Though this country park is further out from the city, the diversity of trails and flexibility it affords is well worth it.
Depending on what trail hikers choose, there are various ways to reach the country park. In general, some buses reach different parts of the country park near Exit A of the Sai Wan Ho MTR station. For Jardine’s Lookout, Bus 6 and 66 from either Admiralty or Central both arrive at the Wong Nai Chung station, which is near where the trail begins.
