CASTLE PEAK HIKING GUIDE

In this blog post, I’ll share everything you need to know about the Castle Peak Hike including where it is, how to get there, and when it’s best to visit.

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE CASTLE PEAK HIKE IN HONG KONG

Like many hikes in Hong Kong, the journey begins in the urban jungle at the train station. From Tuen Mun MTR, we made our way up towards the Heung Hoi Ming Shan Memorial Archway and the Tsing Shan Monastery. I didn’t know quite what we were in for but when we looked up after leaving the train station, we could see the radio tower way up the top of the mountain. We were in for a steep hike.

The hike begins on a road that leads past some strange places on either side. Random houses, temples, and offerings out on the road as well as dumped rubbish all made it a very bizarre beginning to our adventure. 

The hike seemed to officially begin when we passed underneath the memorial archway, which was looking beautiful as the late afternoon sun streaked through the top of the arch.

Up to this point, the road had already been steep but the adventure was about to get even steeper as the trail was about to turn into a series of relentless staircases that would wind us up the mountain. This is not a leisurely hike and you will feel your calves and quads burning from the get-go. As we climbed higher and higher, the views of Tuen Mun and beyond began to reveal themselves over the canopy of trees.

Throughout the trek up to Castle Peak there are a number of little viewpoints, which are a great excuse for a breather and a drinks break. I make it a point on every hike to explore every little side trail because you never know what viewpoint you might miss if you pass up on all of the detours. It can be a hit or miss strategy but we hit a few winners on the hike up to Castle Peak.

After just over an hour, we reached the summit. At the top of the ridge are three trigonometric points, which are basically those white columns you see everywhere in Hong Kong. There is one at either end of the ridge and one in the middle at the large radio tower. It’s good to explore each of them as all three viewpoints offer something different. 

In case the climb up wasn’t a workout enough, there is also an outdoor gym at the top. It’s super random but actually had home-made dumbells, parallel bars, and two chin-up bars. There aren’t too many gyms in the world with a better view than this one!

The terrain on the far side of the ridge is quite incredible with very sharp ridges running in all directions. It was really quite enjoyable to fly the drone around over these ridges as I admired the natural formations that have happened over thousands of years

We spent the sunset up at the radio tower of Castle Peak. There are lots of little viewpoints up here near the main trigonometric point and we had a great time exploring down on the rocks. If you do go down here, mind your step as it is quite overgrown. On the day we went, the smog was covering much of the view but on a clear day, you can see all the way to Hong Kong Island. The best bet would be to wait for a clear day then head up for sunset!

The way back down was quite simple as we just returned the same way we came. However, there is another route in this region that looks like fun if you are up for something longer. It’s a 10km loop route that takes you up and over the Castle Peak ridge and down into the valley on the other side. I will attach that map here in case you are interested in the longer route that still has you visiting Castle Peak.

By keeping these key points in mind, you can make the most of your Castle Peak hike, appreciating the scenic beauty, immersing yourself in history, and creating lasting memories in the natural and cultural wonders of Hong Kong.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

5 BEST HIKES IN HONG KONG

I wrote a massive guide about the 21 Best Hikes in Hong Kong, but if you are only in Hong Kong for a week or less here are the five most epic routes.

• Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff
• Lion Rock Hike
• West Dog’s Teeth to Lantau Ridge Hike
• Sharp Peak Hike
• Ma On Shan Hike

MY EXPERIENCE HIKING THE TRAIL TO LION ROCK PEAK IN HONG KONG

The Lion Rock hike can begin at the Wong Tai Sin MTR Station for some but for us, it began after being dropped by the taxi at Fat Jong Temple. We saved ourselves a short walk up the hill but we still had a way to go, trudging up Shatin Road to reach the start of the trek. Along Shatin Road, we caught a few glimpses out to our left of the city as we peered through the forest.

I was glad to finally reach the entrance arch and veer off of the road and onto the trail. It only feels like a hike once you have dirt beneath your feet and you have left the paved roads behind. The Lion Peak Rock trail begins with an immediate ascent of steps, which sets the tone for the numerous staircases throughout the route.

From the very first moment of the trek, you are immersed in the forest. The gaps in the foliage offer views back towards the city, which allows you the perspective of how far up you are climbing. I thought this trail was one of the most well-defined in Hong Kong but also very natural and in parts, the forest seemed to engulf as on all sides.

After about 45-minutes, we reached a sign that pointed up towards the Lion Rock summit. It indicated there was 500m left before we would reach the top.

However, what the sign forgot to mention was that it was almost 500m of stairs! This was the hardest part of the hike with an incredibly steep set of stairs to navigate before you are rewarded with the views at the summit. If you make it through these stairs, you deserve the epic scenery at the top!

The summit blew me away from the very first moment I emerged from the stairs. We had views all the way out over Kowloon and even towards Hong Kong Central. The summit is actually a long ridge and depending on which route you take, you will likely come up on the opposite end of the ridge to the Lion’s Head. If you are on the ridge, the head of the Lion is actually not very recognizable and is easier to see from the drone or even from other peaks or hikes in the area.

We reached the top during the golden hour and snapped a few photos but decided to continue our way along the ridge to visit the other viewpoints as well.

The second viewpoint had a huge stone ledge. It was the perfect sunset viewing platform. There is a huge, deadly drop-off if you were to have a fall so don’t take this ridge or stone viewpoints lightly. Be careful, be mindful and stay where you are comfortable and can enjoy the experience. I grabbed a photo of this couple enjoying the view, what a moment!

The next viewpoint was one of my favorites because as the sun goes down it leaks light off of the edge of the rock on top of the summit. With a few trees on top, I thought it would be the perfect spot for a silhouette photo with the backdrop of the city buildings. The photo after this one is the view from on top of the summit pictured.

We were now at the second last viewpoint and with just one more viewpoint to go and the light quickly fading, I decided to throw up the drone on the way to the final viewpoint to catch the last light. The aerial view from the drone allowed me to gain a new perspective of the ridge and to find a good angle of the Lion’s Head. These are my favorite captures from the air.

As the fiery red ball lowered itself out of the picture, most of the crowds left. However, in Hong Kong, there is always the idea to wait and see how the scene will look once the city lights up. It was a warm night and we weren’t in a rush so we stuck around to see the city lights slowly switch on.

I advise always carrying a little tripod up on hikes for this very situation so you can catch a long exposure nightscape shot. I’m not too great at them but captured one on my wide-angle nonetheless. I advise bringing a tighter lens maybe 100mm+ to really zoom in on some of the details as the scene was a bit flat on my 35mm from Lion Rock on this night. There were some night photography gurus up on the summit who were getting some night tighter-in photos so it seems to be a great vantage point for night shots.

After the night shots, we made our way back down the trail taking a different route back down from the way up. We headed directly down from Lion’s Head to complete the loop and make our way back to civilization and catch a train home to cap off an epic Hong Kong adventure. I hope you get a great sunset and enjoy looking out over the city on one of the best hikes in Hong Kong.

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

5 BEST HIKES IN HONG KONG

I wrote a massive guide about the 21 Best Hikes in Hong Kong, but if you are only in Hong Kong for a week or less here are the five most epic routes.

• Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff
• Lion Rock Hike
• West Dog’s Teeth to Lantau Ridge Hike
• Sharp Peak Hike
• Ma On Shan Hike

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE TAI TO YAN HIKE

On a cloudy afternoon, I headed out into the New Territories. I was hoping for the sun to break through but despite it’s best efforts, it would be a bit of a cloudy atmosphere for this hike. On a brighter day, the views would be that much sweeter but it was a great hike and maybe one of the best out and out ridges in Hong Kong.

When we got off the bus at Kadoorie Farm, the trail entrance was on the same side as the bus and off we set into the forest. The trail begins under dense coverage and begins in quite a relaxed fashion with no views to get you excited about. Lots of stairs and that beautiful smell of the woods will ease you into the Tai To Yan hike.

The trail is only about 3-kilometers to the Tai To Yan summit of 566m, but it is quite steep so it will take you a little bit of time and effort. Don’t expect to be up there in 40-minutes. At times the stairs were pretty relentless and the undulations gave us little time to take a breather and take in the views. Every so often I would turn around and despite the gloomy weather, be impressed by the backdrop as we climbed higher and higher.

The total incline for the hike was 656-meters, but most of it comes in these early stages as you climb your way up to the ridge. The section pictured below was probably the toughest climb of the lot. If you hate stairs, this trail (and most Hong Kong hikes) will not be your friend. It’s constantly up and down.

Once you make it up on the ridge it is just a few slight undulations to deal with but you can then enjoy the view and appreciate the drop-offs on either side. We found a few brilliant viewpoints throughout the ridge and really enjoyed seeing what was over the next little hill as we neared in on the summit.

After a couple of hours (slow going due to photo breaks), we reached the summit. To be honest, not much is going on at the summit and the best viewpoints were earlier on during the ridge. The summit simply has a trigonometric pylon as found all over Hong Kong. There are nice views but no better than elsewhere on the trail. It is simply slightly higher than the other parts of the ridge. Even with the dreary weather, we could still see across the border to Shenzen, China. On a clear day, it would be very visible.

After the summit, the trail continues on the ridge for a little while with similar undulations, before whipping off to the left and sending you back into the forest. This is where the downhill assault begins. It seems like a neverending staircase. I think it may be one of the longest continuous staircases in Hong Kong and just seemed to go on forever. I guess that’s why people start from the Kadoorie end of the ridge to avoid climbing up so many stairs in a row!

The hike finishes back at Fanling Station where you can catch the train back to wherever you might be staying in Hong Kong. This would be a good hike for sunset on a clear day as the way down would be relatively safe in the dark (with a head torch) due to the infrastructure of the stairs. 

I hope you enjoy this beautiful ridge out in the New Territories of Hong Kong!

5 BEST HIKES IN HONG KONG

I wrote a massive guide about the 21 Best Hikes in Hong Kong, but if you are only in Hong Kong for a week or less here are the five most epic routes.

• Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff
• Lion Rock Hike
• West Dog’s Teeth to Lantau Ridge Hike
• Sharp Peak Hike
• Ma On Shan Hike

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

SHARP PEAK HIKING GUIDE

In this blog post, I’ll share everything you need to know about the Sharp Peak Hike including where it is, how to get there, and when it’s best to visit.

SHARP PEAK AND TAI WAN BEACH MAP

I said above that we took this route more or less. We actually extended it by going to the Sai Kung Rockpools. We still started and finished at Pak Tam Au but our loop at the bottom was extended to the bay further south. If you plan to do that it’s not hard to add it in but for the purpose of sharing this map, most will use the regular Sharp Peak and Tai Wan Beach route. 

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

MY EXPERIENCE HIKING SHARP PEAK IN SAI KUNG

I set off at 7 am from Tsim Sha Tsui and made my way out into the Hong Kong Hustle on a subway and then two buses to arrive at Pak Tam Au bus stop. This would be the start and the end of our hike. As I mentioned in some o the details above, we took a slightly different route to the map.

We first headed through the wild, uncleared trails from Pak Tam Au to reach the Sai Kung Rockpools. If you do head along these backwoods trails, I highly advise pants as the route is a bit unruly and our shins copped a beating from the low brush.

After an hour along the undulating ridges of Sai Kung, we made our way down to the Sheung Luk Stream, which we followed as we headed towards the coast. Just before the beach came into sight, we came across the rockpools. No-one was there, which is apparently quite rare. Although it wasn’t all a perfect situation.

The clouds were keeping the sun at bay and the water was damn freezing. The cliff-jumps were a guarantee but boy was it cold! We sent a few cliff jumps from a 6-7-meter high rock wall into the icy waters of the Sai Kung Rockpools.

After the rockpools, we made our way out to the Ham Tin Beach. There are two small restaurants in between Ham Tin Beach and Wai Tan Beach. They actually served uop some great food and we had a vegetarain fried rice with egg for $70HKD.

After lunch, we then linked onto the Maclehose 2 section of the trail. We were now pretty much back on the route listed above, which takes you along some beautiful coastal trails. It reminded me of a lot of the Great Ocean Road or walking the boardwalks at beaches in Sydney. It was a very gloomy day so don’t judge the beauty from my dark photographs but just trust me, on a sunny day this region is a pristine paradise with white sand and turquoise water.

The trail hugs the coast for the rest of the journey now until you reach the surf beach of Tai Wan. I was just praying for the sun to come out at this point because I could tell how beautiful the beach would be with just a little bit of a golden shimmer but it wasn’t to be. I’m sure the group of surfers at Tai Wan were keen on some sun too but nothing was stopping them.

Once you reach the far end of Tai Wan Beach, you will find multiple routes that all lead you up to Sharp Peak. We decided to take the furthest route and wrap around the far side of the summit. This adds a bit of time onto your hike but also gives you a little look into the scenery to the north of Sharp Peak.

Both ways are steep, there is no avoiding the incline from the beach that’s for sure. The entrance we took from the beach was not very formal but it was a defined trail most of the way.

At this point in the trek, it is time to roll up the sleeves because you are about to get climbing. Before the trek I had been reading some pretty bizarre comments about needing to use your hands a lot and it was very dangerous. This is not at all the case. We might’ve used our hands once but it was never a rock-climbing course. When I say ‘climbing’, I mean trekking up a mountain.

As you power your way up the rocky route the view slowly reveals itself. We found ourselves looking back towards the coast throughout the climb as the view became more and more impressive the higher we rose.

This part of the trail will challenge even those with good fitness. Those who are out of shape will curse their friends who dragged them on the hike. However, you are now so close. You can see the summit and there is no turning back. The trail becomes a white path of loose rock, cutting through the dead-orange grass. We’re nearly there.

The final section of the trail was rocky and almost could be called bouldering. It was possible to navigate without using your hands but as you can see below it was a section that required a bit of technical bouldering. Don’t fear this part, young and old were cruising through without a stutter.

Just before the Sharp Peak summit was a great little rocky outcrop with views over the Sai Kung peninsula. We stopped here before making the final ascent.

Finally, we reached the summit of Sharp Peak in Sai Kung. The top was quite crowded with around 20 or so others enjoying the views. After a few moments, there was a mass exodus and it was just a few of us left to take it all in. We hung out here at the top for about half an hour but some storm clouds were rolling in to make the dark scene even darker. The views on a clear day from this summit will be absolutely phenomenal. On this day they were great but with the light on the ridges and the blue water, it will be out of this world. Here are the photos from the summit taken on the camera and the drone.

After an epic time at the summit watching the clouds come and go, we made the dash back to Pak Tam Au, which took us just under two hours. The slippery gravel caught us off guard a few times as I went for a couple of slips but the trail was paved for the last 3-kilometers back to Pak Tam Au bus stop. 

I hope you get out and enjoy the Sharp Peak Hike and if you can make it work, I’m sure it would be an epic spot for a sunrise or a sun-set but due to its position, it may be a little tough logistically. Good luck and happy hiking.

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

5 BEST HIKES IN HONG KONG

I wrote a massive guide about the 21 Best Hikes in Hong Kong, but if you are only in Hong Kong for a week or less here are the five most epic routes.

• Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff
• Lion Rock Hike
• West Dog’s Teeth to Lantau Ridge Hike
• Sharp Peak Hike
• Ma On Shan Hike

DRAGON’S BACK HIKE: COMPLETE GUIDE

In this blog post, I’ll share everything you need to know about the Tai To Yan hike including where it is, how to get there and when it’s best to visit.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

MY EXPERIENCE HIKING THE DRAGON’S BACK TRAIL IN HONG KONG

It was a sunny December morning when I decided to head out to the Dragon’s Back Hike. I’d forgotten it was a Sunday, so I had unintentionally signed myself up to deal with the crowds of tourists and locals alike that flock to this ridge-line.

After doing the hike, I can only imagine it is the lack of incline that is so attractive about the hike as there are many other equally scenic trails I’ve hiked in Hong Kong with no crowds. Somehow it has become the most popular easy hiking trail in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, it was beautiful but crowded.

The bus stop at the train station had a line of about forty people waiting to get on. Most were dressed in hiking gear and it was at that point, which I figured out it was Sunday. We were now part of the crowd, which was unusual for me.

The bus dropped us at the trailhead and we let the hoards go ahead and slowly meandered our way up the dusty path. You can expect crowds on the trail but it doesn’t ruin the experience. I always enjoy seeing others out enjoying nature for themselves and like to look at it that way rather than they are ruining the serenity for me. These are natural attractions for us all to enjoy!

The hike begins with a rocky path that leads to a few nice viewpoints over Tai Tam Bay and the Stanley Peninsula. Despite being popular, this hike is actually quite nice for photography with lots of viewpoints, butterflies, a dense forest at times and coast on either side of the ridge.

After just 1.5 kilometers arrived the first major viewpoint, which is made of lots of little rocky outcrops along the sloping cliff. We spent about an hour exploring here, flying the drone and just chilling. We were in no rush and it’s the best way to do Dragon’s Back with all the viewpoints and places to stop along the way.

The blue water and incredible coastline may be no news to the locals but will surprise many tourists. It’s not what you think of when Hong Kong comes to mind!

Once you leave this first viewpoint, you are now walking down the ridge. You are now hiking along the Dragon’s Back. The path stays on the ridge for quite some time, occasionally a viewpoint will open up but the view remains relatively the same the whole way down the ridge until you start to the dropdown. It’s a beautiful contrast of lush green trees and bushes against the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean.

Keep an eye out for butterflies along this part of the trail. There were hundreds when we visited in December and they seemed to be in mating season.

The trail now heads down towards the left and you deviate away from the ridge-line. The hike is now heading down towards Shek-O if you wish to finish up or you can continue on towards Big Wave Bay. The great views are over for a bit as you are inside the forest now but I do suggest you keep going to either Big Wave Bay or Pottinger Peak as I did.

We actually made the decision quite late and the sun was already fading. We were on our way to Big Wave Bay, but then I saw Pottinger Peak on the map and thought it could be cool to be at a peak instead of a beach for golden hour and sunset. So, off we set climbing a couple of hundred extra meters up the hill to find the peak. While the actual peak has no viewpoint and is just a radio tower hidden in the trees, there were lots of great views from little clearings and spots along the way. 

I took these photos on my camera while running up the hill chasing the last light of the day.

Once I was at Pottinger Peak, I decided to throw my drone up and shoot the sun setting over the Dragon’s Back and also get a great view of Big Wave Bay from the sky. The sunset was a nice one and I managed to get a few good shots that show the ridgeline quite nicely.

We now had a 2.5km walk down to either Big Wave Bay or 2.5km to Siu Sai Wan. It was pretty much dark so we headed down to Siu Sai Wan and then caught the bus back to Central. Below is a photo of Pema, just before we walked back down to Siu Sai Wan in the dark. Overall it was a great hike and I encourage you to head up to Pottinger Peak for the sunset as it was pretty glorious and the highlight of the whole hike… along with the butterflies.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE DRAGON’S BACK TRAIL

1. Difficulty Level: The Dragon’s Back trail is considered a moderately easy hike suitable for hikers of various skill levels. The well-marked path and gentle gradients make it accessible to both beginners and experienced hikers.
2. Scenic Views: Prepare to be amazed by the stunning panoramic views along the trail. As you hike the ridge, you’ll be treated to breathtaking vistas of Hong Kong’s coastline, lush hills, and even the city skyline in the distance. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
3. Trail Length and Duration: The Dragon’s Back hike spans approximately 8.5 kilometers in distance. The average duration for completing the trail is around 2-3 hours, depending on your pace and the time spent admiring the views. It’s advisable to start early to avoid the midday heat and crowds.
4. Transport and Access: To reach the starting point of the trail, you can take the MTR to Shau Kei Wan and then either a bus or taxi to To Tei Wan. Bus routes 9 or 9A are commonly used for this purpose. Remember to check the bus schedules in advance for a smooth journey.
5. Optional Beach Visit: The Dragon’s Back hike conveniently ends near Big Wave Bay, a picturesque beach known for its surf-friendly waves. After completing the hike, you can unwind on the sandy shores, take a refreshing dip, or even try your hand at surfing if you’re up for it.

By keeping these key points in mind, you can make the most of your Dragon’s Back hike, enjoying the scenic beauty and capturing lasting memories of Hong Kong’s natural landscapes.

5 BEST HIKES IN HONG KONG

I wrote a massive guide about the 21 Best Hikes in Hong Kong, but if you are only in Hong Kong for a week or less here are the five most epic routes.

• Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff
• Lion Rock Hike
• West Dog’s Teeth to Lantau Ridge Hike
• Sharp Peak Hike
• Ma On Shan Hike

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

BRAEMAR HILL HIKING GUIDE

In this blog post, I’ll share everything you need to know about the Braemar Hill hike including where it is, how to get there, and when it’s best to visit.

HOW TO GET TO AND FROM BRAEMAR HILL/RED INCENSE BURNER SUMMIT

I suggest you take the same route as we did so you get to visit all of the other viewpoints along the way. If you just go up and down from St. Joan of Arc Secondary School, you will only see Red Incense Burner Summit and no other viewpoints.

To reach the starting point you will need to take the MTR to Admiralty station and then catch the 24M bus to Mount Butler Block C & D. This is where the trail begins.

You can put that address into Google Maps. Once you arrive there, put either Braemar Hill or Red Incense Burner Summit into your maps and follow the trail along the road. Be sure to dart off at all the unnamed rock viewpoints along the way.

When you finish at the Red Incense Burner Summit (after visiting the other spots and Braemar Hill), you will walk down for 2-minutes to the bus stop near St. Joan of Arc Secondary School and catch the bus back to Admiralty or whichever MTR you need to get home.

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE BRAEMAR HILL HIKE

I began the day in Tsim Sha Tsui but saw that the weather was shaping up nicely after a few cloudy days. Braemar Hill is known as a great sunset spot so I headed off on the train across to Central and then caught the bus up to Mount Butler region. I didn’t know much about the trail, specifically the fact that you can reach the viewpoint in just two minutes from the other side. However, it turned out to be a great route that I chose because the other viewpoints along the way were incredible as you will see below.

The trail begins on a road with quarries and other construction sites on either side of you. Lots of the hikes in Hong Kong have started off in kind of weird surroundings on the edge of suburbia and the jungle. The first kilometer or so was very uneventful and a slow meander along the side of the road.

After a couple of kilometers we were now on a small path, surrounded by trees and enjoying being immersed in nature. The city was behind us and out of view except for the moments where gaps in the tree gave us a glimpse of the buildings below.

The key to getting the most out of the Braemar Hill Hike is to venture off the main trail at any given opportunity. 90% of the trails we veered off onto led to great viewpoints. You need to have an adventurous mindset.

The first viewpoint was at the bottom of a small river, which at the time was lacking any water at all. We had a look down the river and followed it for a minute until we reached a clearing, looking out over the city. We had lots of time on our hands so made it a point to stop and chill at each viewing platform.

The next viewpoint came after a little bush trail led us out to another mangificent rock platform.

Before we had even made it to the first turn-off we again veered off the track to reach another viewpoint. None of this would have been possible had we come from the other direction, which is why it’s best to come from the Mount Butler Block side.

The trail continued on until we reached a small sign on the left of the route. It was in Cantonese but you need to turn left here to reach the ultimate viewpoint, ‘Red Burner Incense Summit’.

Shortly after this sign, you will again veer off to the left of the main track down a short dirt path to my favorite viewpoint of the whole hike. Here there are a few big boulders you can sit on with great views of Victoria Harbor, Kowloon and Central. We stayed at this viewpoint all the way up until sunset, which is when we made the final move to the end viewpoint, where the rest of the hikers had assembled.

The Braemar Hill Viewpoint is a little bit higher or you can head to the Red Incense Burner Summit down a little lower. We chose the latter as it had some nice boulders, completely surrounded by trees that created the perfect vantage point. Braemar Hill is only a short walk above and is much the same as were all of the viewpoints in this region. We watched the sunset come and go before the sky fizzled out and the city lights came on.

There were several guys out with their tripods and long exposure set-ups getting after some night photos. It’s a good place to bring a tripod for night shots if you are into that. I just sat my camera on my bag to get a couple of snaps but I’m sure the pro’s next to me came out with some great shots.

I hope you enjoy the Braemar Hill Hike and the Red Incense Burner Summit viewpoint. I also hope you get a nice sunset. Remember for the early viewpoints, begin the hike at Mount Butler Block A & B.

5 BEST HIKES IN HONG KONG

I wrote a massive guide about the 21 Best Hikes in Hong Kong, but if you are only in Hong Kong for a week or less here are the five most epic routes.

• Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff
• Lion Rock Hike
• West Dog’s Teeth to Lantau Ridge Hike
• Sharp Peak Hike
• Ma On Shan Hike

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM PENINSULA HOTEL

In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about the Helicopter Tour from the Peninsula. I’ll also share all of my photos, so you can get an idea of the type of views you will encounter.

Click Here to book your Hong Kong helicopter tour from the Peninsula Hotel (The same place I booked my flight)

HOW TO BOOK THE HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR

In Hong Kong, there is just one main company flying the helicopter tours so it makes it an easy choice when deciding who to fly with. The company is called HeliServices and operates from the top-floor and helipad of the Peninsula Hotel, which is one of the fanciest hotels in Hong Kong.

You will need to book in advance, which you can do online through Klook, which is actually the cheapest way to book your helicopter flight. The price for one person on a group flight for 18-minutes is $2750 HDK ($350 USD). This isn’t the cheapest heli-flight price in the world but Hong Kong is an expensive city so it’s on par with the city prices. The private tour is ridiculously priced at more than $4000 USD. 

The things to consider:

• You will be part of a group flight. The helicopter seats six people so there are 4 window seats and two middle seats. You can still see out of the windows but the view is much better from the window seat. Luckily for us, there were only four on our flight so everyone had a window.
• Because it is a group tour, you cannot pick the exact time you want to leave. I asked for a sunset flight but they told me the group tours leave at 2:30 pm and if I wanted the sunset time slot I would need to book the private tour. The lighting and views would be better at sunset probably but it was still great at 2:30 pm.
• The flight is 18-minutes. It’s quite short but because Hong Kong isn’t a large region, you can still see a lot in a short time. The longer private flights of up to 45-minutes are thousands of dollars to book.
• It is quite an expensive activity but for $350 per person to fly over Hong Kong, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity so it will be an experience you remember, rather than that night out on Hong Kong Island you will forget by the next day!

Click Here to book your Hong Kong helicopter tour 

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR

We arrived at the Peninsula Hotel and met the staff on the ground floor we waited for the others from our group tour to arrive. Off we went to the top floor in the elevator and into the waiting and briefing room that had epic views back out to Hong Kong Island. After a quick briefing, we headed out onto the helipad, which is on the roof of the Peninsula Hotel and strapped into our seats. 

It wasn’t a doors-off helicopter flight, which is my favorite but it was going to be some epic cityscapes and landscapes so I was stoked. Our flight began by heading off from Tsim Sha Tsui and circling back around towards Tsuen Wan. On the way, we flew over all of the shipping yards, which was actually a really interesting part of the flight. We could see all of the multi-colored containers and one huge container ship being loaded up at the dock.

We then headed inland and found ourselves in the thick of the Hong Kong jungle after leaving the city behind. That’s why I love Hong Kong, it’s 85% natural parklands but most people don’t realize that and think it’s just shopping and business buildings. Flying over it all in a helicopter really shows you just how green Hong Kong is.

The pilot needs to do a refuel every few flights and luckily for us, it was our flight so we had a bit of an extended journey. We had to stop, get out and wait for 5-minutes at the refueling base but I think it extended our trip by 15-minutes so we had almost double the time of a normal flight!

After the refuel, we set off again and before too long, we found ourselves cruising over the iconic Lion Rock. It’s one of the most popular hikes in Hong Kong but on this day we didn’t have to put in too much effort to enjoy the view.

We were now on our way back to Tsim Sha Tsui but we still had to do a giant victory lap over Hong Kong Island, which is the iconic business district of Hong Kong. It can really only be described as a mini-New York with urban density on par to some of the busiest cities in the world. The birds of view over the financial district and the high-rises is such a unique perspective and one of the highlights of the Hong Kong helicopter tour.

That rounded out an epic Hong Kong helicopter tour. It was an expensive trip but as you can see from the photos you get to see quite a diverse range of landscapes in such a short amount of time. Comment below if you end up going on the trip and let me know how it was!

Click Here to book your Hong Kong helicopter tour online at the cheapest available price with Klook (I booked mine with Klook).

TIPS FOR SHOOTING PHOTOS ON A HELICOPTER FLIGHT

Shooting photos through glass in the middle of the day can be very difficult. Here are a few of my tips to make sure you have a good experience taking photos out on the helicopter flight around Hong Kong. If you aren’t into taking photos, skip the tips below.

• Remove any filters or polarizers from you camera as they may not work through the glass of the helicopter and distort your colors.
• Set your camera up with your preferred settings before you get on the flight as things happen quickly from the first minute.
• Rehearse taking photos and changing settings so you aren’t flustered in the heat of the moment.
• I shoot in aperture priority, wide focus, and multi-metering mode so that my settings are pretty automatic but I still have some control. I make sure my shutter is no slower than 1/1000 so that I don’t have to worry about motion blur.
• Try not to shoot directly into the sun as it can be difficult to capture all the highlights doing so.
• On this flight, I had to hold me camera high on the window to avoid the glare and reflection. Figure this out early rather than having reflections, glares and marks on your photos. You’ll still see some in my photos below but for the most part they turned out okay considering it was full sun and through the glass.
• Unless you are keen on a tighter lens for a specific purpose, I suggest a wide angle. I shot all of my photos on a Sony A7iii witha 16-35mm lens.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

LANTAU PEAK HIKE: COMPLETE GUIDE

In this blog post, I’ll share everything you need to know about the Lantau Peak hike including where it is, how to get there, the many different route options and when it’s best to visit.

LANTAU PEAK HIKE DETAILS (West Dog’s Teeth Ridge route)

• Hike Distance: The total distance of the hike for me was 8.77km. However, it will depend on whether you summit Lantau Peak via the West Dog’s Teeth Ridge Trail, via the Big Buddha or via the quick/easy route of Pak Kung Au. I suggest the West Dog’s Teeth Hike route as it is the most challenging. I’ll explain the options in the trail directions below.
• Hike Duration: The total moving time was 2.5-hours for me but the total adventure time was 4-5 hours. We hung out on some of the ridges and then watched the sunset from Lantau Peak.
• Hike Difficulty: This route is often referred to as the hardest hike in Hong Kong. Don’t let that scare you. There are no crazy ridge-lines or death-defying moments. The hike isn’t easy but this is what you can expect:
• Scrambling up rocks using hands but at an angle not a vertical wall like rock climbing
• Some overgrown bushes and trees to push through
• Some very steep sections of incline although total incline wasn’t even 1000-meters
• Hike Incline: My total hike incline was 880m

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

ALTERNATE ROUTES TO LANTAU PEAK

• West Dog’s Teeth Ridge Hike: Detailed above or you can read my full blog post about that hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’

• Lantau Peak via the Big Buddha: The Big Buddha can be reached by cable car or hiking. Once you enjoy the monastery and Big Buddha statue you can make the final climb up to Lantau Peak. It’s just a couple of kilometers from the Big Buddha so you can combine both to make a full-day adventure. You can then hike back down to Big Budhha or head down the easy-route to Pak Kung Au.

• Lantau Peak ‘Simple’ Route out-and-back from Pak Kung Au: This route is by far the shortest and simplest but will still be a challenging climb. Jump off the bus at the Pak Kung Au bus stop and head up the trail directly to Lantau Peak. It’s only 2.5-kilometers to the summit but will be quite steep.

Luckily the bus stop is already at a few hundred meters of incline so you don’t have to hike all the way from sea-level. Return the exact same way down and it will complete a 5-kilometer out-and-back route. This is a good way to go if you are keen to stay up for sunset.

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE LANTAU PEAK HIKE

So, as I mentioned above, there are multiple ways to reach the summit of Lantau Peak. My blog post will share with you the details and my experience of hiking to Lantau Peak via the West Dog’s Teeth Hike. I did go down from Lantau Peak to Pak Kung Au and can say that there isn’t much to note about that route. It is just the quickest way up and down without too much to marvel at.

The other route via Big Buddha would be great also but I’ve never done that so I will not share specific details about it. So here we go, this is my hike recount of the Lantau Peak hike via West Dog’s Teeth Ridge.

The trailhead begins at the entrance for the Shek Pik Country Trail. You need to venture past the signs until you reach the man-made waterway. Cross the small bridge (pictured below) and then begin to follow the Shek Pik Country Trail.

The trail begins with a few steep stairways with full forest coverage. The first several kilometers of the trail is a combination of flat dirt paths and steep steps. 

You will need to remain on the trail all the way until you are 3-kilometers into the hike. Almost exactly at the 3-kilometer mark, you will make a turn off the trail on the right. There is a path (more like a rocky ramp) with spray-painted characters, which is the start of the West Dog’s Teeth Ridge and the point when you leave the Shek Pik Country Trail.

The dirt path you enjoyed for the first few kilometers is over and the trail to Lantau Peak is now a rocky scramble up the West Dog’s Teeth Ridge. It’s never too dangerous in my opinion (you be the judge for yourself) but you will have to use your hands in a few sections. 

This section of the trail is quite slow but it’s important to take it an easier pace to watch your footing and surroundings as you go. Don’t rush this part. Make sure to turn around frequently as you will be rewarded with great views back down to the reservoir where you began the trek. This initial section of the Lantau Peak Hike was probably my favorite section of trail throughout the entire trail.

These are some drone photos I took from the middle ridge looking up to Lantau Peak. It was a cloudy day but often pockets of the sun would smash through. Lantau Peak is said to be mysterious as it is often covered by clouds.

When we started it was totally enveloped by clouds and I was a bit disappointed but it ending up clearing up entirely. Keep that in mind. It could change quickly so don’t delay your hike if you see clouds, just cross your fingers the clouds blow over.

After almost 5-kilometers, you will reach an intersection of three trails. The one to your right leads down to the Middle Dog’s Teeth trail, one leads back the way you just came and the other is up to Lantau Peak. It’s time to make the final ascent up to Lantau Peak.

This final section of the hike up to Lantau Peak summit is very steep. It’s maybe less than 1-kilometer in length but on multiple occasions, you will look up at the giant wall of stairs in front of you! Make sure you turn back often to take in the views because if you have decent weather like us you will be able to see the whole ridge you have just conquered.

We made it to Lantau Peak, which is the second-highest peak in Hong Kong and the highest on Lantau Island. The highest peak is Tai Mo Shan, which I hiked earlier in the month.

After the tough journey to the summit, we took a seat and enjoyed the last half an hour of the golden hour before the sunset made it’s the best effort. Hong Kong can be very smoggy as it was while I was visiting. You can see it clearly in some of the photos below, which really shows the thick layer that seems to block all of the good sunset colors. Nevertheless, it was pretty nice being up so high and having panoramic views and looking out across to Sunset Peak, which is another great hike on Lantau Island. 

As you can see on the map below, I then headed down to the main road Pak Kung Au. It is the road between Sunset Peak and Lantau Peak so it’s the same way home as if you had finished Sunset Peak. This route was a nice way to go down in the dark as it was mostly paved and had a nice stairway for the majority of the route. This made it safe but we still needed our head torches.

The ridge we took down to Pak Kung Au. After completing the West Dog’s Teeth Ridge hike and the Lantau Peak Summit hike with relative ease, I would say it was one of the hardest hikes in Hong Kong but wouldn’t put it in the hard category on a relative scale to any hikes in Switzerland, etc.

It’s got incline and some bushwacking but you could quite easily take adventurous children on this hike if they had successfully completed some other Hong Kong hikes first. Happy hiking and I hope you enjoy this challenge of reaching the Lantau Peak summit.

LANTAU PEAK FOR SUNRISE

Witnessing the sunrise from Lantau Peak is a remarkable experience that should not be missed. To catch the breathtaking sunrise, it is recommended to start the hike in the early morning hours, typically before dawn.

There are several routes to reach Lantau Peak, such as starting from Ngong Ping Village or Tung Chung, depending on your preference and location. As you ascend to the summit, be prepared for a challenging but rewarding hike.

Reaching the peak just before the sun begins to rise, you’ll be greeted by a spectacular view as the first rays of light illuminate the surroundings. The serene beauty of the landscape, coupled with the vibrant colors painting the sky, creates a magical atmosphere.

It’s advisable to check the sunrise time and plan accordingly to allow enough time for the hike. Additionally, don’t forget to bring warm clothing, as the peak can be chilly in the early morning.

Watching the sunrise from Lantau Peak offers a truly awe-inspiring and unforgettable experience, providing a serene and peaceful start to your day amidst the stunning natural beauty of Hong Kong.

5 BEST HIKES IN HONG KONG

I wrote a massive guide about the 21 Best Hikes in Hong Kong, but if you are only in Hong Kong for a week or less here are the five most epic routes.

• Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff
• Lion Rock Hike
• West Dog’s Teeth to Lantau Ridge Hike
• Sharp Peak Hike
• Ma On Shan Hike

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

RHINO ROCK HIKE COMPLETE GUIDE

In this blog post, I’ll share everything you need to know about the Rhino Rock Hike including where it is, how to get there, and when it’s best to visit.

RHINO ROCK TRAIL DETAILS

• Hike Distance: The total distance of the hike is just two-kilometers in total.
• Hike Duration: While getting out and back from the Rhino Rock will take just 30-minutes round-trip, it’s fun to hang out at the rock for at least 20-minutes to take some photos and soak in the view.
• Hike Difficulty: This is quite an easy hike, although you need to navigate some small boulders. The trail is more or less well-defined although I got a bit lost as the ribbons go in many directions. Overall it’s a tame adventure but not necessarily straightforward.
• Hike Incline: My total hike incline was 185m but some of that was probably my climbing and exploring. Expect very minimal uphill on this short trail.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE RHINO ROCK TRAIL IN STANLEY, HONG KONG

If you are staying in Central, it will be a bit of a journey to get down to Stanley. It can take 60-90 minutes to reach the trailhead. I suggest pairing this short adventure with another nearby hike called Violet Hill (Twin Peaks). It’s much longer and will give you a full day of hiking as the Rhino Rock trail will hardly tire you out.

So, the bus drops you off at the Stanley Fort bus stop. As soon as you get off the bus, the army security will be eyeing you off but you can quickly shuffle across the road to the stairway entrance, which is right next to the security booth at their main entrance gate. Don’t be alarmed by the rifles, it is a legal trail despite it’s proximity to the Stanley Fort base. I even flew my drone (not over there base but Rhino Rock is still within a few hundred meters of the base) and there was no commotion.

The hike is pretty much a 1-kilometer of the trail until you reach Rhino Rock. It begins with 150m of straight incline. That means despite the tiny distance of this hike, you will still get a quick burn in the legs as you power through the only tough section of trail.

At this point, you cannot get lost, just follow the path. However, after about 600m, you will reach a trigonometric marker (basically a white pillar/pole). You will need to divert off the path here and head into the bushes on your right-hand side.

The gap into the bushes is marked with ribbons and I have taken a picture below to show you where to go. Most of these white poles are at summits and great views over Hong Kong but this one offers no such views.

Only a couple of minutes later, you will emerge through the bushes and get your first view of the beautiful coastline. This is what it’s all about. Hong Kong has some seriously ‘tropical-vibes’ beaches. Wait till you see the turquoise color of this water! 

The trail is marked by ribbons but you know how it goes, every tree seems to have a ribbon tied to it and it can be quite easy to get lost. Luckily it is a small area and ‘lost’ means just a few yards off the trail. We never tried to veer off the trail but at a certain point, we couldn’t see a way forward. It didn’t bother us as we kept finding epic little viewpoints.

Don’t worry if the trail is looking a bit too adventurous, it is actually a pretty simple dirt trail when you can manage to stay on it. There is very little and very basic bouldering required to navigate this route. There were lots of older hikers enjoying the trail on the day I visited.

After we managed to get back on track, we followed the path for another 10-minutes. It was quite fun turning around each corner trying to spot the ‘Rhino Rock’. Besides the famous Rhino-shaped rock, there are lots of other really beautiful rock formations. I’ve attached a drone photo below to give you an idea of how the trail actually looks like and shows the wild nature of this coastal region.

The hunt was over! We located the Rhino Rock (not as dramatic or hard as I’m making it seem) and it was one of those landmarks that get hyped up a bit… and lives up to the hype. It really does resemble a Rhino so much and when you see it in person, the ridges and holes in the rock almost seem to resemble the eyes, wrinkles, and features of a giant rhinoceros. 

While it’s not necessary, you can climb the rhinoceros by walking around to the backside of the ‘head’. There is a tree with a small rope to help you up. It’s not a huge cliff but falling off the ‘horn’ would still result in a terrible accident so do take care if you venture up top. 

The sun was out for us and the scenes were just incredible. The Rhino Rock was glowing and the coast was looking beautiful.

The army base is next door so flying the drone is probably not suggested. I tend to be an ask for forgiveness if you are caught kind of person and if I’m not harming or endangering anyone, I usually chuck up the drone for a look. The best photos here are taken from down low with the digital camera but the drone gave me a nice look at the coast despite the fog.

We made the incredibly short journey back to the trailhead and caught the bus into Stanley before heading off to attack Violet Hill Hike, which gave us a bit more of a physical test than Rhino Rock hike. It’s a great little adventure though and a fun photo spot. 

I really suggest visiting Rhino Rock in the morning as that is when the sun is shining on this side of the cliff. In the afternoon you may not have much light for photos and just to enjoy the sun.

I hope you enjoy the Rhino Rock and let me know in the comments below if you get out to Hong Kong and find this strange rock formation.

5 BEST HIKES IN HONG KONG

I wrote a massive guide about the 21 Best Hikes in Hong Kong, but if you are only in Hong Kong for a week or less here are the five most epic routes.

• Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff
• Lion Rock Hike
• West Dog’s Teeth to Lantau Ridge Hike
• Sharp Peak Hike
• Ma On Shan Hike

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

THE BEST BUDGET HOTELS IN HONG KONG COMPARISON TABLE

Here’s a chart for you to look at with ratings taken from booking.com and prices per night for the best budget hotels in Hong Kong.

Region: Kowloon/ Tsim Sha Tsui
The Cityview****	$58
Shamrock Hotel***	$44
Metropark Hotel Mongkok****	$40
The Bauhinia Hotel- Tsim Sha Tsui****	$48
Region: Hong Kong Island/ Central
The Harbourview****	$54
Burlington Hotel****	$58
Eco Tree Hotel****	$53
Kew Green Hotel Wan Chai Hong Kong****	$67
Ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan***	$58
Hotel Ease Access Wan Chai****	$39

BUDGET HOTELS IN TSIM SHA TSUI & KOWLOON REGION

In this section, I’ll detail all of the best budget hotels in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Kowloon region of Hong Kong.

THE CITY-VIEW

The Cityview (Great Location): Set in the heart of Kowloon district, The Cityview is an ideal destination for those traveling on a budget. Aside from being reasonable in price, this 4-star gem is in a great location making it a popular accommodation for all sorts of travelers. 4-stars for under $80 is an incredible deal! It is only walking distance to everything such as Yau Ma Tei MTR station, famous markets, a variety of dining options and other tourist attractions. The hotel offers free shuttle service to and from the airport line’s Kowloon station. The hotel rooms are nice and clean with modern amenities. There three on-site restaurants that serve delectable international cuisine as well as meeting venues for business people. Guests can access the pool and gym at the YMCA. Though the breakfast buffet is not included in the price of your stay, it really is good!

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for The Cityview

The Cityview

• Ideal destination
• Nice and clean
• Free shuttle service

Check price

SHAMROCK HOTEL

Shamrock Hotel (Great Location/ Great Service): Just a block away from the subway station, Shamrock Hotel has gained popularity when it comes to exceptional location and service. If you are looking for a budget hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, you will be pleased with this 3-star hotel. Whether you are traveling for business or sightseeing, accommodation at Shamrock is a very convenient stay. The hotel staff are so warm and welcoming in such a way that they immediately help you in everything including currency exchange, tour booking, etc.. The hotel shuttle is also available for free for all guests, which is a very handy service. 

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Shamrock Hotel

Shamrock Hotel

• Exceptional location
• Tour booking
• Free shuttle

Check price

METROPARK HOTEL MONGKOK

Metropark Hotel Mongkok (Location): Metropark has it all. Gym, epic bar, and restaurant and beautiful pool. The rooms are also very nice so this 4-star hotel should be a lot more expensive. It is my value pick. The hotel’s location is perfect given the fact that if you stay here, it will give you a chance to access both parts of Hong Kong. It is a 4-star hotel yet affordable enough even for those looking for a budget hotel in Hong Kong. Hotel rooms ranging from standard rooms to suites. There is an on-site cafe(Café Hume), a bar, and a coffee shop. What else you could ask for? But what is wonderful about this hotel is you are practically close to everything. I highly recommended this hotel to all those looking for a budget hotel in Hong Kong!

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Metropark Hotel Mongkok

Metropark Hotel Mongkok

• On-site cafe
• Swimming pool
• Fitness centre

Check price

THE BAUHINIA HOTEL

The Bauhinia Hotel– Tsim Sha Tsui (View): Are you looking for accommodation that gives you the best view of the observatory and the sea partially yet still caters to your budget? The Bauhinia Hotel got your back! This affordable 4-star hotel is perched on the upper area of Tsim Sha Tsui. Getting here on foot is a challenge but don’t freak out as the hotel offers free shuttle service from and to the subway station daily. All the dining options, pubs, and bars are just moments away. The rooms are spacious with excellent shower pressure. And if you get the right room, you will be rewarded with the stunning view of city skyscrapers and the ocean. I think it’s probably one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in! It is the little touches that make it beautiful.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for The Bauhinia Hotel

The Bauhinia Hotel

• Rooms are spacious
• Stunning city view
• Free shuttle service

Check price

BUDGET HOTELS IN HONG KONG ISLAND/CENTRAL

In this section, I’ll detail all of the best budget hotels in Hong Kong Island and the best budget hotels in Hong Kong Central.

THE HARBOURVIEW

The Harbourview (Great Rooms/ Great View): As its name suggests, Harbourview offers a spectacular view of the marina. It also features sleek, clean, and spacious rooms with luxurious items and en-suite bathrooms. With more than five thousand reviews on the booking.com website. This is quite a popular haven for all budget-conscious business travelers. Business rooms are great value for money. Imagine lying in your comfy bed and be able to look out the spectacular view of the harbor, isn’t it perfect? This hotel should be priced much higher due to the modern rooms and view, which is why I’ve chosen it as one of the top budget hotels in Hong Kong. For a reasonable price, this hotel has everything you could need for a comfortable stay. With its excellent location and cleanliness, no wonder why it is one of the nicest budget hotels in Hong Kong Island!

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for The Harbourview

The Harbourview

• Spectacular view
• Great value for money
• Modern rooms

Check price

BURLINGTON HOTEL

Burlington Hotel (Location): If you want to be in the middle of everything in Hong Kong Island and save some of your money, Burlington Hotel is ideal for you! This 4-star hotel is technically situated in the heart of hustle and bustle of Wan Chai. When it comes to public transport, you will not worry about it as the hotel is only a stone throw away from the main subway station. It’s one of the top options for a budget hotel in Hong Kong. At this price, with a view of the city out your window, it is hard to go wrong!

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Burlington Hotel

Burlington Hotel

• View of the city
• 24-hour front desk
• Free WiFi

Check price

ECO TREE HOTEL

Eco Tree Hotel (Convenient Location): Are you looking for accommodation that gives you easy access to Macao and Victoria Peak? Look no further. Eco Tree Hotel lies in the center of the action. It is next to Metro stop and not far away from the ferry terminal so it’s a perfect place to start your Hong Kong escapade. There is a park nearby where you can enjoy the views that span across the harbor. The MTR, trams, and buses are right at your doorstep. Hotel rooms are of good quality and the staff is incredible in giving value-added services. Aside from that, the hotel is one of the best budget options in Hong Kong considering you are in a trendy neighborhood of Hong Kong island. You can’t fault Eco Tree Hotel at all.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Eco Tree Hotel

Eco Tree Hotel

• Good quality rooms
• Value-added services
• Café providing breakfast

Check price

KEW GREEN HOTEL WAN CHAI

Kew Green Hotel Wan Chai Hong Kong:  This 4-star hotel sits comfortably in the core of Wan Chai district making it a perfect place to stay for a couple of nights for holiday goers or business travelers. With its Chinese-British inspired interior designs, this property features brand-new rooms and amenities. The hotel is not only about the look and design, but also the little touches that make it a wonderful place to stay. What surprised me was the hotel provides free travel smartphone with unlimited mobile data so guests can access the internet 24 hours and make calls. They also have a female-only floor with feminine touches. Whether you’re traveling with your family or for business and leisure, Kew Green Hotel is highly recommended. The gym is very nice also!

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Kew Green Hotel Wan Chai

Kew Green Hotel Wan Chai

• Chinese-British inspired
• Brand-new rooms
• Gym

Check price

IBIS HONG KONG CENTRAL & SHEUNG WAN

Ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan (Bestseller): With thousands of reviews on booking.com, this is by far the most popular hotel in Hong Kong. This affordable boutique hotel really exceeded my expectations. It’s really hard not to like about this property. When it comes to transport, you will not have any problem as the MTR is only walking distance as well as the ferry terminal to Macau. There is a money changer across the street and the bus stop that will take you to the airport. They have well-appointed rooms and some have cool paintings on the walls that match the bed sheets and pillowcases. With all these wonderful offerings plus a reasonable price, this hotel is undoubtedly the best in downtown Hong Kong.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan

Ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan

• Rooms offer views
• Restaurant
• Free shuttle bus

Check price

HOTEL EASE ACCESS WAN CHAI

Hotel Ease Access Wan Chai (Great Location): Taken from the name itself, this 4-star hotel offers easy access to everything in Hong Kong Island. It’s only moments away to plenty of trendy shops, exquisite dining options, and entertainment. Each room is sparkly clean and well-designed with everything you need. Not to mention the Wi-Fi is excellent. I love the little touches of this hotel. For $39 a night, staying at Hotel Ease will definitely give you great value for money and make your Hong Kong holiday worthwhile. 4 stars starting from just $39 a night is just crazy.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Hotel Ease Access Wan Chai

Hotel Ease Access Wan Chai

• Sparkly clean rooms
• Wi-Fi is excellent
• Great value for money

Check price

I hope this list of the best budget hotels in Hong Kong helped you choose affordable accommodation for your trip. While these are the best budget hotels in Hong Kong, I also have a list of the best overall places to stay in Hong Kong that you may want to check out as well.

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE

In this blog post, I’ll share everything you need to know about the West Dog’s Teeth Hike including where it is, how to get there, the many different route options and when it’s best to visit.

WEST DOG’S TEETH RIDGE HIKE DETAILS

• Hike Distance: The total distance of the hike for me was 8.77km. However, it will depend on whether you summit Lantau Peak and also on which route you take down from the ridge (or Lantau Peak). I’ll explain the options in the trail directions below.
• Hike Duration: The total moving time was 2.5-hours for me but the total adventure time was 4-5 hours. We hung out on some of the ridges and then watched the sunset from Lantau Peak.
• Hike Difficulty: This is often referred to as the hardest hike in Hong Kong. Don’t let that scare you. There are no crazy ridge-lines or death-defying moments. The hike isn’t easy but this is what you can expect:

• Scrambling up rocks using hands but at an angle not a vertical wall like rock climbing
• Some overgrown bushes and trees to push through
• Some very steep sections of incline although total incline wasn’t even 1000-meters

Hike Incline: My total hike incline was 880m 

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

HOW TO GET TO WEST DOG’S TEETH RIDGE HIKE

To get to West Dog’s Teeth Ridge there are two options:

• Get to the Tung Chung MTR station. From there you need to get either the 11 or 23 bus. 
• Catch the ferry to Mui Wo and then catch the 1 or 2 bus.

Whichever option you choose you will need to get off the bus at the ‘Shek Pik Police Station’. It doesn’t look like a police station.

In fact, it looks like a tiny bus stop next to the reservoir. You will then walk back the way the bus drove for a couple of hundred meters to the trail entrance. I’ve pictured the bus stop and the trail entrance below.

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE WEST DOG’S TEETH RIDGE HIKE IN LANTAU, HONG KONG

The journey out to Lantau Island from Hong Kong Central is a bit of a mission but all three times I hiked on Lantau it was worth it! I took the bus option of the two I listed above and watched as the bus drove past the trailhead and then dropped us at the Shek Pik Police Station bus stop. We hopped off and walked back along the main road until we found the entrance gates.

The weather was looking a bit spotty but the sun was doing it’s best to pop through when it could. We were set for a great hike and I was genuinely curious to see what the ‘hardest’ hike on Hong Kong would serve up.

Once you find the entrance gates pictured above, you wander through the park until you reach an aqueduct or a man-made river I guess. Cross this bridge (pictured below) and then begin to follow the Shek Pik Country Trail.

The trail heads into the cover of the forest and as always in Hong Kong, the stairs quickly began. The first couple of kilometers switched between flat dirt paths and short but steep stairways.

Stay on the trail and never divert until you reach the 3-kilometer point. By now you will have done a few hundred meters of incline and may be thinking why people rave about this being a tough hike. The heat is about to be turned up a little.

On the right-hand side of the trail, you will see a rocky ramp with spray-painted characters. This is the start of the West Dog’s Teeth Ridge and the point when you leave the Shek Pik Country Trail.

The dirt path now turns a rocky scramble. It’s never too dangerous in my opinion but you will have to use your hands in a few sections. 

It’s pretty slow going in this section due to the incline and rough terrain but before too long, you will be rewarded with great views back down to the reservoir where your day began. This initial part of the climb was probably my favorite section of trail throughout the entire hike.

The trail isn’t necessarily long in distance but feels like a bit of a long journey as you are rock-hopping and dealing with uneven surfaces and bushes throughout the trail. These are some drone photos I took from the middle ridge looking up to Lantau Peak.

After about 5-kilometers, you will reach an intersection of three trails. One leads back to the Middle Dog’s Teeth trail, one leads back the way you just came and the other is up to Lantau Peak.

At this point, you can either return, go on an adventure down the middle ridge or, as I did, continue up the steep ascent to Lantau Peak. You are so close, so you may as well enjoy another landmark while you are right there! Here is what the intersection looks like.

This next section of trail up to Lantau Peak is just ridiculously steep. It’s maybe 1-kilometer in length but at times you will just look up at the wall in front of you! Make sure you turn back often to take in the views because if you have decent weather like us you will be able to see the whole ridge you have just hiked up.

The final push was an effort but after a few hours on the trail, we made it to the summit of Lantau Peak, which is the second-highest peak in Hong Kong and the highest on Lantau Island. The highest peak is Tai Mo Shan, which I hiked earlier in the month.

Once at the summit, we took a seat and enjoyed the last half an hour of the golden hour before the sunset made it’s the best effort. Hong Kong was a smoggy place the whole month I was there and some of the photos really show the thick layer that seems to block all of the good sunset colors. Nevertheless, it was pretty nice being up so high and having panoramic views.

As you can see on the map below, I then headed down to the main road Pak Kung Au. It is the road between Sunset Peak and Lantau Peak so it’s the same way home as if you had finished Sunset Peak. This route was a nice way to go down in the dark as it was mostly paved and had a nice stairway for the majority of the route. This made it safe but we still needed our head torches.

The ridge we took down to Pak Kung AuAfter completing the West Dog’s Teeth Ridge hike with relative ease, I would say it was one of the hardest hikes in Hong Kong but wouldn’t put it in the hard category on a relative scale to any hikes in Switzerland etc. It’s got incline and some bushwacking but you could quite easily take adventurous children on this hike if they had done others on Hong Kong first. Happy hiking and hope you enjoy this challenge.

MY WEST DOG’S TEETH RIDGE HIKING MAP

5 BEST HIKES IN HONG KONG

I wrote a massive guide about the 21 Best Hikes in Hong Kong, but if you are only in Hong Kong for a week or less here are the five most epic routes.

• Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff
• Lion Rock Hike
• West Dog’s Teeth to Lantau Ridge Hike
• Sharp Peak Hike
• Ma On Shan Hike

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG

SUNSET PEAK HIKING GUIDE

In this blog post, I’ll share everything you need to know about the Sunset Peak hike in Hong Kong including where it is, how to get there and when it’s best to visit.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN HONG KONG

• Best Value Hotel: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay – 4-star hotel for less than $100
• Best Value Luxury Hotel: Hotel ICON – $150 for a 5-star hotel with an epic pool
• Best Hiking/Adventure Base: Hotel Stage –  Located in Kowloon and right next to lots of epic hikes.

View on Booking.com

Check out my full guide here: BEST AREAS TO STAY HONG KONG

HOW TO GET TO THE SUNSET PEAK HIKE  ON LANTAU ISLAND, HONG KONG

If you plan on doing the through-hike like me these are the directions you will need. The first thing you need to do is to arrive at Tung Chung Railway Station, which is about 45-minutes transit from Hong Kong Central Station.

From the Tung Chung Railway Station, you can either walk to the trailhead like I did or take a local minibus. The walk was just 2.5km. The place where the trail starts is on Google Maps and is listed as the Wong Lung Hang Picnic Site. Plug this into Google Maps and then follow it all the way there.

Once you arrive at the Wong Lung Hang Picnic Site, you will see the entrance to the hike just shortly after marked by the signs I’m displaying in the photos below. From there you can follow the signs on the trail or put ‘Sunset Peak’ into your Google Maps for reference.

I’ve added my Sunset Peak hiking map for your reference and if you want to download it for your smart-watch or device you can Click Here to download.

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE SUNSET PEAK HIKE AT LANTAU ISLAND

After the journey from Central Station took about 45-minutes, I arrived at Tung Chung MTR Station. Google Maps suggested a mini-bus but with just 2.5km to the trailhead, I decided to walk. Through the city, we went heading towards the Wong Lung Hang Picnic Site. Shortly after the picnic site is the entrance to the hike.

We saw a few trail-runners and weary-looking hikers sat at the entrance, obviously having hiked through in the opposite direction. Stairs will do that to you. 

The Sunset Peak hike has a brutal start. It will break a few people early. The first 2.5-kilometers of the trail is purely stairs. In fact, you will climb non-stop up the stairs for 30-60-minutes depending on your pace.

There aren’t many views, just you and the stairs in a tense battle. Once you make it through this section, there are more stairs but no sections with this level of intensity and longevity.

The trail then opens up a lot, the sun now searing down on us as we can look around and begin to appreciate the ridges that wind through Lantau Island. It’s a beautiful, natural landscape, with no cities in view for the most part. We hustle forward through more stairs, this time they are a little less brutal and surrounded by a stunning forest scene. Along the trail were some incredible, bent trees, which were my favorite part of the early stages on the Sunset Peak hike.

With the sun beginning to drop, we made it up the clearing where we found the mysterious stone cabins. The golden grassy plains up on this ridge line swayed wildly as fierce winds hit us as soon as we made it out of the forest. The stone cabins up on the ridge are a bit of a mystery because, despite their 90-year+ existence, there isn’t too much information regarding their purpose. It’s mentioned that the houses were built by British missionaries for camping purposes, which seems like a pretty bizarre story to me!

There are quite a number of rocky outcrops here, which make for great photos. The strong winds kept most away from the edges or rocks but we braved the gale to sit atop the rocks overlooking Pui O beach down below. The smog ruined the view a bit but even with poor visibility, it was a nice view.

The trail continues on along the ridge, climbing a little bit,  but now on a dirt path without stairs. More rocks and viewpoints can be found scattered along the final moments of the route before you make the short climb to the summit.

As the sun began to set, the clouds would come and go in waves creating some strange moments up at Sunset Peak. At times we had the entire sky beaming and glowing and at other times the smog and clouds rolled in making the sun so faint it almost appeared to be the moon! There are lots of peaks right alongside Sunset Peak and they all connect with small paths off of the official path so the best thing to do is to explore all of the spots, enjoy finding different angles and have some fun while hoping for some sunset glow.

The walk down in the dark was quite tough as it was a heavy decline with lots of stairs. You will need a lot to be able to see your footing. The glow on Lantau Peak was superb during these moments, but a little dark to photograph. It’s only a short 2-kilometers or so to get down this side so it’s a quick and easy escape to the nearest bus stop. 

At the end of the trail, you will end up at the main road at Pak Kung Au and the bus stop is directly in front of you. You can catch either the 3M, 11, 23 buses back to Tung Chung MTR station to begin your journey home.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUNSET PEAK HIKE

1. Trail Difficulty: The Sunset Peak hike is considered moderately challenging, with steep sections and uneven terrain. Hikers should be prepared for a gradual ascent and descent, requiring a moderate level of fitness.
2. Spectacular Views: As you ascend to the summit of Sunset Peak, be prepared to be awe-struck by the breathtaking panoramic views. The hike offers stunning vistas of Hong Kong’s mountains, lush valleys, and the glistening waters of the South China Sea.
3. Hiking Duration: The average time to complete the Sunset Peak hike is approximately 3 to 4 hours, depending on your pace and the time spent enjoying the scenery. It’s recommended to allocate sufficient time to reach the summit and fully soak in the picturesque sunset.
4. Access to Starting Point: To access the starting point at Pak Kung Au, you can take the MTR to Tung Chung Station and then continue by bus or taxi to Lantau Island. From there, follow the signs leading to Pak Kung Au, where the trail begins.
5. Preparation Tips: It’s important to wear appropriate hiking gear, including sturdy shoes and comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor activities. Carry enough water, snacks, sunscreen, and a hat to protect against the sun. Check the weather forecast before your hike and dress accordingly.

By keeping these key points in mind, you can fully enjoy the Sunset Peak hike in Hong Kong, immersing yourself in the natural beauty, capturing stunning views, and embarking on a memorable adventure in this captivating region.

5 BEST HIKES IN HONG KONG

I wrote a massive guide about the 21 Best Hikes in Hong Kong, but if you are only in Hong Kong for a week or less here are the five most epic routes.

• Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff
• Lion Rock Hike
• West Dog’s Teeth to Lantau Ridge Hike
• Sharp Peak Hike
• Ma On Shan Hike

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER HONG KONG ARTICLES?

• A complete guide to the best things to do: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
• My favorite hikes in Hong Kong: 21 AWESOME HIKES IN HONG KONG
• How to plan your Hong Kong trip: 3-DAY HONG KONG ITINERARY FOR ADVENTURE-LOVERS
• The biggest ever guide for where to stay in Hong Kong: WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG: BEST AREAS & HOTELS
• My favorite EASY hikes: 10 EASY HIKING TRAILS IN HONG KONG
• The most luxurious places to stay: THE TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN HONG KONG (5-STAR LIST)
• The ultimate adventure: EPIC HONG KONG HELICOPTER TOUR FROM THE PENINSULA HOTEL
• The toughest overall hike: WEST DOG’S TEETH HIKE ‘HARDEST HIKE IN HONG KONG’
• Best waterfall hike: TAI MO SHAN HIKE: THE HIGHEST PEAK IN HONG KONG