[Challenging!] Hiking Routes Recommendations (Difficulty: 4 to 5 stars ★★★★★)

It’s time for a hike as autumn approaches! For hikers who are seeking further challenges, you may visit the “4-star to 5-star” hiking routes recommended by the dedicated website “Enjoy Hiking” of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and “Difficult” routes recommended by “Hiking Scheme” website of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Choose your preferred route and plan a hike with friends and family members!

^{(★=Easy | ★★=Moderate | ★★★=Demanding | ★★★★=Difficult | ★★★★★=Very Difficult)}

 

 

*Please choose>>> Hong Kong Island North New Territories West New Territories Central New Territories Sai Kung Lantau

Jardine’s Lookout - Quarry Bay(Difficulty: ★★★★)
Start at Mount Butler Road, walk along Sir Cecil’s Ride and proceed to Tai Tam Reservoir Road, Jardine’s Lookout and Siu Ma Shan. Continue along Quarry Bay Tree Walk to Greig Road, Quarry Bay. This route largely follows Section 2 of the Wilson Trail⋯⋯Read more

To Tei Wan - Big Wave Bay (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Start at To Tei Wan, Shek O Road, and walk uphill to Shek O Peak.  Then walk along the ridge between the peak and Wan Cham Shan, which resembles the back of a dragon and is well known as Dragon’s Back (Lung Chek).  Though a bit steep on both sides, the ridge offers stunning sea views on the east and west coasts and magnificent scenery along the path⋯⋯Read more

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Wilson Trail (Section 8) Yuen Tun Ha to Cloudy Hill (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Section 8 does not fall within the area of country parks and it starts at Sheung Wun Yiu, San Uk Ka. From there to King Law Ka Shuk, Tai Po Tau Tsuen, it is a cultural tour – as early as the Ming dynasty, the hills were once a kiln site because of its abundant water resources from Tai Mo Shan and rich deposits of porcelain clay in the soil⋯⋯Read more

Wilson Trail (Section 9) Cloudy Hill to Pat Sin Leng (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Section 9 starts from the summit of Cloudy Hill and ends at Hsien Ku Fung, traversing Hok Tau Reservoir, Ping Fung Shan, and Pat Sin Leng. Immersed in the peace and tranquility of the landscape at Hok Tau Reservoir before you take the footpath at the junction⋯⋯Read more

Wilson Trail (Section 10) Pat Sin Leng to Nam Chung (Difficulty: ★★★★)
The last section is a scenic route as well as an easy hike. After descending from Hsien Ku Fung, the stone stairs lead down to Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail. Along the trail, you will wend your way through the deserted ancient village of Wang Shan Keuk Ha Tsuen⋯⋯Read more

Ma Mei Ha - Luk Keng (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Ascend Ping Teng Au from Tan Chuk Hang, walk along Nam Chung Country Trail and head toward Nam Chung via Lo Lung Tin.  Take in the views of the north-eastern part of the New Territories and the boundary at Sha Tau Kok along the way⋯⋯Read more

Wu Kau Tang - Luk Keng (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Enter the ancient footpath of Lai Tau Shek from Wu Kau Tang and proceed to Lai Chi Wo.  On the way, visit the ancient temple and the Hakka village.  Take a close look of the old banyan, white-flowered derris, hollow tree, mangroves and the buttress roots of looking glass trees⋯⋯Read more

Wu Tip Shan - Lam Tsuen (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Start from the entrance to the cement-paved Wu Tip Shan Path and walk uphill. The route involves mainly uphill sections with hillside steps and downhill footpaths, so make sure you are physically fit for it. There is a viewing platform in the section between Wu Tip Shan and Kei Lak Tsai, where you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of New Territories North⋯⋯Read more

Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail (Difficulty: ★★★★★)
Completed in 1968, Plover Cove Reservoir is the second largest reservoir in Hong Kong in terms of the area it covers.  The many undulating slopes and the lack of supplies on this long hiking trail that skirts around the reservoir make it a test of experience and fitness⋯⋯Read more

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MacLehose Trail (Section 10) Tin Fu Tsai to Tuen Mun (Difficulty: ★★★★)
The last section of the MacLehose Trail is the lengthiest one, crossing almost half of Tai Lam Country Park and extending to Tuen Mun Town. Kat Hing Bridge is at the intersection of streams and was once the main access connecting Yuen Long to Tsuen Wan. There used to be seven small crossing bridges⋯⋯Read more

Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail Country Trail (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Ancient trails used to be a key route for villagers to communicate and do trade with the outside world in the old days.  Many of them, including Nam Hang Pai Ancient Trail, Kap Lung Ancient Trail, and Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail, lie inside Tai Lam Country Park, which also has the greatest number of country trails.  Linking Yuen Long with Tsuen Wan⋯⋯Read more

Tsuen King Circuit - Sham Tseng (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Enter the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail from Pun Shan Tsuen in Chai Wan Kok and follow the path around Shek Lung Kung.  Cross Tin Tsing Bridge and walk past Tin Fu Tsai Campsite to reach Tsing Fai Tong.  Walk westward for about 1 km to a junction and continue down the path heading south to Sham Tseng Settlement Basin⋯⋯Read more

Chuen Lung - Shing Mun Reservoir (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Start at Chuen Lung minibus station at Route Twist. Upon reaching Choi Lung Restaurant, follow the driveway leading to Chuen Lung Management Centre. Continue along the Lung Mun Country Trail and proceed to the Shing Mun Forest Track (Reservoir Section). Take the path on the right leading to Pineapple Dam, where you may visit the Butterfly Paradise on the way. The trip ends at Shing Mun Road⋯⋯Read more

Wong Nai Tun - Tai Tong (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Visit Yeung Ka Tsuen Old House in Tai Tong, and the three ancient temples around Pak Fu Au.  Get spectacular views of the “Thousand-lsland Lake” in Tai Lam Chung Reservoir while walking along the MacLehose Trail in the reverse direction and enjoying the beautiful scenery on the way⋯⋯Read more

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MacLehose Trail (Section 8) Lead Mine Pass to Route Twisk (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Hong Kong used to have many mine sites, one of which was Lead Mine Pass. There were mining activities in the east of the present day Shing Mun Country Park in as early as the 1930s. The mine sites have gone derelict since the 1960s as a result of the emergence of a large number of overseas large-scale mine sites and the plummeting price of ore⋯⋯Read more

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MacLehose Trail (Section 2) Long Ke to Pak Tam Au (Difficulty: ★★★★)
MacLehose Trail Section 2 is one of the phenomenally popular hiking trails, and this is the best section for you to feel the beauty of the coast of Hong Kong.  At the start of MacLehose Trail Section 2 is the steep, 314-metre Sai Wan Shan; only after descending from this mountain can you reach Sai Wan beach, otherwise known as “the Maldives of Hong Kong”⋯⋯Read more

MacLehose Trail (Section 3) Pak Tam Au to Kei Ling Ha (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Featuring undulating mountains with a steep gradient, the third section of the MacLehose Trail is definitely one of the top three in terms of difficulty. With the trail traversing Ngam Tau Shan, Wa Mei Shan, Lui Ta Shek and Kai Kun Shan, their dazzling heights at around 400 metres above sea level can offer you distinct appearances of the rolling mountains from different angles⋯⋯⋯Read more

MacLehose Trail (Section 4) Kei Ling Ha to Tate's Cairn (Difficulty: ★★★★)
The fourth section of the MacLehose Trail is another gateway to even more breath-taking scenery, as the saying “Perfection knows no limits” goes. Go through Wong Chuk Yeung Village from Shui Long Wo, and then climb up to the 555-metre high Ma On Shan ridge. Although by no means an easy section, it commands Yim Tin Tsai and Kau Sai Chau from a height – the higher you are, the farther you can see⋯⋯Read more

Tai Long Wan Hiking Trail (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Starting at Sai Wan Pavilion, this immensely popular hiking trail first traverses Sai Wan and then Ham Tin Wan, both of which face the Pacific Ocean. It never ceases to amaze visitors with such landforms as streams and estuaries as well as turquoise water and fine sand⋯⋯⋯Read more

Lau Shui Heung - Tai Po Tau (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Start at Lau Shui Heung Reservoir and take the country trail on the right.  After passing Lau Shui Bridge, cross Lung Shan Bridge and walk through Kat Tsai Shan Au.  Walk slowly up Cloudy Hill (Kau Lung Hang Shan) located on the western boundary of Pat Sin Leng Country Park and enjoy a spectacular view of Tolo Harbour and Tai Po lying at the foot of the mountains in the north-eastern part of New Territories.  Continue along Section 8 of the Wilson Trail in the reverse direction to reach Tai Po Tau, where dining and entertainment options are conveniently available⋯⋯Read more

Tai Au Mun - Hang Hau (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Start at Tai Au Mun, walk slowly up the south-facing slope of High Junk Peak (Tiu Yue Yung), which is one of the three steepest climbs in Sai Kung with an elevation of 344 metres.  Carry on along the north side of the ridge toward Sheung Yeung Shan.  Visit Mang Kung Uk by the hillside and walk down the slope to Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O through Wo Tong Gong⋯⋯Read more

Uk Tau - Wong Shek - Hoi Ha (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Visit the coastal mangroves at Uk Tau, Sai Kung before taking the Wong Shek Family Walk to Tai Tan.  Enter the Tai Tan Country Trail and enjoy the magnificent scenery of Tap Mun and Ko Lau Wan.  Follow the path around Lan Lo Au until you reach Hoi Ha Wan, visit the “Drumming Rock” and enjoy a spectacular view of Hoi Ha Wan⋯⋯⋯Read more

Hau Tong Kai - Pak Tam Au (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Walk into the tranquil woods from Hau Tong Kai, Sai Kung.  Climb slowly up the path leading to the mountain village Cheung Sheung and proceed to Au Mun to explore the views of Jacob’s Ladder, Yung Shue O Village and Kei Ling Ha Hoi.  In the afternoon, climb Ngau Yee Shek Shan (440m) and walk along Section 3 of the MacLehose Trail down to Pak Tam Au⋯⋯⋯Read more

Chui Tung Au – Pak Tam Au (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Start at Sai Wan Pavilion to Chui Tung Au and walk downhill to Sai Wan and Ham Tin Wan, where you can explore the beautiful beaches with powdery sand and clear water. Walk up to Tai Long Au and head toward Pak Tam Au via Chek Keng on the return leg. This is a rather long route with uphill and downhill sections offering splendid scenery but no breakaway points⋯⋯Read more

Pak Sha O - Shui Long Wo(Difficulty: ★★★★)
Enter a concrete path after reaching the road sign for Pak Sha O on Hoi Ha Road. Walk to She Shek Au via Ha Yeung and Nam Shan Tung.  Go downhill, walk past an old church and proceed to Sham Chung, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of a vast area of grassland.  Walk along the coastal path which leads to Yung Shue O through an area of mangroves.  Then walk along the catchwatch to Shui Long Wo while taking in the wonderful sunset views over Three Fathoms Cove⋯⋯Read more

Devil's Peak - Tseng Lan Shue (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Start at W020 of Wilson Trail and walk slowly up to the relics on Devil’s Peak (Pau Toi Shan) (Note: the path leading to the wartime ruins is rather rugged).  Get a panoramic view of the eastern part of Hong Kong Island and Yau Tong.  Continue up the path to a morning walker garden on Black Hill (304m) and have a bird’s eye view of the much changed Tseung Kwan O⋯⋯⋯Read more

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Chi Ma Wan Country Trail (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Chi Ma Wan Country Trail, with a total length of 18.5 kilometres, starts and ends at Shap Long Campsite.  The trail almost circumnavigates Chi Ma Wan Peninsula, offering hikers vistas of Pui O Bay, Ham Tin Village and Cheung Sha⋯⋯Read more

Lantau Trail (Section 2) Nam Shan to Pak Kung Au (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Adorned with a seemingly limitless sea of silvergrass at an elevation of 869 metres and 749 metres respectively, Sunset Peak and Yi Tung Shan have not only been a paradise for hiking enthusiasts, but also a magnet for photography aficionados.  You can reach them by walking along the stone steps from the barbecue site at Nam Shan Au, the start point of Section Two of the Lantau Trail⋯⋯Read more

Lantau Trail (Section 3) Pak Kung Au to Ngong Ping (Difficulty: ★★★★)
Before Hong Kong became a city and a trading port, Lantau Peak had always been referred to as ‘Lan Tau’, which is the romanisation of the words ‘broken head’ in Chinese, by local villagers because the outline of its summit looks broken apart.  In the 19th century when the British came to Hong Kong, the whole island was called the same name; this is how Lantau Island got its name⋯⋯Read more

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(The information are provided by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and Leisure and Cultural Services Department)