Giro del Norte
Clockwise
... or a bicycle ride exploring towns, villages, temples, farmland and woodlands of Hong Kong's northeastern New Territories.
Setting out from Tai Po Market railway station, we wind our way through the narrow lanes of the old part of town to join a broad level bicycle
path along the shored up Lam Tsuen River allowing us the opportunity to get used to our bikes.
Shortly afterwards, we find ourselves riding on concrete footpaths passing vegetable plots, orchards and low rise suburbs as we head for
the ever expanding dormitory town of Fan Ling. We won't actually enter Fan Ling, but stick to a route that visits a variety of historical sights in
Lung Yeuk Tau, such as old mansions, walled villages, ancestral halls and a number of temples. The most famous of these would be the
impressive 16th century Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall.
Having stretched our legs looking at some of these buildings, we head north to visit the large Taoist temple and memorial complex of Wun
Chuen Sin Koon in Ping Che, before continuing eastwards to explore the hamlets of Sheung Wo Hang and Ha Wo Hang. Traffic along the
roads around Ping Che can be a little busy at times, so be prepared to ride on the sidewalk as a safety measure...
The contrast between Sha Tau Kok Road and the quiet narrow footpaths between the Wo Hang villages couldn't be bigger, but the latter do
require as much concentration on your behalf as the former, as you really wouldn't want to dip into the marshy old rice fields...
Having negotiated our safe passage through the fields, we next reach the rather photogenic village of Yim Tso Ha, nestled protectively behind
a small hill and encircled by still farmed vegetable fields and old fish ponds.
On the other side of Yim Tso Ha, we get to Starling Inlet and as we follow a quiet road along the mangrove clad shore, we not only keep an eye
out for wetland birds, but we are also able to peek into China...
At the bottom of the bay, the hamlet of Luk Keng marks the turning point of our ride. It is also an ideal place for a break and refreshments, as
we are about to embark on the longest and toughest climb of the day. ..
We might need all the many gears on our bikes for the climb up Bride's Pool Road to Sam Tam Lo, but the ensuing free-wheeling descent is
well worth the effort. We race past the many picnic sites scattered along the edge of the huge Plover Cove Reservoir but, though famished by
then, we won't stop as we are heading for our lunch stop at one of the restaurants in Tai Mei Tuk, a popular local excursion destination.
After our hard-earned lunch, we then follow a series of nice flat bicycle paths along the shores the Tolo Harbour, a big natural bay surrounded
by impressive mountains. We end the outing back where we started - at Tai Po Market Railway Station.
Clockwise
... or a bicycle ride exploring towns, villages, temples, farmland and woodlands of Hong Kong's northeastern New Territories.
Setting out from Tai Po Market railway station, we wind our way through the narrow lanes of the old part of town to join a broad level bicycle
path along the shored up Lam Tsuen River allowing us the opportunity to get used to our bikes.
Shortly afterwards, we find ourselves riding on concrete footpaths passing vegetable plots, orchards and low rise suburbs as we head for
the ever expanding dormitory town of Fan Ling. We won't actually enter Fan Ling, but stick to a route that visits a variety of historical sights in
Lung Yeuk Tau, such as old mansions, walled villages, ancestral halls and a number of temples. The most famous of these would be the
impressive 16th century Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall.
Having stretched our legs looking at some of these buildings, we head north to visit the large Taoist temple and memorial complex of Wun
Chuen Sin Koon in Ping Che, before continuing eastwards to explore the hamlets of Sheung Wo Hang and Ha Wo Hang. Traffic along the
roads around Ping Che can be a little busy at times, so be prepared to ride on the sidewalk as a safety measure...
The contrast between Sha Tau Kok Road and the quiet narrow footpaths between the Wo Hang villages couldn't be bigger, but the latter do
require as much concentration on your behalf as the former, as you really wouldn't want to dip into the marshy old rice fields...
Having negotiated our safe passage through the fields, we next reach the rather photogenic village of Yim Tso Ha, nestled protectively behind
a small hill and encircled by still farmed vegetable fields and old fish ponds.
On the other side of Yim Tso Ha, we get to Starling Inlet and as we follow a quiet road along the mangrove clad shore, we not only keep an eye
out for wetland birds, but we are also able to peek into China...
At the bottom of the bay, the hamlet of Luk Keng marks the turning point of our ride. It is also an ideal place for a break and refreshments, as
we are about to embark on the longest and toughest climb of the day. ..
We might need all the many gears on our bikes for the climb up Bride's Pool Road to Sam Tam Lo, but the ensuing free-wheeling descent is
well worth the effort. We race past the many picnic sites scattered along the edge of the huge Plover Cove Reservoir but, though famished by
then, we won't stop as we are heading for our lunch stop at one of the restaurants in Tai Mei Tuk, a popular local excursion destination.
After our hard-earned lunch, we then follow a series of nice flat bicycle paths along the shores the Tolo Harbour, a big natural bay surrounded
by impressive mountains. We end the outing back where we started - at Tai Po Market Railway Station.
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