Hansen's Hikes
Giro del Norte
...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 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 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 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. Indeed, the descent is so good that we will do it in two parts...
We will interrupt the descent at the Bride's Pool falls and leave our bikes for the short walk through the woods to visit the
impressive hidden Mirror Falls. Even in the midst of winter, this waterfall never dries up.
Back in the saddle, the descent continues as we race past the many picnic sites scattered along the edge of the huge
Plover Cove Reservoir. Though famished by then, we won't stop, because we are heading for our lunch stop at one of the
restaurants in Tai Mei Tuk.
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 Station.
...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 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 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 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. Indeed, the descent is so good that we will do it in two parts...
We will interrupt the descent at the Bride's Pool falls and leave our bikes for the short walk through the woods to visit the
impressive hidden Mirror Falls. Even in the midst of winter, this waterfall never dries up.
Back in the saddle, the descent continues as we race past the many picnic sites scattered along the edge of the huge
Plover Cove Reservoir. Though famished by then, we won't stop, because we are heading for our lunch stop at one of the
restaurants in Tai Mei Tuk.
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 Station.
Download Reservation Form here or click here to request more information.
| ... exploring Hong Kong's other side... |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hansen's Hikes 38 D, Tower 2, Sham Wan Towers 3, Ap Lei Chau Drive Ap Lei Chau Hong Kong Tel: (+852) 9552 0987 E-mail: info@hansens-hikes.com |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 | |  | |  |
