Giro del Norte
Anti-Clockwise
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 a veritable maze of bicycle paths to reach the calm waters of Tolo
Harbour - a natural bay surrounded by tall mountains. We take in the views towards Ma On Shan but, shortly thereafter, we are forced to do a
detour through the industrial estate. However, soon we will be back on bicycle paths along the shoreline and beneath the Pat Sin Leng ridge.
Reaching Tai Mei Tuk, we make a brief refreshment stop at the water's edge before it is time to tackle the hilly road leading through the
Plover Cove Country Park. We break the climb just before the top of the hill near 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.
We might need all the many gears on our bikes for the climb to Sam Tam Lo, but the ensuing free-wheeling descent is well worth the effort.
At the bottom of the hill, the hamlet of Luk Keng marks the turning point of our ride. Located on the mangrove clad shores of Starling Inlet, it is
also an ideal place for a lunch break. As we eat, we not only keep an eye out for wetland birds, but we are also able to peek into China...
While not entirely flat, our route home is somewhat less challenging than the way out. Following the shore line past the egretry at A Chau, we
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.
The contrast between the quiet narrow footpaths between the hamlets of Sheung Wo Hang and Ha Wo Hang and Sha Tau Kok Road couldn't
be bigger, but the former do require as much concentration on your behalf as the latter, as you really wouldn't want to dip into the marshy old
rice fields...
As a safety measure, we ride on the sidewalk for the stretch along the busy Sha Tau Kok Road, but once we reach Tan Chuk Hang we are
back on village roads and narrow concrete footpaths. The old vegetable farms in this area has seen a revitalization in the past couple of
years, so there's plenty of interesting, fresh produce to look at as we head towards Hok Tau.
There are two climbs between Hok Tau and the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail on the outskirts of Fan Ling. This trail visits a variety of historical
sites 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.
We won't actually enter Fan Ling, but stick to a route of concrete footpaths passing vegetable plots, orchards and low rise suburbs and a
shored-up river as we head back to where we started - the Tai Po Market Railway Station.
Anti-Clockwise
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 a veritable maze of bicycle paths to reach the calm waters of Tolo
Harbour - a natural bay surrounded by tall mountains. We take in the views towards Ma On Shan but, shortly thereafter, we are forced to do a
detour through the industrial estate. However, soon we will be back on bicycle paths along the shoreline and beneath the Pat Sin Leng ridge.
Reaching Tai Mei Tuk, we make a brief refreshment stop at the water's edge before it is time to tackle the hilly road leading through the
Plover Cove Country Park. We break the climb just before the top of the hill near 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.
We might need all the many gears on our bikes for the climb to Sam Tam Lo, but the ensuing free-wheeling descent is well worth the effort.
At the bottom of the hill, the hamlet of Luk Keng marks the turning point of our ride. Located on the mangrove clad shores of Starling Inlet, it is
also an ideal place for a lunch break. As we eat, we not only keep an eye out for wetland birds, but we are also able to peek into China...
While not entirely flat, our route home is somewhat less challenging than the way out. Following the shore line past the egretry at A Chau, we
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.
The contrast between the quiet narrow footpaths between the hamlets of Sheung Wo Hang and Ha Wo Hang and Sha Tau Kok Road couldn't
be bigger, but the former do require as much concentration on your behalf as the latter, as you really wouldn't want to dip into the marshy old
rice fields...
As a safety measure, we ride on the sidewalk for the stretch along the busy Sha Tau Kok Road, but once we reach Tan Chuk Hang we are
back on village roads and narrow concrete footpaths. The old vegetable farms in this area has seen a revitalization in the past couple of
years, so there's plenty of interesting, fresh produce to look at as we head towards Hok Tau.
There are two climbs between Hok Tau and the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail on the outskirts of Fan Ling. This trail visits a variety of historical
sites 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.
We won't actually enter Fan Ling, but stick to a route of concrete footpaths passing vegetable plots, orchards and low rise suburbs and a
shored-up river as we head back to where we started - the Tai Po Market Railway Station.
Download Reservation Form here or click here to request more information.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ... exploring Hong Kong's other side... |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
|
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
|