| Hansen's Hikes |
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| Lantau Week-end Challenge 2008 dates to be announced |
Having put our overnight bags containing warm clothes for the evening and
tomorrow's hiking gear on the hotel van, we set out from the pier in Mui Wo at 8:00am.
We warm up by slowly making our way through a maze of concrete footpaths to
reach the country park boundary. This is then followed by a gentle climb along an old
village path up to Nam Shan, where our challenge starts in earnest...
Ascending Sunset Peak involves tackling quite a few stone steps, but the higher we
get, the more the path levels out, and the views, first over Silvermine Bay and then
over Pui O beach, are simply magnificent.
Just below the summit, we reach an old missionary summer retreat and pause long
enough to catch our breath and congratulate ourselves on having conquered Hong
Kong's 3rd highest mountain...
Descending Sunset Peak, we take in the superb views over the very inviting Cheung
Sha beach and our next challenge, the daunting 934-metre tall Lantau Peak, located
at the other side of the deep Pak Kung Au gap. Yet, despite Hong Kong’s second
highest point being some 300 feet taller than Sunset, the well-trodden path up actually
feels a little easier and provides stunning views over most of Lantau – and the many
islands beyond.
To many, the descent from Lantau Peak is even tougher than the climb up. If
anything, the steps are bigger and the path substantially narrower than they were
coming up. However, we will walk slowly to allow us appreciating the fantastic views
over the Ngong Ping plateau, its statues and temples.
The steps end when we reach the Ngong Ping where we stop for a well-deserved
Chinese lunch at the Tea Garden. We will linger long enough for those who so desire
to walk up the 268 steps for a closer look at the 26-metre-high, 202-tonne Big Buddha.
We continue our hike with a descent through woodland high above the upper reaches
of the impressive Shelk Pik Reservoir, before skirting the eastern slopes of Keung
Shan passing a few small waterfalls along the way. This is then followed by a short
stretch along a gently climbing catchwater and a dirt track descending towards the
Fan Lau peninsula high above the crashing waves.
Fan Lau might be remote, but it has quite an interesting history as witnessed by the
fortifications dating back to the Ming dynasty, though the actual fort, whose remains
you will see on this walk, was built in 1722.
There is just time for a quick refreshment stop at the almost abandoned Fan Lau
village, before we press on northwards. Cutting across a couple of promontories and,
occasionally, dropping down to quiet bays, this part of the trail is rich in shrubs and
flowers. Approaching Yi O, we discover that not too long ago there was a thriving
community in this now “remote” area. The crumbling buildings, abandoned fields,
overgrown terraces and remains of pig sties and chicken pens are all signs that it
was only a couple of decades ago that the lifestyle and education opportunities in
bigger places, like Tai O, became attractive enough to warrant moving out.
From Yi O, it is a relatively flat walk to Tai O, but keep an eye on the sea as you just
might be able to spot a family of Chinese White Dolphins. Later, as we pass the old
salt pans, check out the many big birds foraging here.
Reaching Tai O marks the end of the day's walking, but there will be time for a quick
look around this "Venice of Hong Kong" before we drive the short distance to our little
hotel in Tong Fuk, where your overnight bags await you in your room.
After a shower and a change of clothing, we then proceed to Lower Cheung Sha
Village for dinner on the beach.
On Day 2, breakfast is served at 7:30am. At 8:00am our transportation back to Tai O
arrives and so the Lantau Week-end Challenge continues.
We start the day climbing up to the splendid Ng Yuen villa, before heading into the
south Lantau hillside passing the Tsz Hing Monastery on our way up to Ling Wui
Shan, 490 metres above sea. From Ling Wui Shan, it is a bit of a stroll over rolling hills
to Keung Shan - and even the relatively steep, but short, climb up Kwun Yam Shan will
seem quite manageable.
From Kwun Yam Shan we descend to Keung Shan Road and will follow this for about
30 minutes down to the Shek Pik, where we rejoin the Lantau Trail as it crosses the
reservoir dam, before circling Shek Mun Shan. The dirt trail here winds in and out
following the shore and offering excellent views across the South China Sea and the
Soko Islands. As we approach Shui Hau, we should be able to see people busy
harvesting clams in the shallow bay. On the other side of Shui Hau we climb up to a
catch water and eventually drop down to Tong Fuk via the Ma Po Ping prison to enjoy a
westen lunch.
After lunch we rejoin the catchwater trail and follow this for another hour or so,
before descending to Pui O, where we check to see if the famous water buffaloes are
still allowed to roam free in the swamps...
The nice flat road along the Pui O river ends at Ham Tin - just after the Tin Hau Temple
which dates back to 1799. A short climb along the Chi Ma Wan Road leads up to Shap
Long Au, where we begin the last real hill of the Lantau Trail. The dry and sandy
slopes overlook the Chi Ma Wan hills and from the summit, at 275 metres, there are
spectacular views over most of South Lantau and neighbouring islands.
The last 5 kilometres of the Lantau Trail is virtually downhill and, generally, follows the
contours of the coast. We are thus able to look out to the islands of Hei Ling Chau,
Chau Kung To and Peng Chau, before ending our walk and collecting our overnight
bags at the China Bear pub and restaurant right by the Mui Wo pier, the very place we
started our walk the day before.
tomorrow's hiking gear on the hotel van, we set out from the pier in Mui Wo at 8:00am.
We warm up by slowly making our way through a maze of concrete footpaths to
reach the country park boundary. This is then followed by a gentle climb along an old
village path up to Nam Shan, where our challenge starts in earnest...
Ascending Sunset Peak involves tackling quite a few stone steps, but the higher we
get, the more the path levels out, and the views, first over Silvermine Bay and then
over Pui O beach, are simply magnificent.
Just below the summit, we reach an old missionary summer retreat and pause long
enough to catch our breath and congratulate ourselves on having conquered Hong
Kong's 3rd highest mountain...
Descending Sunset Peak, we take in the superb views over the very inviting Cheung
Sha beach and our next challenge, the daunting 934-metre tall Lantau Peak, located
at the other side of the deep Pak Kung Au gap. Yet, despite Hong Kong’s second
highest point being some 300 feet taller than Sunset, the well-trodden path up actually
feels a little easier and provides stunning views over most of Lantau – and the many
islands beyond.
To many, the descent from Lantau Peak is even tougher than the climb up. If
anything, the steps are bigger and the path substantially narrower than they were
coming up. However, we will walk slowly to allow us appreciating the fantastic views
over the Ngong Ping plateau, its statues and temples.
The steps end when we reach the Ngong Ping where we stop for a well-deserved
Chinese lunch at the Tea Garden. We will linger long enough for those who so desire
to walk up the 268 steps for a closer look at the 26-metre-high, 202-tonne Big Buddha.
We continue our hike with a descent through woodland high above the upper reaches
of the impressive Shelk Pik Reservoir, before skirting the eastern slopes of Keung
Shan passing a few small waterfalls along the way. This is then followed by a short
stretch along a gently climbing catchwater and a dirt track descending towards the
Fan Lau peninsula high above the crashing waves.
Fan Lau might be remote, but it has quite an interesting history as witnessed by the
fortifications dating back to the Ming dynasty, though the actual fort, whose remains
you will see on this walk, was built in 1722.
There is just time for a quick refreshment stop at the almost abandoned Fan Lau
village, before we press on northwards. Cutting across a couple of promontories and,
occasionally, dropping down to quiet bays, this part of the trail is rich in shrubs and
flowers. Approaching Yi O, we discover that not too long ago there was a thriving
community in this now “remote” area. The crumbling buildings, abandoned fields,
overgrown terraces and remains of pig sties and chicken pens are all signs that it
was only a couple of decades ago that the lifestyle and education opportunities in
bigger places, like Tai O, became attractive enough to warrant moving out.
From Yi O, it is a relatively flat walk to Tai O, but keep an eye on the sea as you just
might be able to spot a family of Chinese White Dolphins. Later, as we pass the old
salt pans, check out the many big birds foraging here.
Reaching Tai O marks the end of the day's walking, but there will be time for a quick
look around this "Venice of Hong Kong" before we drive the short distance to our little
hotel in Tong Fuk, where your overnight bags await you in your room.
After a shower and a change of clothing, we then proceed to Lower Cheung Sha
Village for dinner on the beach.
On Day 2, breakfast is served at 7:30am. At 8:00am our transportation back to Tai O
arrives and so the Lantau Week-end Challenge continues.
We start the day climbing up to the splendid Ng Yuen villa, before heading into the
south Lantau hillside passing the Tsz Hing Monastery on our way up to Ling Wui
Shan, 490 metres above sea. From Ling Wui Shan, it is a bit of a stroll over rolling hills
to Keung Shan - and even the relatively steep, but short, climb up Kwun Yam Shan will
seem quite manageable.
From Kwun Yam Shan we descend to Keung Shan Road and will follow this for about
30 minutes down to the Shek Pik, where we rejoin the Lantau Trail as it crosses the
reservoir dam, before circling Shek Mun Shan. The dirt trail here winds in and out
following the shore and offering excellent views across the South China Sea and the
Soko Islands. As we approach Shui Hau, we should be able to see people busy
harvesting clams in the shallow bay. On the other side of Shui Hau we climb up to a
catch water and eventually drop down to Tong Fuk via the Ma Po Ping prison to enjoy a
westen lunch.
After lunch we rejoin the catchwater trail and follow this for another hour or so,
before descending to Pui O, where we check to see if the famous water buffaloes are
still allowed to roam free in the swamps...
The nice flat road along the Pui O river ends at Ham Tin - just after the Tin Hau Temple
which dates back to 1799. A short climb along the Chi Ma Wan Road leads up to Shap
Long Au, where we begin the last real hill of the Lantau Trail. The dry and sandy
slopes overlook the Chi Ma Wan hills and from the summit, at 275 metres, there are
spectacular views over most of South Lantau and neighbouring islands.
The last 5 kilometres of the Lantau Trail is virtually downhill and, generally, follows the
contours of the coast. We are thus able to look out to the islands of Hei Ling Chau,
Chau Kung To and Peng Chau, before ending our walk and collecting our overnight
bags at the China Bear pub and restaurant right by the Mui Wo pier, the very place we
started our walk the day before.
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| Download Reservation Form here or click here to request more information. |
| 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 |
| ... exploring Hong Kong's other side ... |
