Hansen's Hikes
Monkeys, Mountains and Mai Tais
Only 15 minutes from the bustling shopping malls and street markets of Mongkok, the Kowloon reservoirs provide a gate to
quite a different world. A world of serenity and scenic beauty. A world where birds are singing, cattle roam free and the
only hustling is that being done by monkeys. Rhesus Macaques have slowly recolonized this part of Hong Kong over the
past 50 years or so...
From the main dam we follow a closed up that climbs gently along the shore of the Kowloon reservoir. Passing families of
the aforementioned macaques as well as some historical military installations, we eventually reach the bigger Shing Mun
reservoir.
The hike till this point should be seen as a warm up for the challenges that now face us, i.e. Needle and Grassy Hills. While
Needle Hill at 532 metres is the lower of the two, the climb up from the reservoir is made particularly challenging by the
sheer number of steps to be overcome.
The reward is the absolutely spectacular panorama which awaits you at its distinctive peak. Not only do we overlook the
reservoirs we just left, but we can also see the Shing Mun and Shatin Valleys, Lion Rock and Tai Mo Shan, the Kowloon
peninsula, and – on a clear day - all the way to Hong Kong island.
The path down from Needle Hill is, if anything, steeper than the path up. The good thing is that we won't descend too far
before joining a closed road which will take us up the fertile green slopes of Grassy Hill. We rest at the top (647m) taking in
the views over Tolo Harbour.
After a descent through woodland and shrubs, we end our hike with a late but very well-deserved alfresco Thai meal on the
outskirts of Tai Po, before getting on the train back to the urban centre.
Only 15 minutes from the bustling shopping malls and street markets of Mongkok, the Kowloon reservoirs provide a gate to
quite a different world. A world of serenity and scenic beauty. A world where birds are singing, cattle roam free and the
only hustling is that being done by monkeys. Rhesus Macaques have slowly recolonized this part of Hong Kong over the
past 50 years or so...
From the main dam we follow a closed up that climbs gently along the shore of the Kowloon reservoir. Passing families of
the aforementioned macaques as well as some historical military installations, we eventually reach the bigger Shing Mun
reservoir.
The hike till this point should be seen as a warm up for the challenges that now face us, i.e. Needle and Grassy Hills. While
Needle Hill at 532 metres is the lower of the two, the climb up from the reservoir is made particularly challenging by the
sheer number of steps to be overcome.
The reward is the absolutely spectacular panorama which awaits you at its distinctive peak. Not only do we overlook the
reservoirs we just left, but we can also see the Shing Mun and Shatin Valleys, Lion Rock and Tai Mo Shan, the Kowloon
peninsula, and – on a clear day - all the way to Hong Kong island.
The path down from Needle Hill is, if anything, steeper than the path up. The good thing is that we won't descend too far
before joining a closed road which will take us up the fertile green slopes of Grassy Hill. We rest at the top (647m) taking in
the views over Tolo Harbour.
After a descent through woodland and shrubs, we end our hike with a late but very well-deserved alfresco Thai meal on the
outskirts of Tai Po, before getting on the train back to the urban centre.
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| ... exploring Hong Kong's other side... |
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