Hansen's Hikes
| ... exploring Hong Kong's other side... |
Northeastern Exposure
(Week-day)
One of the best places in Hong Kong to feel that you have gotten away from it all is the Plover Cove Country Park in the
northeastern New Territories. This walk will take you through mountain valleys, around old fields, along rocky shores of
small inlets and past abandonned villages.
And yet, one of the more spectacular sights of the day is just a few minutes walk from the bus stop. We start the day by
visiting Mirror Falls – one of Hong Kong’s more impressive waterfalls. From here we make our way past the old villages of
Wu Kau Tang and Kau Tam Tso to enter the country park. Heading towards the shore we then pass the ruins of Lai Tau
Shek before reaching Sam A Tsuen at the Western edge of the Yan Chau Tong Marine Park.
From the serenity of Sam A, we cross over to the big Hakka village of Lai Chi Wo with its beautifully restored temple in front
of which we will eat our lunch box…
Lai Chi Wo is more than just a pretty temple and a rather interesting old village, though. It is also the home of an ancient
mangrove forest. With its network of interweaving buttress roots, the Coastal Heritiera (Heritiera Littoralis) makes for a
very impressive sight. Many of them are so large that it takes two people to hug, while some buttress roots grow to nearly
chest height. A stroll in this forest is a journey back in time, taking you to the mysterious Jurassic Period.
At the lowest ebb, you could look at another area of ecologically interest here; a sea grass bed on the mudflat just off the
mangroves, but we will be following a path over to the ghost towns of So Lo Pun and Yung Shue Au.
For many years, villagers here made a good living from farming and fishing, but they were also frequently the first port of
call for “visitors” from the mainland… Nowadays, the houses have been abandoned and are falling into disrepair, yet the
streetlights still come on at night. Walking around these villages is quite fascinating and should offer some good photo
opportunities.
After a little halt at the breakwater in Yung Shue Au we will follow the contours of the Starling Inlet. The degree of
development along the Hong Kong and mainland coastlines differs greatly and provides material for some interesting
thoughts.
We will be passing a couple of old villages, some of which have recently seen its first new inhabitants for decades, as well
as some recently renovated fish ponds, before we end the walk at the bus stop in Luk Keng. The cafés here are very
strategically located and a perfect place to wind down before the long journey home…
(Week-day)
One of the best places in Hong Kong to feel that you have gotten away from it all is the Plover Cove Country Park in the
northeastern New Territories. This walk will take you through mountain valleys, around old fields, along rocky shores of
small inlets and past abandonned villages.
And yet, one of the more spectacular sights of the day is just a few minutes walk from the bus stop. We start the day by
visiting Mirror Falls – one of Hong Kong’s more impressive waterfalls. From here we make our way past the old villages of
Wu Kau Tang and Kau Tam Tso to enter the country park. Heading towards the shore we then pass the ruins of Lai Tau
Shek before reaching Sam A Tsuen at the Western edge of the Yan Chau Tong Marine Park.
From the serenity of Sam A, we cross over to the big Hakka village of Lai Chi Wo with its beautifully restored temple in front
of which we will eat our lunch box…
Lai Chi Wo is more than just a pretty temple and a rather interesting old village, though. It is also the home of an ancient
mangrove forest. With its network of interweaving buttress roots, the Coastal Heritiera (Heritiera Littoralis) makes for a
very impressive sight. Many of them are so large that it takes two people to hug, while some buttress roots grow to nearly
chest height. A stroll in this forest is a journey back in time, taking you to the mysterious Jurassic Period.
At the lowest ebb, you could look at another area of ecologically interest here; a sea grass bed on the mudflat just off the
mangroves, but we will be following a path over to the ghost towns of So Lo Pun and Yung Shue Au.
For many years, villagers here made a good living from farming and fishing, but they were also frequently the first port of
call for “visitors” from the mainland… Nowadays, the houses have been abandoned and are falling into disrepair, yet the
streetlights still come on at night. Walking around these villages is quite fascinating and should offer some good photo
opportunities.
After a little halt at the breakwater in Yung Shue Au we will follow the contours of the Starling Inlet. The degree of
development along the Hong Kong and mainland coastlines differs greatly and provides material for some interesting
thoughts.
We will be passing a couple of old villages, some of which have recently seen its first new inhabitants for decades, as well
as some recently renovated fish ponds, before we end the walk at the bus stop in Luk Keng. The cafés here are very
strategically located and a perfect place to wind down before the long journey home…
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 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 | |  |