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.
| ... exploring Hong Kong's other side... |
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| This hike is temporarily suspended due to a land-use conflict between So Lo Pun villagers and the HKSAR Government. |
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