Author: raynardkjy

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Sunset Peak 大東山 – the Silvergrass Paradise & the Trail to Dreamland

In the sea of Silvergrass!

Sunset Peak 大東山, standing tall at 869 meters is the third-highest peak in Hong Kong, after Tai Mo Shan (957 meters) and Lantau Peak (934 meters). As you can already tell by its name, this mountain located on Lantau Island is a popular spot for watching sunset.

Just so you know, sunrise up on Sunset Peak 大東山 is also unbeatable, when the sun rises from the east on the city side, the sunlight gradually shines on Lantau Peak, and the view you are getting from Sunset Peak 大東山 is spectacular. On one side, you are seeing the magical sunrise; and on the other side, Lantau Peak slowly reveal itself in front of your eyes.  

The magic hours before sunrise!
Lantau Peak at its morning colors!

There are many stone shacks built on top of Sunset Peak 大東山 in the 1920s for missionaries who loved the remoteness of its location. During the season of fall, in the month of October and November, the top of the mountain is blooming with Silvergrass (officially called Miscanthus sinensis). Together, the stone shacks plus the sea of Silvergrass, Sunset Peak 大東山 turns into a dreamland. Hikers would flood the top to admire the magical scenery. Having said that, it can get over-crowded during these months, you can avoid the crowd by either going super early in the morning or during weekdays.

The stone shacks on Sunset Peak built over 100 years ago! 

There are 4 trails going up to Sunset Peak 大東山, the most common and easiest trail is from (1) Pak Kung Au 伯公坳. You can also hike to the top from (2) Mui Wo Luk Tei Tong Village 梅窩鹿地塘村 via Lantau Trail Section 2, from (3) Pui O Lo Uk Tsuen 貝澳羅屋村 via Green Dragon Ridge or from (4) Tung Chung Ma Wan New Village 東涌馬灣新村 via Wong Lung Hang Country Trail. 

The trail I planned started from Mui Wo, going to Sunset Peak 大東山 and then onwards to Yi Tung Shan 二東山, getting down to South Lantau Country Trail 南大嶼郊遊徑 via Green Dragon Ridge and then returning to Mui Wo. It’s a circular trail starting and finishing in Mui Wo, the view throughout the hike is amazing!

Go get your shot at the “Diving Board Rock 跳板石”!

My Trail:

” Mui Wo Pier 梅窩碼頭 > Tai Tei Tong Village 大地塘村 > Luk Tei Tong Village 鹿地塘村 > Nam Sham Campsite 南山營地 > Sheung Tung Au 雙東坳 > SUNSET PEAK 大東山 (869M) > DIVING BOARD ROCK 跳板石 > Yi Tung Shan 二東山 (749M) > South Lantau Country Trail 南大嶼郊遊徑 > Nam Sham Campsite 南山營地 > Mui Wo Pier 梅窩碼頭 ”

Distance: 17 KM
Duration: 7 hours
Elevation Gain: 1323 M
Difficulty: 3.5/5
View: 4.5/5

In the month of October and November, Sunset Peak is blooming with Silvergrass!

How to get there & return:

1. Take the ferry from Central Pier No.6 to Mui Wo. Fast ferry takes 35 minutes and slow ferry takes 55 minutes.

Ferry schedule of “Central – Mui Wo” vice versa.

If you are coming from Tung Chung, you can go to the main bus terminal and take the 3M bus, journey is about 40 minutes to Mui Wo. 

2. Your hike to Sunset Peak 大東山 begins in Mui Wo. 

3. You will finish your hike at Mui Wo pier, you can either take the ferry to return to Central OR take 3M bus to return to Tung Chung. 

Hike Overview:

From Mui Wo wet market, find your way to Luk Tei Tong Village 鹿地塘村, there are signs to show you the direction. You will first pass by Tai Tei Tong Village 大地塘村 before Luk Tei Tong Village 鹿地塘村. 

To Luk Tei Tong Village 鹿地塘村

Once you have entered Luk Tei Tong Village 鹿地塘村, pay attention to your right on the small sign directing you the way to Nam Shan Old Village Path 南山古道.

There’s a grey village house, the path starts right behind it. 

You will hike on Nam Shan Old Village Path 南山古道 ascending to Nam Sham Campsite for about 1 km. From there, take on Lantau Trail Section 2 to go all the way up to Sheung Tung Au 雙東坳 for about 3 kms. You will arrive at a split with the info sign #L011, keep going straight for about 2 kms and you will be on top of Sunset Peak 大東山. (if you take right turn at the split, you will be heading to Lin Fa Shan 蓮花山)

Sunset Peak on the right and Lantau Peak behind it.

Before you reach the summit, you will be passing by Lantau Mountain Camp 爛頭營 where you will see many stone shacks, they have over 100 years of history.

Once you get to the top, enjoy the 360 degree of spectacular view, you willl see Lantau Peak, the airport, Cheung Sha beach, Pui O, Chi Ma Wan Peninsula, Lin Fa Shan, and the South China Sea.

From Sunset Peak 大東山, look for a group of rock formations and go towards the direction, it is just 100-200 meters away. There you will find an interesting photo spot, the “Diving Board Rock 跳板石”.

The sunlight is best for taking photo before noon!

“ I found far more answers in the woods than I ever did in the city. ”

– Mary Davis

This “Diving Board Rock 跳板石” is a popular photo spot!

Next, you will hike for about 2 kms to Yi Tung Shan 二東山, then you will descend from Yi Tung Shan 二東山 down to South Lantau Country Trail 南大嶼郊遊徑 via Green Dragon Ridge 青龍脊. This slightly over 1 km descent is rather steep and slippery, make sure you have good hiking shoes. Go down slowly and be very careful.

Yi Tung Shan 二東山

Green Dragon Ridge 青龍脊 offers an unobstructed view of Pui O and Chi Ma Wan Peninsula, it is very beautiful especially on a clear sunny day. This is the path that makes you feel like you are really hiking in the wild nature, I’ve always loved and enjoyed this kind of path.

Green Dragon Ridge 青龍脊

Once you are down to South Lantau Country Trail 南大嶼郊遊徑, take your left turn and walk for about 3.3 kms back to Nam Shan Campsite 南山營地, this path is mostly flat and very pleasant, you will mostly walk in the shade. 

Then, you have your final 2 kms on South Lantau Road back to Mui Wo pier. Alternatively, you can hop on any bus at Nam Shan Campsite 南山營地 to go to Mui Wo pier.  

This is the trail to do in the month of October to December, where the mountain is blooming with the beautiful Silvergrass, it is also the place to admire sunrise and sunset.

Check out my Lion Rock Hike, Temple Crag Hike, Suicide Cliff Hike & Red Incense Burner Summit Hike, they are also amazing spots for viewing sunset. 

 

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Po Kwu Wan 曝罟灣 to Tai Tun 太墩 – the Gorgeous Thousand Islands in Sai Kung

The serenity of Po Kwu Wan 曝罟灣

Po Kwu Wan 曝罟灣 is a peaceful little bay in Sai Kung, located close to High Island Reservoir West Dam 萬宜水庫西壩 & Tsam Chuk Wan 斬竹灣. There is a semi-circular concrete embankment used by fishermen in the past for fish farming, it is now a beautiful spot for hikers to come relax by the bay and taking instagram pictures. Well, it is still a great spot for fishing.

The serenity of Po Kwu Wan 曝罟灣 is what I enjoyed the most, being there it feels like the world has slowed down, you can totally unwind yourself from the busy life and breathe in the fresh air from the bay. It’s a place that help putting all your senses back together.

The aerial shot of Po Kwu Wan 曝罟灣

This weathered historical monument gives Po Kwu Wan 曝罟灣 the soul and walking on the embankment crossing from one side to the other is the thing-to-do when you are there. Be extra cautious when you are crossing it, don’t fall into the water, hehe! 

 Tai Tun 太墩 is a small hill at 317 meters, located at Sai Kung West Country Park offers a spectacular panoramic view of Tsam Chuk Wan 斬竹灣 Bay and the surrounding islands. Get on top and let the “Thousand Islands View” make your jaw drop! I would rate the view in my Top 5 Most Stunning View of Hong Kong!

You should go check it out yourself, the unrivalled view of the archipelago of Tsam Chuk Wan 斬竹灣 from Tai Tun 太墩 is like no others.

My Trail:

” Pak Tam Chung 北潭涌 > Hei Tsz Wan 起子湾 > PO KWU WAN 曝罟灣 > Hei Tsz Wan 起子湾 > Pak Tam Chung 北潭涌 > TAI TUN 太墩 (317M) > Cheung Shan 長山 (165M) > Sai Kung Training Camp 西貢戶外訓練營 ”

Distance: 10 KM
Duration: 4.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 580M
Difficulty: 2.5/5
View: 4.5/5

How to get there & return:

1. Take MTR Kwun Tong Line to Choi Hung 彩虹 station.

2. From MTR Choi Hung station, proceed to the C2 exit. Take the green minibus #1A to Sai Kung.

3. From Sai Kung Pier bus terminal, take KMB bus #94 heading to Wong Shek Pier, get off at Pak Tam Chung 北潭涌.

4. Your relaxing hike begins there! (there is a public toilet)

5. You will finish your hike getting down to Sai Kung Training Camp 西貢戶外訓練營, walk to the bus stop across the road and you can get on any bus to return to Sai Kung pier. (On Sunday, you can get on KMB bus #96R to go directly to MTR Diamond Hill station, the bus departs from Wong Shek pier.)

6. From Sai Kung pier, you can then get on KMB bus #92 to go to MTR Choi Hung & Diamond Hill station, OR the green minibus #1A to go to MTR Choi Hung station. 

Hike Overview:

After you get off the bus at Pak Tam Chung 北潭涌, follow Tai Mong Tsai Rd. towards the High Island Reservoir direction for just about 200 meters and then pay attention to your right. You will see the sign to Hei Tsz Wan 起子湾 village, follow the direction and you will be on Pak Tam Chung Nature Trail.

Po Kwu Wan 曝罟灣 is just approximately 2 kms away. There are 3 splits before you get there. At the first split you will see the sign, just stick to Hei Tsz Wan 起子湾 village direction, which is your left.

Soon, you will arrive at the second split, turn left off the concrete path and walk on the mountain trail. The concrete path on the right will lead you to Hei Tsz Wan 起子湾 pier.

Then, you will come to the 3rd split, this time you have to take your right side, breaking off the trail and go down to Po Kwu Wan 曝罟灣. You will see colorful ribbons tied on the branches, it is very obvious.

In just less than 10 minutes and you will be down there. Enjoy the peacefulness and take a lot of pictures. 

“ You need special shoes for hiking – and a bit of a special soul as well. ”

– Terri Guillemets

Next, walk on the embankment and cross over to the other side. Get on the trail and then take your left turn when you get to the first split. Follow the trail and return to Pak Tam Chung 北潭涌, where you started. 

Now, the second part of this trail is Tai Tun 太墩. Walk to the end of the carpark at Pak Tam Chung 北潭涌 and look for the trailhead to hike up to Tai Tun 太墩. Look for the ribbons as usual! 

From this point, the distance is about 1.5 kms to the top with the elevation of 317 meters. The trail is pretty straight forward all the way up as it is quite a popular trail to many hikers. You will be seeing ribbons along the way and most likely hike with the other hikers. 

The view of the “thousand islands” will slowly reveal as you go higher. And it will only get better and better. Once on top, you can’t help screaming out your excitement to what’s laid in front of your eyes.  

Tai Tun 太墩 is known for the spot for viewing sunset, so you may plan your time to be there and wait for the sunset.

To go down, you can either take the same path to Pak Tam Chung 北潭涌 or you can hike to Cheung Shan 長山 with the altitude of 165 meters and then finally get down to Sai Kung Training Camp 西貢戶外訓練營, your choice. The latter one via Cheung Shan 長山 is double the distance (3 kms) but offering a different view. 

This is a very relaxing trail with stunning sceneries, both at Po Kwu Wan 曝罟灣 and Tai Tun 太墩. It is suitable for all levels of hikers. 

The aerial shot of Tai Tun 太墩 and Tsam Chuk Wan 斬竹灣
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Hung Shek Mun 紅石門 – the Hidden Peculiar Red Rocky Coastline

Hung Shek Mun 紅石門, also known as the “Red Rocky Shore”, is a hidden & unique stretch of reddish coastline on the east end of Plover Cove Country Park at Yan Chau Tong Marine Park 印洲塘海岸公园. This place is noted for the high presence of rich iron, with the deep red colored sedimentary rock bed lining the shores, making it the most unusual and peculiar scenery and photograph opportunities.

The green hills and islands in the background form a striking contrast to the reddish coastline. The dam on the right of the embankment was built for fish farming. The hole in the middle of the embankment allows the water to flow into the dam when the tide is high.

This is one of the rare and challenging coastlines in Hong Kong for hikers to visit, but the trail is definitely doable if you have the time, it takes about 7-8 hours to complete it. Read on my blog and I will share more details about this out-and-back trail from Wu Kau Tang 烏蛟騰 Village, give yourself a challenge!

Hung Shek Mun 紅石門 is really a place worth visiting, it is absolutely beautiful!

The aerial shot of the reddish coastline of Hung Shek Mun 紅石門

My Trail: 

“ Wu Kau Tang 烏蛟騰 > Kau Tam Tso 九担租 > Sheung Miu Tin 上苗田 > Ha Miu Tin 下苗田 > Tai Tung 大峒 (295M) > Mount Newland 觀音峒 (303M) > HUNG SHEK MUN 紅石門 >  Ha Miu Tin 下苗田 > Sheung Miu Tin 上苗田 > Kau Tam Tso 九担租 > Wu Kau Tang 烏蛟騰 “

Distance: 18 KM
Duration: 7.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 790 M
Difficulty: 3.5/5
View: 4/5

The aerial shot of the beautiful Yan Chau Tong Marine Park 印洲塘海岸公园

How to get there & return:

1. Take MTR East Rail Line to Tai Po Market 大埔墟 station, then take exit A3 to go to the minibus terminal.

2. Take the green minibus #20R to Wu Kau Tang 烏蛟騰, the final stop. The journey is about 30 minutes from Tai Po Market.

3. Your hike to Hung Shek Mun 紅石門 will begin at Wu Kau Tang Village, where you get off the minibus. 

4. It is an out-and-back trail, you will be finishing your hike at Wu Kau Tang Village, go to the bus stop and wait for the same green minibus #20R to go back to East Rail Line Tai Po Market 大埔墟, for returning to the city. 

The green minibus #20R schedule from Wu Kau Tang

Hike Overview:

Hikers are advised to wear tracksuits as there are many thick bushes and trees on the trail. Do bring plenty of water and food.  

After getting off the bus at Wu Kau Tang 烏蛟騰 Village, you will see the sign, follow the direction to Kau Tam Tso 九担租, a small village where you will probably spot many trees with beautiful red leaves during the month of December, it is very beautiful. 

The bus stop at Wu Kau Tang with the big sign showing you the directions to different places

Before you start, there’s a public toilet to use, that will be the one and only public toilet in this entire trail. It’s rather a long day of hike, finish your business first before you start the hike. 

The first kilometer on the concrete path you will get to Kau Tam Tso 九担租, keep following the path to Sheung Miu Tin 上苗田 and Ha Miu Tin 下苗田. You will be at Ha Miu Tin 下苗田 in 2 kilometers where you will find the split with the sign showing you the direction up to Tai Tung 大峒.

Tai Tung 大峒, at 295 meters is going to be the first mountain, with the distance of slightly under 2 kilometers. From Tai Tung 大峒, walk further for another half a kilometer and you will arrive at Mount Newland 觀音峒. 

Mount Newland 觀音峒 at 303 meters, is a great spot for seeing the entire Plover Cove Reservoir. Take a moment to admire the scenery and enjoy the tranquility.

Admiring the beautiful Plover Cove Reservoir

After Mount Newland 觀音峒, walk for less than half a kilometer and pay attention to your left, you will see an unofficial path (grey path in the Hiking Trail HK App) with a lot of colorful ribbons tied on the branches, take the path and descend. The path is actually opposite of a DANGER sign.

The unofficial path going down to Hung Shek Mun 紅石門

Over a kilometer of descent, you will get to Hung Shek Mun Reservoir. It is a peaceful environment, the still water of the reservoir creates a beautiful reflection of the mountain and the sky.

Hung Shek Mun Reservoir

Keep going until you reach a split where you’ll see a sign showing you the direction down to Hung Shek Mun 紅石門 to your right. The direction going straight is the path you are going to take on your way back, it will lead you back to Miu Sam Ancient Trail 苗三古道/ Double Haven Country Trail 印洲塘郊遊徑. 

The Chinese sign at the split showing you the direction down to Hung Shek Mun

From this point, you will finally arrive at Hung Shek Mun 紅石門 in less than a kilometer. Before getting there, you will walk pass a few abandoned houses and a lake. 

When you see the red rocky shore, you know you are there. Enjoy the place!

The embankment and the dam is the popular photo spot for hikers. 

Look carefully at the middle of the dam on the little island, if you have a drone, fly above the island and find the right angle. It is actually looking like a flying butterfly from above. You can walk to the “Butterfly Island” and take some awesome drone shots!

The Butterfly Island

“ To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles. ”

– Marie Davis

For returning, take the same path back to the split where there’s a Chinese sign. Now, you can either take exactly the same path to go back via Mount Newland 觀音峒 & Tai Tung 大峒 if you choose left at the split; if you choose right, you will be walking for more than 3 kilometers to Miu Sam Ancient Trail 苗三古道/ Double Haven Country Trail 印洲塘郊遊徑.

Once you are out on the Miu Sam Ancient Trail 苗三古道/ Double Haven Country Trail 印洲塘郊遊徑, you have your final 4 kilometers back to Wu Kau Tang 烏蛟騰 Village. 

It’s going to be a long day of hike but the reward is great being at such a unique place.