Category: Hiking

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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. 

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Twisted Cave 扭紋洞 to High Junk Peak 釣魚翁 – the Trail in Search of Clear Water Bay’s Three Gems

Aerial shot of the Green Egg Island

Clear Water Bay is a picturesque waterfront neighborhood, tucked away on the northeastern coast of Sai Kung. It is in a relatively unspoiled area with hills, country park and rugged coastline. There are 2 beautiful beaches in Clear Water Bay, Clearwater Bay first beach and Clearwater Bay second beach, they can be reached by bus. Clear Water Bay draws a lot of nature & outdoor enthusiasts, you can enjoy the beach, sunbathing, hike, kayak, swim, coasteering, and even fly a kite. 

There are “Three Gems” in Clear Water Bay: the cave (Twisted Cave 扭紋洞), the island (Green Egg Island 綠蛋島) and the peak (High Junk Peak 釣魚翁). They are wonderful photo spots and I am going to show you how to reach all three of them in a slightly over 17km trail. 

This is an adventurous & fun trail where you will taste a bit of everything: getting inside the cave, hiking around the coast with amazing sea view, swimming to the island (optional) and hiking to one of the 3 sharp peaks in Hong Kong. I can guarantee you a fun & great workout day! 

# The three sharp peaks in Hong Kong: Sharp Peak (468M) in Sai Kung, High Junk Peak (344M) in Clear Water Bay & Castle Peak (583M) in Tuen Mun.

Aerial shot of the Blade Ridge

My Trail: 

“ Clear Water Bay 2nd Beach 清水灣第二灣 > TWISTED CAVE 扭紋洞 > Clear Water Bay 2nd Beach 清水灣第二灣 > Clear Water Bay 1st Beach 清水灣第一灣 > Tai Au Mun 大坳門 > Ngo Sei Kai 餓死雞 (263M) > BLADE RIDGE 刀片脊 > GREEN EGG ISLAND 綠蛋島 > Tai Au Mun 大坳門 > HIGH JUNK PEAK 釣魚翁 (344M) > LOHAS Park MTR 康城地鐵站  “

Distance: 17 KM
Duration: 7.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 1108 M
Difficulty: 4/5
(the challenges of this trail is the length and navigation part on the grey path!)
View: 5/5

That’s the shadow of High Junk Peak!

How to get there & return:

1. Take MTR Kwun Tong Line to Tseung Kwan O 將軍澳 station, then take the exit directly into the Popcorn 1 Shopping Mall.

2. Turn right after getting inside the mall and you will soon see Toast Box cafe, next to it there’s a door to the bus terminus. 

3. Take the green minibus #103M to Clear Water Bay 2nd Beach 清水灣第二灣, the final stop. The journey takes about 20-25 minutes.

4. The trail begins after you get off the bus! Have fun! 

5. You will finish your hike at LOHAS Park MTR, easy to return to the city.

Hike Overview:

The first stop of this trail, and the first gem you are going to see is the Twisted Cave 扭紋洞, please check the tidal forecast before going because you need the tide to be at least lower than 0.8 meter to enter the cave. On top of that, during low tide, it is easier to get to the cave on the rocky shoreline, by coasteering.

After getting off the minibus at the final stop, Clear Water Bay 2nd beach, follow Tai Au Mun Rd. 大坳門路 to Po Toi O 布袋澳 direction for about 15 minutes, less than 1 km. Pay attention to the lamp posts on the left side of the road, look at the serial numbers on every lamp post because you need to look for the one with the serial number #EB 3995.

The lamp post with the serial number #EB 3995

Once you see the #EB 3995 lamp post, walk for a few more meters ahead and you will see a path on your left going down to the shore. It is actually quite noticeable when you see some colorful ribbons on the branches and a rope, the path is just opposite of a pavilion across the road. 

The path going down to the shore.

Use the rope to help you going down, you will be there in about 10 minutes. Once you are on the shore, turn left to get to the Twisted Cave 扭紋洞, you shall see some chalk-marked arrows on the rock showing you the direction to the cave. 

The chalk-marked arrow to the Twisted Cave direction! 

Twisted Cave 扭紋洞 is close-by, look for the cave entrance, you will probably see some other hikers around it, if not, look out for the rope & wooden platforms, the evidence of people visiting it. 

This is the Twisted Cave entrance, it is rather small.

Once you are there, get inside the cave, it is a small and narrow passage to go inside. During low tide, you can easily walk inside on the rocks and the wooden platforms without getting wet. I’d suggest you bringing along your aqua-shoe (get a pair if you don’t have one, it is cheap!), with it you don’t have to worry about your hiking shoe getting wet in the water. 

My waterproof bag with great capacity, hiking shoe and aqua-shoe!

When you are deep inside Twisted Cave 扭紋洞, look out and you will be completely blown away with what you see. 

It’s like a piece of art!

After getting your shots, take exactly the same way and return to the main road, Tai Au Mun Rd. 大坳門路. To your right, go towards the Clear Water Bay 2nd beach & 1st beach direction, in about 2 km and you will arrive at Tai Au Mun roundabout. Turn right from the roundabout and keep following Clear Water Bay Rd. until the end, you’ll see another roundabout and a carpark. That’s where you’ll start hitting the mountain trail, Lung Ha Wan Country Trail. 

Follow the Lung Ha Wan Country Trail to ascend, check on your Hiking Trail HK App and don’t miss the turn into the grey path (unofficial path) in your app to go to Ngo Sei Kai 餓死雞 at 263 meters. 

On top of Ngo Sei Kai 餓死雞 at 263 meters!

Once on top, you will be rewarded with the great view of South China Sea and the islands around the bay of Sai Kung. Take a moment to rest and enjoy the great view before descending. 

From Ngo Sei Kai 餓死雞, you will continue on the grey path as in the Hiking Trail HK App to descend and get to the Blade Ridge 刀片脊 in about 2 km. Remember, every time when you are hiking on the grey path, look for the ribbons along the way while tracking your location on the app, so you know you are on the right track. If you don’t, you can easily walk away from the trail and possibly get lost. 

Blade Ridge 刀片脊 is a very beautiful photo spot, you’ll need to fly a drone to capture the image, then only you’ll see it looking like a blade. 

Aerial shot of the Blade Ridge 刀片脊

Well, it doesn’t matter whether you have a drone or not, Blade Ridge 刀片脊 is a very stunning spot to feast your eyes. 

After Blade Ridge 刀片脊, you will be going to the second gem of Clear Water Bay, the Green Egg Island 綠蛋島. It is just less than a kilometer away. 


Get down to the beach and walk or swim over to Green Egg Island 綠蛋島, it’s very close to the beach. Or you can just relax at the beach, this island is a very popular spot for kayakers.

The GREEN sunny side up!

Then, you will move on and hike to Lung Ha Wan Rd. in slightly over 1 km. Follow the road for less than 3 km and get back to Tai Au Mun roundabout. 

You will see Shing Kee Store at the roundabout selling noodles and drinks, get some food and cold drinks before getting to the 3rd and final gem of Clear Water Bay, High Junk Peak 釣魚翁.

Behind Shing Kee Store, take the path and go all the way to the top of High Junk Peak 釣魚翁 , at 344 meters. Up there, you will be able to see the entire Clear Water Bay Country Park, it is breathtaking! 

Aerial shot of High Junk Peak 釣魚翁

From High Junk Peak 釣魚翁, you will have the final 3 km to descend and get to LOHAS Park MTR, completing the 17 km trail. 

It is going to be a long day doing this trail but it is rewarding as you achieve both fitness training and having to see all the spectacular places. 

“ After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value. ”

– G.M. Trevelyan

If you are interested in exploring other beautiful caves in Hong Kong, you can check out my blog on Pak Kok Cave Trail and Mok Min Cave Trail.