Category: Hong Kong

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High Island Reservoir East Dam, Dolosse Wall & Po Pin Chau

The beautiful High Island Reservoir.

Sai Kung is a touristic place, many would flood there over the weekend or public holidays for activities like junk boat, water sports, hiking and sightseeing. Located in Hong Kong’s far east, just off the Sai Kung East Country Park, is the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, recognized in 2009 for its special geological significance and natural beauty.

The attractions at the UNESCO Global Geopark like High Island Reservoir East Dam, Dolosse Wall & Po Pin Chau have become increasingly popular because of the beautiful volcanic rock formations and they are all instagrammable. One good thing is you can reach there by land transportations without taking the ferry/boat.


How to get there & return:
1. From MTR Choi Hung station, proceed to the C2 exit. Take the 1A minibus to Sai Kung.

2. From Sai Kung Pier bus terminal, take KMB bus #94 heading to Wong Shek Pier, and get off just after Pak Tam Chung. Walk along Tai Mong Tsai Road to the junction ahead. Turn right on Sai Kung Man Yee Road and walk about 9 km OR you can take a taxi directly from Sai Kung pier, tell the driver that you are going to “Man Yee Tung Pa” (High Island Reservoir East Dam).

3. Once you are at the High Island Reservoir East Dam, you are close to all the beautiful attractions.

4. To return to Sai Kung pier, you can either walk all the way back to Pak Tam Chung to catch a bus OR call for taxi to pick you up there. Uber is a good choice too!

5. From Sai Kung pier, you can get on KMB bus #92 to go to MTR Choi Hung & Diamond Hill.

View of the High Island Reservoir from Biu Tsim Kok Viewing Point!

If you’d like to take some nice shots and have a bird’s eye view of the park, you must not miss Biu Tsim Kok 標尖角 Viewing Point. From the roundabout, you’ll see the MacLehose Trail Section 1, follow the trail and take your first right turn and walk up the hill, you’ll find the viewing point.

A dolos is a reinforced concrete block in a complex geometric shape weighing up to 80 tonnes, used in great numbers as a form of coastal management to build revetments for protection against the erosive force of waves from a body of water. This Dolosse Wall is massive and you can climb on it for great pictures, but be very careful and don’t fall into gap.

Aerial shot of the incredible Dolosse Wall!

The other side of the Dolosse Wall you will find another instagram worthy place. Get inside the holes!!!

Posing with the holes!

Looking toward the sea from East Dam, Fa Shan 花山 is cut into two parts; the one being separated is Po Pin Chau 破邊洲, which is a type of the sea abrasion landscapes – sea stack. Po Pin Chau was once part of Fa
Shan, but years of wave impact and erosion separated it. The rock
stacks on the shore of Po Pin Chau tower almost vertically over the
sea. The rock face looks just like a giant pipe organ.

Aerial shot of Po Pin Chau!

“All my life through, the new sights of Nature made me rejoice like a child.”

– Marie Curie

You have so much to see here at the UNESCO Global Geopark, you can easily spend half a day enjoying the nature beauty here with some easy hikes. Get out there and let the nature sooth your body and soul!

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Tiger’s Head 老虎頭 – the “Discovery” Trail

View of the entire Discovery Bay from the top of Tiger’s Head!

Discovery Bay is a residential area, it is very popular among the expatriates because of the secluded location and the resort living lifestyle. Many locals go there for a day trip from the city to chill and enjoy quality time with family, there are many beachfront bars & restaurants with cuisines all around the world and a public beach. During weekend, Discovery Bay is very crowded with both the residents and tourists, go there and get energized.

There are 2 hiking trails between Mui Wo and Discovery Bay, one via Tiger’s Head/ Lo Fu Tau and another one via the Trappist Haven Monastery, the latter trail is an easy one. I am doing a circular hike beginning and ending in Mui Wo covering both trails , it is achievable within 4 hours. Give yourself a challenge, I am sure you can do it too.

My Trail: 

” Mui Wo Wet Market > Pak Ngan Heung > A Po Long 亞婆塱 > TIGER’S HEAD/ LO FU TAU 老虎頭 (465M) > Discovery Bay 愉景灣 > Nim Shue Wan 稔樹灣 > Trappist Haven Monastery > Tung Wan Tau 東灣頭 > Mui Wo 梅窩”
*Alternately, you can finish your hike in Discovery Bay, enjoy a good meal at the beachfront restaurants and take the ferry to go back to Central/ Mui Wo. 


Distance: 16 KM
Duration: 4.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 986 M
Difficulty: 3/5
View: 3.5/5

Picture spot before arriving at Tiger’s Head!

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.

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.

2. Once you are in Mui Wo, find the Olympic Trail. You will first have to walk to Mui Wo Municipal Building, Olympic Trail is very close from there. Follow the trail and you will walk pass Pak Ngan Heung Village, Silvermine Waterfall and Silvermine Cave.

3. Follow the sign to Tung Chung, when you arrive at the A Po Long 亞婆塱 pavilion, turn right into the Lo Fu Tau Country Trail. You will see 2 pavilions before the one at A Po Long.

4. After arriving DB, find your way to Nim Shue Wan 稔樹灣, follow the beach path heading to Trappist Haven Monastery, and then to Mui Wo.

5. You’ll finish at Mui Wo Beach, you can then take either ferry to go back to Central or the 3M bus to Tung Chung.

Hike Overview:

The first 3 kms of the trail from Mui Wo is mainly concrete road & stairs, you’ll walk through some villages and the famous Silvermine Waterfall & Silvermine Cave. After getting to the Pavilion at A Po Long, turn right into the Lo Fu Tau Country Trail and you’ll walk for another 3 kms before you reach Tiger’s Head. This part is the best part because you are walking in the nature with sea view on both sides, Hong Kong International Airport on your left and DB Golf Course on your right.

“ Leave the road, take the trails. ”

– Pythagoras

Keep walking and you’ll get to a nice picture spot, a rock that look like a diving board. You can climb up there and strike a pose for your instagram post. Be careful though!

Soon, you’ll arrive at Tiger’s Head/ Lo Fu Tau, take your time to admire the beautiful scenery of all directions. On a clear sunny day, you can see as far as Hong Kong island and Kowloon.

The most challenging part of this entire trail is going down to Discovery Bay from Tiger’s Head, the descent on some parts is steep and slippery, please take all your time to go down.

Going back to Mui Wo via the monastery is an easy hike, you will reach a great spot for watching sunset with the whole Silvermine Bay. It’s breathtaking!!!

Enjoy the Mui Wo tranquility after you complete your hike and get a good meal to reward yourself before returning home, there are some nice restaurants like the Kitchen, High Tide, Wah Kee Seafood, China Bear, etc.

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Suicide Cliff 自殺崖 – the Dangerously Beautiful Hike

The best spot for watching sunset!

Suicide Cliff 自殺崖, located on the Kowloon Peak, is one of the most popular spots for hiking, and also the most talked about place as injuries and fatalities had happened to hikers before. No doubt, it is the best spot for watching sunset in my opinion. Standing on the cliff, you have the whole Hong Kong city view right in front of you, as you watch the setting sun like an orange egg yolk. It is beyond captivating! Even though I have been there a couple of times, I am still blown away by the view up there every single time.

If you haven’t been there before, please go with experienced hikers. Remember, safety always come first. Even though it is a fantastic spot for getting a good shot, please do not attempt to go to the cliff if you don’t feel comfortable. If you do, be extremely careful. We always know our limit, just don’t cross the line!

Isn’t it mind-blowing?
Feeling like on top of the world!

My Trail: 

” Choi Hung MTR > Jat’s Incline 扎山道 > Kowloon Peak 飛鵝山 (602M) > SUICIDE CLIFF 自殺崖 > Chau Liu Au 茶寮坳> Fei Ngo Shan Road ”




Distance: 5.5 KM
Duration: 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 592 M
Difficulty: 4.5/5
View: 5/5

How to get there & return:

1. Take MTR Kwun Tong Line to Choi Hung 彩虹 station, then take exit C2.

2. From exit C2, turn right and follow the stairs up to Wing Ting Road, then turn left. After a few minutes walk on Wing Ting Road, take your first right turn into On Ting Road, the road will lead you to Ping Ting Road. Keep going straight and pay attention to your right, you will see the stairs almost at the end of Ping Ting Road, take the stairs and go all the way to Jat’s Incline.

3. Follow Jat’s Incline for a few minutes walk and turn right into the rocky path, and hike all the way to Kowloon Peak.

4. From Kowloon Peak, walk pass the radio station, follow the path and then you will have to descent before you arrive at Suicide Cliff.

5. You’ll finish at Fei Ngo Shan Road, walk to Clear Water Bay Road and follow the road until you see the bus stop, you can get on any bus to Choi Hung MTR station.


Hike Overview:

First 2 kilometers of this trail after turning in from Ping Ting Road is mainly stairs, you’ll be walking under the shade, be prepared for hundreds of stairs ascending until you get to Jat’s Incline. Once you get to the road, pay attention to your right after less than 100M walk, you’ll see the path going up the mountain. That’s the shortcut to Kowloon Peak, it takes about 40-50 minutes of ascent. This path is very steep, I’d recommend that you bring your gloves as you’ll have to hold on the rocks to help you going up. It is safe though.

You’ll find two beautiful spots for taking pictures along the way, you can take a break and enjoy the view. You’ll see big rocks with an open view of the city, you won’t miss them.

1st picture spot.
2nd picture spot.

When you see the radio station, that’s where you are heading. You’ll finally arrive at the helipad, and that’s Kowloon Peak. On the other side, you’ll see Sai Kung and Ma On Shan Country Park, take a moment to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

To go on to Suicide Cliff, go up to the radio station and walk pass it. You will see some stairs and a path going further. You won’t get lost as there are always hikers and photographers, and the path is pretty obvious. From now on, you have to be very careful, watch every step you make because accident can happen if you do not stay focus on the path. If you are there for sunset, it is a MUST that you bring a headlamp or a torch with you, you need it for the steep descent to avoid accident and getting lost.

“ Conquering your fear brings you to new heights, and a whole new perspective. ”

– Raynard Jackle

Here are some nice sunset shots I have taken:


To go down from Suicide Cliff, there are two ways:

(i) A shorter path is steeper, the descent will be scary for those who has acrophobia, it takes only 45 minutes to the main road. Take the path going down from Suicide Cliff, at some parts you’ll have to sit on the rocks to aid your descent. You’re gonna lose the sunlight completely if you are going down after watching sunset, therefore having a headlamp is a must so you don’t lose your way down.

(ii) Another path you have to go back to Kowloon Peak, after passing the helipad, take the stairs on your right, it will lead you to Fei Ngo Shan Road. Follow the road all the way down, until you reach Clear Water Bay Road. This way takes at least 1.5 hours.

I hope you’re going to enjoy the hike as much as I do and get some great shots. One last reminder, safety always comes first!

Aerial view of Kowloon Peak and Sai Kung on the right.
You can see the radio station and the path leading to Suicide Cliff, also the path going down the mountain.

Please check out my Lion Rock Hike, Sunset Peak Hike & Temple Crag Hike, if you like watching sunset on top of the mountain!