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.
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.
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!
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
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 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.
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)
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”.
“ I found far more answers in the woods than I ever did in the city. ”
– Mary Davis
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.
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.
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.
