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!

Grass Island 塔門 – A Forgotten Island

Grass Island Pier

Grass Island, or you may call it Tap Mun 塔門 is located in the northeastern part of Hong Kong, it is very close to Sai Kung East Country Park. Getting to Grass Island is a long way with different mode of transportation, but trust me you will not regret it going there.

Aerial shot of Grass Island

How to get there & return:
1. Take MTR East Rail Line to University station.

2. Take Exit B, follow the sign to Ma Liu Shui Pier, it takes about 10 minutes walking. (After exiting the station, take your left and follow the red bicycle path, walk towards the sea direction)

3. Get on the Kaito Ferry at Ma Liu Shui Pier to Grass Island (Tap Mun), journey is about 1.5 hours. (Fare: Monday to Friday – $18 / Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays – $28). Although the ferry journey is long, it’s very scenic as you sail your way to the island. You will see the beautiful Sai Kung Country Park  & Ma On Shan on your right, and on your left, you will the Pat Sin Leng, the Eight Immortals Mountains and also Plover Cove Reservoir. Get some fresh air, enjoy the breeze and admire the view you have around you.

Kaito Ferry Timetable between Ma Liu Shui, Grass Island & Wong Shek Pier

4. For return you can either take the ferry back to Ma Liu Shui, or you can take the ferry to Wong Shek Pier:
( i ) From Grass Island back to Ma Liu Shui is the same journey, 1.5 hours. After arriving Ma Liu Shui Pier, you will walk to East Rail Line University Station to take the train.
( ii ) If you choose to go to Wong Shek Pier, which is in Sai Kung, ferry journey is only 35 minutes. However, you have to take the KMB bus #94 to go to Sai Kung Pier for changing other buses to go back to the city. KMB bus #94 frequency is every half-hourly.

5. Kindly refer to the Kaito Ferry website for more details of their services.

Strong waves hitting on the rocks, at “Balanced Rock”

Grass Island is a small island with only approximately 100 population, it’s a place you’ll find peace & inspirations. Most people are doing day trip from the city, you can easily round the island by feet within 3 hours. It is also a good place for camping. The campsite is facing the east, so you are going to get a beautiful sunrise right from your tent when you wake up in the morning.

The campsite facing east and Sai Kung East Country Park

“Land really is the best art.”

– Andy Warhol

Aerial view of Grass Island

Remember to try their famous Sea Urchin Fried Rice, Sea Urchin & Egg Sandwich and their Ice-less Cold Ginger Milk Tea, they are not to be missed. As soon as you arrive at Grass Island Pier, you will smell sun-dried fish and other seafood as the villagers are selling them on the stalls setting up along the small path from the pier to the village. You’ll then find yourself in the village where you’ll see a few restaurants, they are all having almost the same menu. Go check them out and find one that you like. Bon Appétit!!!

The famous Sea Urchin Fried Rice, price is about HKD110
Tin Hau Temple

Tap Mun New Fishermen’s Village and Yung Shu Village are the only 2 villages on the island. You’ll be walking through the villages when you do your circular walk, you’ll see the rustic life of the people there. As a tourist, we should not forget respecting their place of living, keeping the island clean, while enjoying ourselves.

The incredible “Balanced Rock 疉石”
”Lung Ken Kan 龍頸筋“

“Balanced Rock 疉石” and “Lung Keng Kan 龍頸筋” are 2 beautiful spots for pictures, follow the path and you won’t miss it. For “Lung Ken Kan”, it is less common, and its location is not far from the Dragon View Pavilion, slightly up north, follow the ribbons and the chalked-arrow that are left by the hikers. You will find it easily, you know you are on the right track when you see a steep slope with a long rope, hold on tight to the rope and descent. Be very careful and go slow, safety always comes first.

The last ferry leaving Grass Island for Ma Liu Shui is at 1730, make sure you don’t forget to check your watch. Ferry to Wong Shek Pier has more frequency, giving you more flexibility. The villagers also run private speedboat to Wong Shek Pier for your information.

Grass Island to Wong Shek Pier (Weekdays: 0745, 0945, 1145, 1345, 1545, 1800 | Weekend & Public Holidays: 0800, 0900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800)

If you enjoy Grass Island, I am sure you’ll love Tung Lung Chau 東龍洲 even more.