City: New Territories
Top Things to do in New Territories
Top Restaurants in Hong Kong
Countries
10 Nature & Parks in New Territories That You Shouldn't Miss
Delectable dim sum, floating islands, and a one-of-a-kind skyline are just some of Hong Kong’s unique features. Get an eyeful of traditional Chinese architecture in Ngong Ping village, then take the tram to the tippity-top of Victoria Peak for unparalleled views. The rocks and gentle hills of Nan Lian Garden will bring you inner peace, as will a calming cup of tea in a Stanley café. Become one with everything at the Chi Lin Nunnery, a serene Buddhist complex.
Restaurants in Hong Kong
1. Lantau island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,596 reviews
Reviewed By wing88kiu
It's so close to the city and even where the HK airport is, you can find the most scenic hiking trails, fishing village, beautiful beaches and good variety of restaurants all in one. The island is big and better to plan out your day on what you want to do. One cannot see everything in one day and can spend different days on different things to do. it's more than just the shopping mall and Disneyland.
2. Po Lin (Precious Lotus) Monastery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,125 reviews
Located on Lantau Island, this monastery features the Big Buddha (Tiantau), which is the largest, seated, outdoor bronze Buddha in the world.
Reviewed By KatDeg
I have been up to see the big Buddha twice now. We travelled on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car up to the Po Lin Monastery. It is the second largest bronze Buddha statue in the world and surprisingly not all that old, only being built in the early 1990's after 12 years of construction. There are a little under 300 steps to walk up for a closer look at the statue, which if you are not fit or struggle to walk will find difficult. But once you get up the top, there are great views and a small gallery/display inside. You don't see the six "divas" from ground level either, so worth the few minute walk up the stairs. No photos are to be taken inside, as it is like a shrine to people who have died. So be respectful. The same goes for photos inside of the temples. Signs everywhere saying no photos and no visitors. Which means, you shouldn't go inside if you are not Buddhist. There are a few temples to see up there, including the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas which has literally ten thousand Buddhas of various sizes in a hall of intricate detail and artwork. There are souvenir shops and places to eat up there as well. Do not feed the cattle or dogs that roam around, there are signs to say you will cop a fine. All up with a ride on the cable car, you will need a good 2-3 hours up there. Ensure you go at 10am, so you don't end up with long lines at the end of the day to get back down the mountain.
3. Mai Po Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
The 380-hectare Mai Po Nature Reserve is managed by WWF-Hong Kong. As a haven for thousands of migratory waterbirds every year, Mai Po Nature Reserve and the surrounding Inner Deep Bay wetlands sets a prime example of conservation success for regional wetlands. The six main habitats in Mai Po Nature Reserve – gei wais, freshwater ponds, inter-tidal mudflats, mangroves, reedbeds and fishponds – are home to a host of wildlife. Joining one of our eco visits is the best and simplest way to experience the beauty of this truly unique and ecologically diverse wetland location.
Reviewed By BradJill - Hong Kong, China
The Mai Po Nature Reserve is a protected wetlands and conversation area in the northwestern corner of Hong Kong that is managed by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). This it a marshland and winter haven for around 100,000 migratory birds of nearly 400 different species thus making it an international recognised area of importance and a popular destination for serious birdwatchers. Independent entry permits are possible for members of the Hong Kong Birdwatching Society and WWF Members by way of application through these organisations. Otherwise, the general public can only enter the Ma Po Reserves by way of guided tours given by the WWF which can be organised online through their website. There are a couple tours visiting different areas of the Reserve and of different lengths of time. Tours are lead by a trained naturalist and are mostly conducted in Cantonese. However, the guides speak English and can provide information in both languages. Tours start from the WWF Visitor Centre in Long Ping where you will receive your permit and binoculars (for loan) before being shuttled into the Nature Reserve. During the tour, you will learn about the five main habitats in Mai Po including the mangroves, reed beds, inter-tidal mudflats, freshwater ponds as well as the gei wai, a local use of the wetlands as tidal prawn farms in the past. You will walk through the wetlands, along boardwalks and spend time in various bird hides, viewing interesting and if you are lucky, endangered birdlife. For best results, visiting during the winter when tens of thousands of migratory birds make Mai Po their home is most recommended. We visited recently, attending the Mangrove Boardwalk Adventure (5 hour) tour that includes time spent on the boardwalks located in the Deep Water mudflats and mangrove forest. This was a rewarding experience. We enjoyed viewing countless bird species, including an osprey, black-faced spoonbills and a delightful little kingfisher amongst so many other commonly sighted birds. While walking through the gei wai area, we saw a rat snake crossing the water as well. At the end of the tour, the shuttle bus returns all visitors back to the WWF Visitor Centre where you return your permit card and binoculars before returning home by way of the Long Ping MTR which is 2-3 minute walk from Visitor Centre. Note: The WWF Visitor Centre has nice toilets, water refill station as well as a small eatery where you can have a coffee and light bite before or after your visit into the Nature Reserve. There are gifts and souvenirs available for purchase as well. Note: There are no shops in the Reserve so make sure to bring water and a snack with you. Also best to have a meal prior to starting the tour, especially if you are taking a morning tour. Related, we had one toilet break at the Education Centre within the Reserve around halfway through the tour. Toilets are modern and very clean. Overall, we really enjoyed our time spent in the Mai Po Nature Reserve recently. Permits are a bit pricy but this allows the WWF to conduct tours with smaller visitor numbers which is a luxury here in Hong Kong. It makes a real difference compared to the nearby Hong Kong Wetlands which is open to the public and takes on large numbers of visitors, particularly on weekends and public holidays.
4. Lantau Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 206 reviews
Reviewed By schmidtmg - Switzerland, null
This year we hiked Lantau Trail Sections 5 and 6, section 5 running from Sham Wat Road to Man Cheung Po and 6 from Man Cheung Po to Tai O. Make sure you take good hiking shoes with a good profile, as the trail goes up and down a lot. Much of the trail is in the open, so also take enough water and sun block and a hat if it is sunny. The scenery is beautiful and you can have an almost 360° view of Lantau from some of the peaks you climb on these sections. One additional benefit of this section of the Lantau trail is that it is not crowded. On the beautiful January Saturday afternoon we took the hike, we met less than 15 hikers on a 10 km stretch....
5. Lamma Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,898 reviews
Reviewed By cairn7_amanda - San Francisco, United States
My friend and I took the ferry from Central Pier to Sok Kwu Wan and walked up the island to Yung Shue Wan to take the ferry back. Along the way, we had lunch, took a ton of photos and had a wonderful day outdoors. The weather was perfect and the hike was pretty easy. We especially enjoyed Lo So Shing beach and could have stayed there for hours. Lamma Island is gorgeous and such a shirt distance from the busy city, I highly recommend as a half or full-day trip to get another view on Hong Kong.
6. Lion Rock Country Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 101 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is a very accessible park, close to Wong Tai Sin MTR. A taxi from the station to the gates of the park is under $30HKD. It is most famous for the Lion Rock hike, Hong Kong’s most scenic and popular hike. The huge granite peak stands at 495m tall and from the top, you have absolutely stunning views across Hong Kong, Kowloon on one side and Shatin, and the New Territories on the other. It is also known for two other dramatic features, Amah Rock and Beacon Hill. There are lots of opportunities for hiking here. The Wilson Trail Stage 6, Shatin’s Pass and MacLehose Trail Stages 5 & 6 all cross through the park. They are well sign-posted and easy to follow, although there are lots of challenging stairs and steep stretches. It is also a great place to see wild macaque monkeys. I had wrongly assumed that they were native. They are actually a feral population that got out of control. In the early 1900s, some were released to control the spread of a local poisonous plant, strychnos which the monkeys loved to eat. Fun as it is to see the monkeys, be careful not to go too close. We saw one aggressively snatching food from one hiker so it’s best to keep all food in your back pack and don't bring it out if there are monkeys around. Importantly, make sure to go prepared. Water, snacks, hat and sunscreen are absolute essentials. There is nowhere to refill water bottles so take enough with you. You’ll also need good shoes with grip. The paths can be steep and rocky, with loose gravelly, slippery surfaces. GETTING THERE - You can enter the park at several points. Start off at Wong Tai Sin MTR. From there, many people get a taxi to Jong Fat temple and walk up Shatin’s Pass Rd but I prefer to get a taxi to the Lion Rock Park on Lion Park Rd. You can walk from the station to either point but a taxi will cost less than $30HKD. Entry to the country park is free.
7. Tai Mo Shan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By ckm818 - Hong Kong, China
Escaping the city and getting away from the claustrophobic confines of crowded places during the coronavirus pandemic need both brainwork and legwork. That's how we picked the destination of Tai Mo Shan this Sunday. That means a long stretch of hike to Hong Kong's tallest mountain standing at 957m. Heading west from Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve (one of the starting points among many), our family had walked for six hours, across the ridgetop path after Lead Mine Pass all the way to the summit. That is the MacLehose Trail Stage Eight. Along the hike, you'll find heaps of boulders on the slope; it suggested violent eruption once Tai Mo Shan was a volcano in the Jurassic period. If you're lucky to pick a clear day, Tai Mo Shan offers distant views over virtually every part of Hong Kong. Absolutely iconic.
8. Kadoorie Farm and Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 192 reviews
Reviewed By yalibrarian - San Antonio, United States
Located in the New Territories, you will have to take the MTR and the bus (load the app to follow the stops). The bus stops right in front of the entrance. Friendly and knowledgable staff and docents. Peruse the web site to find the shuttle tour times. Shuttle will take you up the mountain with numerous stops for photo ops, including an orchid garden, fern garden, and butterfly garden. The walk down is well marked, paved, and shaded. Rescue animals include monkeys, birds of prey, reptiles, and flamingoes. Organic farms are all over the mountain slopes. Stop at their outdoor restaurant to sample their produce or at least try some tea. Allocate at least two hours, although you could spend longer. $4 USD for entrance and shuttle tour. A great way to get your outdoor fix if you don't necessarily want to hike during the hot, humid summer. Glad we took the time!
9. Po Toi Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By TheOExpress - Hong Kong, China
...which is a pleasure to hike around. If you head left from the ferry and take the ‘rugged trail’ from the Tin Hau Temple then you’ll get to see plenty of beautiful scenery ok that path and the basic one later. The rocks and vegetation, all of course framed by the surrounding sea, makes everything about the island very picturesque.
10. Tung Lung Chau
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By TheOExpress - Hong Kong, China
...for so many reasons! Even though it was incredibly misty when we visited, so we sadly missed out on the views, heading round on the loop was an absolute pleasure. The variation in landscape and foliage is extraordinary; spending time in the huts offering food is like going back in time; the hiking is challenging yet accessible. We will most certainly be back on a clear day to see the views from the very top!
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