City: New Territories
Top Things to do in New Territories
Top Restaurants in Hong Kong
Countries
What to do and see in New Territories, China: The Best Scenic Walking Areas
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. Po Pin Chau Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By BradJill - Hong Kong, China
This is the trail that leads up to the famous viewpoint over Po Pin Chau southeast of the High Island Reservoir East Dam in the Sai Kung East Country Park in the area that is also part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. The trail highlight is reached in the first 30-40 minutes at the Po Pin Chau Viewpoint. This is where you see the stunning geological formation of an island made up entirely of hexagonal volcanic columns (also called Organ Pipes). From here you can simply return to the East Dam or continue onward along the joining Pak Lap Trail which skirts along the southern coastline and includes numerous stops with outstanding views of cliffs made up Organ Pipes, just like what you saw at the Po Pin Chau Viewpoint. On the way back down after the Po Pin Chau Viewpoint, hikers have opportunity to clamber down with a light bit of repelling to the Kim Chu Wan Beach were you can see the stacks of Organ Pipes up close. It is a remarkable stop for up close photos, compared to the more distant photo ops at Po Pin Chau. You can carry on westward where you find yourself just south of Kim Cha Wan with beautiful views to the east where the Organ Pipe escarpment aligns, affording really nice photograph opportunities with the sea and Po Pin Chau in the background. You will also encounter some eery but beautiful ground surface of chalk white colour with bronze and caramel coloured streaks. We call this butterscotch hill. There are other unusual rock structures and lovely views to the south where you can spot numerous small islands and a handful of sea caves in the distance. The trail then carries on through a lot of scrubby and overgrown pathway towards Pak Lap Wan. You will need long leg hiking trousers and long sleeve shirts are a better option. The trail has ribbon markers along the way but due to many crisscrossing trails, many of which converge at various points, it is best to use GPS or online trail app like Hiking Trails Hong Kong, which allows to you make sure you are staying on course, especially if planning to hike on weekdays when there will be far fewer other hikers about. Along the way to Pak Lap Wan, you will encounter a few pebble beaches. There are a couple splinter trails in the area taking you to the Mok Min Sea Cave and other coastal spots. You eventually make it to the secluded Pak Lap Wan Beach, a very nice location and stretch of golden sand, turquoise water and chance to rest. There is a beach cafe there for food & drinks. From Pak Lap Wan beach, you make your way north through the small village and up the path to Man Yee Road, the only road that runs past High Island Reservoir. From here you can try to hail a taxi but it can be difficult when ending your hike in the mid afternoon and on busy weekend days. A hike back to East Dam where you started the Po Pin Chau trail along the road can be a better bet for transportation back out of the country park. This takes around 20-25 minutes. You pass a couple of really nice viewpoints of the High Island Reservoir here before finally arriving back at the Dam where you can try to pick up a taxi or bus 9A back to Sai Kung. Note: As is often the case with hiking in the two Sai Kung Country Parks, public transportation can be very limited and queues can result in very long waits for bus rides to Sai Kung. As such, you will do well to install a Hong Kong Taxi app on my mobile phone so that you can call in a taxi at the end of your hike. This can be a very helpful time saver if you don't mind ponying up for the taxi ride out of the park.
2. High Island Geo Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By BradJill - Hong Kong, China
Recently spent a morning hiking in the Sai Kung East Country Park spending quite a bit of time on the enjoyable High Island Geo Trail around and below the main reservoir dam. This is an easy and family-friendly hike of around 1.4 km that affords excellent views of the sea, reservoir and fantastic geological features which make up this area of the UNESCO Global GeoPark. First and foremost, the volcanic hexagonal columns that make up what the rock face wall of the north side of the trail are of outstanding quality and so very interesting to view, particularly if you've interest in geology. You will also see a handful of information signs showing you highlights along the road and path leading down to the buffer lake. We also very much like the partially formed sea cave, which you can view from up close by way of a wooden platform deck which extends into the lake on the southern end. There are quite a few freshwater fish in the small lake as well, something fun for the kids to see. Along the lower dam with the sea, you will also see a long row of hundreds of giant dolosse. These are massive concrete blocks that help form the dam, very interesting to see up close. You won't believe their actual size until you stand up close to them. Note, there is a single blue dolos monument back up on the southern end of the East Dam. This is a memorial to those who died during the dam's construction and was erected in 1978. Overall, you can spend anywhere from 30-60 minutes enjoying the High Island Geo Trail before then continuing onward with the MacLehose Trail to the north or by taking a lesser known rural trail to the south which leads to the outstanding Po Pin Chau, a slightly detached island with a huge, exposed rock face made up of pristine condition hexagonal columns. This is one of Hong Kong's best kept secrets, a true hidden gem that even many locals know little about.
3. Cheung Chau North Lookout Pavilion
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
Cheung Chau has a wonderful old-world fishing village atmosphere and some great hiking. The hike to North Lookout Pavilion is a steep walk to the highest point on the island, with magical views at the top. From here, you have a panoramic view down upon the island’s tombolo formation and in the other direction, you look across the sea to Lantau Island, with Kowloon and the western end of Hong Kong Island in the distance. It is an uphill walk all the way but the climb is pretty steady. It’s not as steep or as long as walking up the Peak so if you have done that, you’d have no trouble at all with this walk. The paths and stairs are even and there are no rough patches. If it has been raining, the path might possibly be a little mossy and slippery but otherwise it's a reliably safe and good path. A large part of the trail is closed in with greenery which keeps it shady and a little cooler. GETTING THERE 1. Coming off the #5 Cheung Chau ferry, turn left and walk about 5 -10 min until you come to the last seafood restaurant, The New Baccarat (can recommend this for lunch later – see separate review). 2. Right beside the restaurant, but set a little further back, you will see the Pak Tai temple, with a large, open square in front of it. Cross the square and turn right up the hill. 3. You will pretty quickly come to a house with 2 red columns and the path will diverge. Stick to your left and head up the stairs. 4. At the top of the staircase, is a rest area. In a spot of good luck, we arrived here just as the tail end of a typhoon hit the island and we sheltered here until it passed. 5. From here, follow the concrete path to your right and keep heading uphill. You’ll start to see signs to North Lookout Pavilion now. This is the steepest part but it doesn't last for long. 6. Look out for another rest area on your left (they seem to be inordinately fond of rest areas on Cheung Chau). There are pavilion-like shelters here but this is not your final stop and it’s very overgrown so has barely any view. 7. As you enter the rest area, on your left, you will see a set of stairs with wooden railings, leading through the greenery. This will take you directly up to the pavilion where the most panoramic view will open up before you. 8. After you’ve stopped at the pavilion, press on and walk down the extra set of stairs to the point right at the edge of the island. You would think the views couldn't get better but they do, so don't baulk at these final stairs. 9. I believe that you can also take stairs down to the small, secluded Tung Wan Tsai Beach but we didn't do this. All in all, you should allow about 1.5 - 2 hours there and back. NOTE: There is more than one path to the lookout. We took the route that kept us mostly on walking trails rather than the road. If you are cycling, then you would keep to the road instead. In that case, keep going past the seafood restaurants, leaving the main village and following the road as it loops around the island. Don’t turn off, keep riding past a couple of little bays until you get to a steep road on your right which leads up to the pavilion. If have padlocks, you can chain your bike up and walk from here.
