City: Stanley
Top Things to do in Stanley
Top Restaurants in Hong Kong
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What to do and see in Stanley, China: The Best Outdoor Activities
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. Tai Tam Valley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
Tai Tam valley is a beautiful green belt, lying in the heart of the Tai Tam Country Park. The deep ravines are studded with dams, reservoirs and natural waterways and are very scenic. An excellent way to explore the area is via the Waterworks Heritage Trail. The 5km hiking trail takes you right down through the valleys and past the four historic reservoirs, built between 1888 and 1917. The trail includes detailed information boards that describe the history of these early constructions and provide more information about the aqueducts, valve houses, stone bridges, workmen’s buildings and other various structures that you see along the way. I was intrigued to learn that a sunken Hakka village lies beneath the dam waters, under about 1.4 billion gallons of water. It was submerged over 100 years ago when they built the Tai Tam Tuk dam. Recently, researchers have recovered relics of mud bricks, several banyan trees, century-old soda water bottles and small opium containers from the site of the village. WHAT TO TAKE: Water, sunscreen and a hat are essentials as there’s nowhere to buy anything en route. There are a few picnic and BBQ areas with toilet blocks. GETTING THERE: The trail begins at the entry gates to the country park, just past the Parkview residential complex. As you approach, you will notice other trail signs but ignore these and go just past them until you get to the park gates. From Central, a taxi will cost about $75HKD and will take about 15 min. Or you can take the #6 Stanley Market bus (don't get the 6X bus which also goes to Stanley via another route). Get off on Wong Nai Chung Gap Road beside a petrol station (just past the tennis courts and cricket club), where you’ll see a set of stairs that lead up to Tai Tam Reservoir Rd. It is a 15 minute walk up this steep road to Parkview and the gates of the Country Park.
2. Turtle Cove Beach
3. Che Pau Teng - Rhino Rock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
4. Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is an excellent 5 km hike through the Tai Tam Country Park. The walk is centred around the 4 main reservoirs and dams that were built here between 1888-1917. The walk also takes in 22 historic structures and relics related to the dams, including stone bridges, masonry dam walls, valve houses, pumping stations and aqueducts. The views and surrounding area are very scenic. LEVEL – it is a moderate to easy hike. You definitely don't need to be an experienced hiker. It is suitable for families. Kids might find it a bit long (5km) but being able to run across the bridges and aqueduct can keep them engaged and make it more interesting. TRACK CONDITIONS–The terrain is varied. From Parkview, it starts with an easy, downhill stretch of road. Mostly you will be on paved paths but at other times you will walk along dirt bushland tracks which have quite a lot of gnarly roots but are otherwise pretty good. There are stairs and these can be uneven and roughly made. You don't need hiking boots but a decent pair of runners is advisable. SIGNAGE - The path is well marked with clear signs and maps. There are also detailed information boards positioned along the route, describing the history of the reservoirs and the other structures. This is a really excellent feature of the walk. FACILITIES - there are several BBQ and picnic spots and a few public toilets WHAT TO TAKE - water, sunscreen and a hat are essentials. Also snacks if you want them because you cannot buy anything inside the country park. STARTING POINT: The trail begins at the entry gates to the country park, just past the Parkview residential complex. As you approach, you will notice signs for the Wilson Trail and other tracks but keep going past these until you get to the black and white gates at the start of the park, where you will see wooden signs for the Tai Tam Country Park and the Heritage Trail.
5. Tai Tam Country Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
The Tai Tam Country Park is a wonderfully scenic area with green peaks and deep valleys studded with reservoirs, dams and natural waterways. It covers about a fifth of Hong Kong Island. Entry to the park is free and you can join any one of several hiking trails - Stage 1 of the Wilson Trail, Jardine’s Lookout, the Tai Tam Family Trail, parts of the Hong Kong Trail and a unique Waterworks Heritage Trail. Some overlap and criss-cross each other but for the most part, they are well sign-posted. The hikes are easy to access and offer different degrees of difficulty, from relatively easy to very steep and difficult. All of the trails have a range of terrain. Mostly you will be on dirt bushland tracks but at other times, you’ll walk along a stretch of road or on paved paths that follow the water catchments and at other times, you will climb up or down stairs. The dirt tracks can be uneven and rough in places, with gnarly tree roots but they are cleared trails and there is no bush-bashing or scrambling involved. For a challenging hike, the Wilson Trail heads relentlessly up Violet Hill and the Twin Peaks, then down to the south side of the island, ending at Stanley Gap Rd. For easier walks, the Family and Heritage Trails are both suitable for families and you don't have to be a seasoned hiker. They still provide variation with stunning views and lots of points of interest. These trails are well marked with regular, clear signs and maps. The Family Trail has information panels on flora and vegetation. Recently it has had clusters of the very pretty Ericaceae, a pink, bell-shaped flower that blossoms around Chinese New Year. The Heritage Trail focuses on the history of the area and follows a path leading past 22 Declared Monuments. Detailed information boards describe the history of the 19th century reservoirs and dam walls, as well as the aqueducts, stone bridges and various other structures that you see along the way. Intriguingly, a sunken Hakka village lies beneath the dam waters, submerged over 100 years ago. WHAT TO TAKE: Water, sunscreen and a hat are essentials - you can'y buy anything inside the park. Decent shoes or runners are recommended because you’ll wan't steady footing and you’re walking some of the way on red dirt. There are a few toilet blocks and some picnic and BBQ areas but you’ll need to bring all food and drink in with you. GETTING THERE: You can join many of the trails from outside the Parkview residential block. From Central, a taxi will cost about $75HKD and will take about 15 min. Or you can take the #6 Stanley Market bus (don't get the 6X bus which also goes to Stanley via another route). Get off on Wong Nai Chung Gap Road beside a petrol station (just past the tennis courts and cricket club), where you’ll see a set of stairs that lead up to Tai Tam Reservoir Rd. It is a 10 -15 minute walk up this steep road to Parkview where you can easily join the various trails.
