Hong Kong Island packs a lot of beach into a small land. While the north-side districts of Central
and Western, Wan Chai and Eastern are crammed with glass and steel skyscrapers and
towering apartment blocks, the Southern district boasts bay after bay of golden sand and calm
waters that are safe for a splash and swim with family and friends year-round.

Grab your luggage and mark these locations down to plan for a day of outdoor adventure with
your loved ones during the summer months.


Golden Beach
Located at the ever-popular family-friendly Gold Coast Resort, Golden Beach is a picture-
perfect spot that boasts a 545-metre of clean, pristine sand imported from Hainan Island,
complete with fantastic sea views towards Lantau Island. Besides lounging on the beach, you
can also take a stroll along the promenade or set up a picnic on the spacious green lawns in
front of the Gold Coasts Piazza.

How to get there: Take the bus 962B from Causeway Bay (Moreton Terrace) or bus 252B from
Tsim Sha Tsui (Middle Road).


Tai Long Wan
If you’re after a secluded day of relaxation, Tai Long Wan is the place for you. Lying on the
eastern side of the Sai Kung Peninsula, this remote, beautiful bay is made up of four white-sand
beaches, namely Sai Wan, Ham Tin, Tai Wan, and Tung Wan. Hilly formations separate the
beaches, but if you wish to explore them all, you can easily hike from one coast to another as
the trails are marked. The bay is also a popular camping destination, where you can rent tents

and sleeping equipment at the Ham Tin Beach to spend the night beneath the stars for a truly
remarkable outdoor experience.

How to get there: Take the MTR to Choi Hung and leave via Exit C1, then take the green
minibus 1A to Sai Kung Town. Then, take a speedboat from Sai Kung Pier to Sai Wan or Ham
Tin Wan. Or, you can hike from Sai Wan Pavilion (approx. 40 mins) to reach the Sai Wan
Beach.


Long Ke Wan Beach
Hong Kong’s answer to the Maldives, Long Ke Wan Beach is a perennial favourite among sun-
seekers for its turquoise waters and spectacular rocky landscapes. The tranquillity and natural
beauty of the beach are unmatched, offering all holiday vibes and stunning backdrops you need
for a fantastic shot. Facilities are limited on the beach, and there are no restaurants or shops, so
be sure to bring enough water and supplies.

How to get there: You can take a taxi from Sai Kung town to the East Dam of High Island
Reservoir, followed by a 20-minute walk. Alternatively, you can hike the Maclehose Stage 2 trail
from the East Dam to Long Ke village.


Cheung Sha Beach
The lure of a trip to Cheung Sha’s upper and lower beaches on Lantau Island isn’t limited to its
3km long, wide stretch of fine powdery sand. The area is also filled with a plethora of
restaurants and bars serving up fresh seafood dishes and cocktails, meaning you can stay a
little longer to enjoy the golden hour with a satisfied stomach.

How to get there: Take the ferry from Central Pier 6 to Mui Wo, then take bus 1 or 2 to Cheung
Sha.

Hiking is incredibly good for the mind, body, and soul. Many people are taking hikes through trails
near the home as a way to clear their minds, exercise, and spend some time in more natural
surroundings than the towns and cities that we have become used to.

Winter is a great time to hike if you want to see some amazing seasonal sights, like snowy hills and
mountains and deer migrating across the countryside. It is important to be prepared for sudden
weather changes when winter hiking. Temperatures can drop quickly, especially when the sun gets
low in the sky. Rainstorms, sleet, snow can also spoil a fun winter hike.

Here is a quick guide to some winter hike essentials that will help keep you warm and dry when
hiking in the winter months. With just a few extra precautions, you can enjoy hiking through the
great outdoors all year round.


Strong, Waterproof Hiking Boots
Whatever the weather or season, you need a strong pair of hiking boots if you are going to have a
successful trip out in the great outdoors. Hiking boots help protect your feet and strengthen your
ankles.

In the winter, it is important that your boots are waterproof. It is highly likely you will be caught in a
rain shower or maybe even some snow on a winter hike. If the moisture isn’t falling from the sky,
you will often encounter it on the ground as streams swell in the winter, and the ground deals with
the extra rainfall. Here are some hiking boots that are great for both urban and rural hikes. Winter
hiking boots that are strong, waterproof, and have soles with a good amount of grip are essential
winter hiking gear.


A Lightweight, Insulated, and Rainproof Jacket
When hiking, it can be difficult to balance your internal temperature with the environment. Hiking
can be very physical at times, yet you also want to be warm and protected from the elements in the
wintertime.

Some winter hikers make the mistake of taking one large and thick jacket to keep them warm, but
very quickly they can start to overheat. The best way to dress for hiking is to use layers that you can
remove or add depending on how you feel and the weather on your hike. When winter hiking, you
should always pack a lightweight rainproof jacket that has some insulation. You can carry this with
you in a backpack and use it when the weather takes a turn for the worst.


Oversized Rainproof Pants
Hiking in the winter can be a lot of fun and allow you to see sights and events that you wouldn’t see
at any other time, such as animal migrations and meteor showers. The weather in winter can change
suddenly, however, and you need to be prepared to give yourself the best protection possible if you
are stuck in a sudden storm.

Carrying a pair of oversized rainproof pants is a good idea when winter hiking. You can put these on
in a hurry, and by being a size or two too big, you should be able to get them on without having to
remove your boots. These are great for giving your lower body protection in severe weather and are
lightweight so they take up very little space in your backpack.

Winter is a great time to hike, as long as you are well prepared. Your hiking boots are always your
most important piece of equipment, so make sure yours are ready for winter. The weather can be
very challenging and difficult to predict in the wintertime so you always need to be ready for a
sudden change in order to stay warm and dry while you find shelter.

Conquer this rugged range of hills and one will witness some of the territory’s finest views; gazing down upon Shek Kong on one side and absorbing the immense sprawl of Shenzhen on the other. Meanwhile clearer days atop the summits reveal glimpses across to Lantau Island and the expansive Waters of the Pearl River Delta. Not only is arriving at these mountain tops exhilarating, but the hiking to be had either side of them is most enjoyable. 

​​In my opinion Kai Kung Leng or “Rooster Ridge” is a more beautiful and attainable hiking trail, so I am going to focus on the hill of Kai Kung Leng here. But for those who are much more intrepid, then her sister peak Tai To Yan is also very spectacular and can be done instead of Kai Kung Leng, or in conjunction to create a twin peaks route. 

Lunchtime or early afternoons make for an ideal time to set off if doing just the one hill in the cooler months, ensuring pleasant temperatures and sunset vistas from the summit (however leave first thing in the morning if wanting to do both hills). The route up is most easily accessed from Kam Sheung Road or Yuen Long MTR Stations by taxi, ask for Fung Kat Heung Road, the trailhead is located between a basketball court and the Miu Kwok Monastery. If opting to travel by public transport, then there is the 603 minibus you can catch from Yuen Long to the same starting point. 
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Once at the trailhead, simply crack on and follow the ridgeline trail upwards. Something you’ll notice quite soon that sets this hill apart from most in HK is how grassy and windswept it is. It translates to very tough hiking in the heat, but for wintertime it is simply sublime with nonstop views and plenty of scope to size up the route ahead. Having clambered over a subsidiary peak at 335 meters above sea level, the gradient eases for a period before reaching Rooster Ridge Summit at 585m.

​Having conquered this beast of a hill, take a perch and soak up the relaxing vibes. Few mountains in HK offer a 360-degree panorama of such variety; aside from the Tai Mo Shan massif, you’re the surveyor of all things in Western HK. On clearer days, the views of Shenzhen are jaw dropping. The sheer size and scale of this city becomes clearly evident from this vantage point, as one can see all the way from Lo Wu in the east to Nanshan in the west. To think that 40 years ago there was next to no development there almost defies logic.
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Take care heading down afterwards as the path can be quite skiddy at times due to its exposure and lack of stairs. The return route down is otherwise fairly simple to navigate. Keep following the hiking trail directly along the ridgeline and you’ll be 
back to civilization in an hour or two. Compared to the route up, the return trail is more direct in its descent. Once you reach Fan Kam Road, there is the 77K bus route and various minibuses that facilitate travel to the closest MTR stations of Sheung Shui and Yuen Long.
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​If wishing to do twin peaks as mentioned before, then nip across Fan Kam Road and follow the trail which heads east up to the main ridge line of Tai To Yan. From that ridge, there are a multitude of different paths one can pursue to drop back down towards Fanling, Tai Po or Shek Kong. 
Kai Kung Leng and Tai To Yan are classic winter routes almost anyone can have a crack at, yet keep even the most seasoned of hikers honest. Although the Northwestern New Territories may not be especially well known amongst many hikers, the area has a few nice surprises for those who venture out. Its enchanted forests below and spectacular vistas above will no doubt leave one wanting to revisit for another go.
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