Navigating the Forbidden Waters of Wanshan: First Foreign Kayak Expedition to China's Hidden Islands16/9/2024 In July 2024, Rory from Wild HK and his friend Nilesh embarked on a kayaking expedition to explore the southernmost islands of the Wanshan Archipelago. Although situated immediately south of Hong Kong, belonging to China has made kayaking these Islands hard. “For many, many years, we have yearned to reach this region, a genuinely remote and windswept landscape. The logistics to paddle with yaks out here as a foreigner were quite complex, we are quite probably the first non Mainland Chinese folk to manage this feat without illegally paddling directly from HK.” Despite having the trip cut short by inclement weather, it was still an adventure for the ages. “We will never look at these incredible islands in the same light ever again; whether it be from afar in HK on a clear day, or out of a plane window, their impregnable aura is now vanquished.”
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Having completed the Maclehose Trail, next in our crosshairs is the Wilson Trail. In many regards the younger sibling of the Maclehose (briefly crossing each other a couple of times), the Wilson traverses Hong Kong over 78 kilometres running south to north. Starting on Hong Kong Island, before crossing Victoria Harbour and plotting a course across the New Territories. Like the Maclehose, this trail also encompassed four riding/filming days. There is plenty of scope to break it up and take longer, or if not filming also do it in less time (particularly during winter). The last couple of days on this ride it started to get quite warm. Kicking off at Stanley in the south of Hong Kong Island, day one started straight out of the blocks with some punchy uphill and technical DH to cross HK Island. After a short ferry ride to Lei Yue Mun, the remainder of the day was spent getting around the eastern side of Kowloon. The second day started out a foggy one, climbing over Tate’s Cairn before traversing around Sha Tin then across to Shing Mun Country Park. A delightful section of trail along Shing Mun Reservoir then lead to a climb over Lead Mine Pass, finishing up in Tai Po. Day three was a big one! After a knackering climb on concrete stairs over Cloudy Hill, a flowy trail ran down to Hok Tau Reservoir. There, batteries were recharged before conquering the Pat Sun Leng Ridge, one of the most epic ridge top routes in HK. The original plan was to finish the third day in Luk Keng, but running out of light I pulled off the trail near Bride’s Pool. I returned for an easy going final day on the Wilson with a freind Ben. Riding through abandoned villages in the jungle and plenty of fun DH at the end made for a memorable day 👌🏼 Next up, as temperatures start to rise, we will investigate the Tinworth Trail, before tackling the Island trails of Lantau & HK. We have various camps running every week from July29th to August 30th
KAYAKING - 5 DAY PROGRAMME https://www.wildhongkong.com/kayaking---5-day-programme.html MIXED ACTIVITIES - 5 DAY PROGRAMME https://www.wildhongkong.com/mixed-activities---5-day... HIKING & STREAM TREKKING - 5 DAY PROGRAMME https://www.wildhongkong.com/hiking--stream-trekking---5... Pickup & drop off Central available Progressive programme from Monday to Friday Small bespoke camps for maximum engagement Discounts available for group bookings Certified: First Aid & SCRC Safe and fun adventure camps from the ages 9 yo upwards to 18 yo (participants will be grouped to with others of similar age) Head to our website to register or see further details; School Holiday Adventure Programmes For more inquiries; Call or Whatsapp: 6025 3862 Email: [email protected] DM us on Facebook or Instagram @wildhongkong We start this series with arguably Hong Kong's most famous trail, the Maclehose! Spanning 100 kilometres across the New Territories, we explore this stunning route from west to east, starting in Tuen Mun and finishing up in Sai Kung.
Beginning the first morning in Tuen Mun, we then burst through Tai Lam Country Park and over Tai Mo Shan before finishing up at Shing Mun Reservoir by nightfall. On day two, continuing onto the central section of the Maclehose Trail, we navigate the hilltop trails north of Kowloon. Passing Kowloon Reservoir and Lion Rock on the way to Tate’s Cairn. Riding Stage 4 on the third day took us away from the urban areas of Kowloon and towards the more remote countryside of Ma On Shan Country Park. Had hoped to potentially ride further on this day, but progress was checked by a mechanical issue. Returning with the bicycle fully repaired, the Sai Kung sections lay in wait for what proved be a spectacular final day of this expedition 💪🏼😎 Four more trails to come! Another fabulous programme all over HK with the kids from Island School! Mixing up a variety of locations and activities each day. There is a bountiful array of wild waterfalls to explore in Hong Kong, some more remote and some more accessible than others. Our list focuses on some of the easier to reach waterfalls, but ones which are thoroughly wild and unspoilt.  Bride’s Pool & Mirror Pool These beautiful pools are very accessible; both can be sighted with little walking involved. Legend has it that en route to her wedding; a bride fell into the river above and was carried down the waterfall. With that said, these shallow pools do not possess any cliff jumping opportunities and are defined by a picture perfect cascade that drops into the Bride’s Pool. Combine a visit to the falls with some time spent enjoying the nearby village of Tai Mei Tuk. Grab a bite at one of the many restaurants around or dabble in some water sports to make for the perfect day out! Getting there: Take the MTR East Rail to Tai Po Market Station and board the 20C minibus to Tai Mei Tuk. From there one will have to walk for a further hour or catch a $40 taxi to the Bride’s Pool car park. However, on Sundays and public holidays you can take the 257R KMB bus from Tai Po Market all the way to the Bride’s Pool.  Man Cheung Po Venture out to the far southeastern bounds of HK and Lantau Island to discover a beautiful vista. Less than four kilometers from the Tai O bus stop you can find 200 meters of layered tumbling waterfalls overlooking the South China Sea. If that isn’t enough, couple the adventure with a day exploring Tai O fishing village and keep an eye out for the famous pink dolphins off the coast. Be warned that it is prohibited to swim in the infinity pool on the river, although continue upstream or downstream and there are plenty of rock pools to make your own. Getting there: Hop on the MTR to Tung Chung or the Ferry to Mui Wo. From there, grab the number 11 or number 1 bus respectively, to the Tai O. Follow the pier near the bus stop, continuing along the shorefront path. About 3km into the walk you will see a sign on your left for Man Cheung Po, don’t take it. Instead simply stay on the coastal path until a set of stairs on the left comes into view; this is the way up the valley to the rock pools. The whole route from Tai O should take around an hour each way to complete.
 Sheung Luk Stream The Sheung Luk Stream in Sai Kung Country Park is quickly becoming one of the more popular summer spots to take a refreshing dip. Although the lower waterfall of Sheung Luk Stream is not the most picturesque waterfall going around, it is a lot of fun and serves as suitable refreshment after a day spent at the beach. This hangout spot has deep pools for swimming and cliff jumps of differing heights from little ledges to 7meter drops. Getting there: From Sai Kung, take the 29R village bus or taxi to Sai Wan Pavilion. Walk for an hour to reach Sai Wan and then a further 10 minutes upstream from Sai Wan beach to reach the pools.  Tai Tam Mound Waterfall
Secretly tucked away above Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir, it’s easy to walk right past Tai Tam Mound Waterfall without a second thought. The natural beauty starts out as a stream over a low cliff, but then continues through a stretch of wild greenery, before dropping out of sight. Getting there: Walk northwest along the Hong Kong Trail, north of Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir dam. Cross the bridge after 10 minutes and at the next wooden bridge, you will see a scramble down a tiny stream on the left. Hong Kong is the epicenter of travel in Asia. It was under British rule between 1841 and 1997 for 156
years, through the industrial era and the modernization of air travel. Hong Kong has developed into a multicultural city, making it easier for travelers to navigate and communicate with locals. This has kickstarted an economic boom in the tourism industry for Hong Kong, capturing its best sights and building new attractions. If you are heading to Hong Kong soon, here are five things to know before you go. Current Travel Restrictions Since 2019, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong has closed its borders to non-citizens to keep the locals safe. Having gone through previous pandemics such as SARS, it’s unsurprising that they are extra vigilant this time around. Hong Kong citizens, however, are allowed to travel back, but they are required to quarantine for 21 days in selected quarantine hotels. In 2022, the Hong Kong government plans to lift these restrictions and kick start tourism again. Octopus Card When you arrive, get yourself an Octopus card. You can purchase these at the airport and at any of the Train/MTR (Subway) stations. These Octopus cards have been used by residents and tourists alike for years, as it makes travel much easier. The concept is simple: you purchase a card for $50HKD and top it up with any amount up to $500HKD. You can then use it for travel, vending machines, and even at convenience stores. The use is all contactless on buses, train stations, MTR stations, etc. MTR Map If you have not been to Hong Kong before, the MTR is the easiest way to get around the city since it is quick and there is always another train two minutes away if you miss one. Make sure you print out or save an image on your phone of a map of the MTR (Subway) lines. This way, you can determine which color lines you will be going on ahead of your travels, as MTR stations can usually be really packed and rushed. Knowing which stops you need to change at ahead of time really helps navigate to your journey smoothly. Meal Plan If you’re a huge foodie, then you’re in for a real treat. Hong Kong has something for everyone, from authentic dim sum restaurants to street food the locals love. You also have your international fast- food chains if you’re looking for something close to home. As easy as it is to get a bite to eat, it is also really important to stay on top of your health and wellbeing. So, you might want to consider getting your meals planned for you so you can keep track of what you eat. It is so easy to overindulge yourself with these great tasting new cuisines. Advanced Tickets There are so many attractions to visit in Hong Kong, including Disneyland, Ocean Park, Huge Buddha Temples and Madame Tussauds at The Peak. You will definitely need over a week to visit these wonderful places. To get the best deals and skip long queues, make sure you pre book it all online. You usually get a cheaper deal and you’ll get to skip the mile-long queues. Hong Kong, in general, is a destination full of surprises, cheap food and great attractions. Hong Kong is a very international city, ranked 5th with the world’s best airport in 2019. Traveling to and from other countries in Asia is also very convenient from Hong Kong. However, until restrictions are lifted, Hong Kong is accepting only residents and students into the city following a strict quarantine regime. So, make sure you do your research and check the HK.GOV website for updates before travel. Venturing into the wilds of Sai Kung, the plethora of options open to hikers is astounding. Amongst the area’s list of many hills, top of most to do lists lies Sharp Peak. Arguably Hong Kong’s most remote mountain, areas surrounding the mount are simply stunning! Although Sharp Peak isn’t massively high at 468m, it is a very prominent hill and easy on the eye. The unspoilt views from the summit are among the finest in the land.  Much of the route to and from is simply a segment the MacLehose Trail stage 2, however the meat of this sandwich deviates away to tackle Sharp Peak itself. Getting there can take some time from HK Island and Kowloon (particularly on weekends & Public Holidays), but it is a relatively hassle-free trip. Having reached Sai Kung, grab a cab out to either Pak Tam Au or Sai Wan Pavilion for around $100. Alternatively, one can take the 29R village bus from SK Town Centre to Sai Wan Pavilion or Hoi Ha Minibus and various KMB routes to reach Pak Tam Au.  If starting at Pak Tam Au (easiest way), walk for an hour along the Maclehose Trail up to the top of the pass just after distance marker M040 where you then need to make a left turn onto a smaller trail. If coming from Sai Wan way, you’ll need to first reach Ham Tin Wan, then at the top of the pass out of Tai Long Wan, turn right instead of left to reach this trail. From there the ribbon trail works its way along a gentle ridgeline, transporting you through some light forests before breaking out into shrubbery, followed by open grassland. From here the way up is clearly evident as the gradient dramatically steps up a gear and Sharp Peak gets ‘sharp’.
The natural rock formations in the area south of Sharp Peak are very special and if you have a little extra time. Exploring the adjacent HK Geopark makes for a fun detour hiking over to the East Dam if you are very fit, or by sea (if there are speedboats operating) out of Tai Long Wan. All in all, this is arguably Hong Kong’s most prestigious summit to have bagged. It may not be quite as high as Tai Mo Shan, or as technical as some other hills; but for its remoteness and beauty, Sharp Peak is a true HK heavyweight. For anyone who enjoys a physical challenge and packing in lots of sights, these routes make for an incredible day out.  A rugged and windswept headland, Cape D’Aguilar offers breathtaking coastal scenery without the need for a back breaking adventure. However, at the same time there are ways to spice up the day for those who are more intrepid. It can be done either as a half day or full day outing.  Littered with sculpted granite outcrops and sparse tree cover to obscure the horizon, hiking here is never dull with near constant ocean vistas to stimulate the senses. Located on the southeasternmost tip of Hong Kong Island, Cape Dag was named after British Major General George Charles D’Aguilar and was made the only Marine Reserve in Hong Kong in 1996. For the most part, Cape D’Aguilar remains hidden from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island.
The lighthouse and marine reserve are right at the end of the road on a rocky promontory and easily located; one of the most scenic places in Hong Kong with views out across the Pacific, dotted by various islands forming the Po Toi and Wanshan archipelagos. Once nearby, be sure to scope out the rock formations containing two outstanding features; the ‘Thunder Cave’ rock arch and double ended ‘Thunder Cave’. For more demanding options, give the ribbon marked trail to the abandoned Cape D’Aguilar Battery or a hike up D’Aguilar Peak a go. Passing back through the village having worked up an appetite, there is a little joint called ‘Shun Kee Store’ where you can grab a bowl of noodles and cold drink if desired.  Returning to the city is equally simple as finding your way in. In addition to taking the bus or driving, there are plenty of taxis on Shek O Road to flag down. If not ready to dart straight back to the city, one can also head down to Shek O to cool off with a refreshing drink and dip at the beach.  In summary, Cape Dag is a fantastic spot for a relaxing day walk and exploration of some of the finest coastal scenery Hong Kong has to offer. It’s charming village and stunning headland walks will live long in the memory for those who make voyage south.
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About usWe are one of Hong Kong's premier adventure & eco tour operators. This is our blog, documenting many of the wild places we explore and show guests. Archives
September 2024
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