Monday, November 30, 2020

Thousand Islands - Tai Lam Chung Reservoir (大欖涌水塘) - The easy (and crowded) way

Duration:  7.5 km (2:15h)

Difficulty: 4/10. 212m elevation gain.

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 1 liter. 90% shaded. 

Appreciation: 6/10. The more difficult way to get the Thousand Islands view is also prettier: http://www.hongkonghikes.com/2016/02/thousand-islands-tai-lam-chung-reservoir.html 

Exercise Area: No

Transportation:  Get to Tuen Mun MTR station. Take green minibus 43 in front of the market on Ho Pong Street. Get off at the end in So Kwun Wat Tsuen. Return via green minibus 43 to Tuen Mun MTR station.

Why it's worth it:



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Take exit E at Tuen Mun  MTR. Walk through the 'V' shopping center
(head left and go down and the northern-most end)
... walk out and to Ho Pong street, the Green Minibus stop is in front of the market. Take it there.

Upon your arrival in So Kwun Wat Tsuen (that's the final stop before the bus loops back to the MTR), as you get off the minibus, the trail starts on the left of the temple. You will see a sign for Chan Uk Tsuen which shows the way.


About 300m into the hike, you'll get to an intersection at point #2, keep going straight


About 20 minutes (1.15km) into the hike, you will reach this point where the path merges into Maclehose 10. Head right.


Here, you keep going straight on Maclehose 10, leaving the paved road.

Farther down the path, you will reach this point, with a bunch of stairs on your right and a sign stating that this is the way to the viewpoint. You can't miss it, really.

When you are done, just retrace your steps back to the bus stop.


Friday, November 27, 2020

Sunny Bay to Tai Shan (HK Disney and Inspiration Lake lookout)

Duration:  5.5 km (2h)

Difficulty: 7/10. 254m elevation gain. But slippery on the way back down.

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 0.75 liters. 70% shaded. 

Appreciation: 7/10 for the Disney fans.

Exercise Area: No

Transportation:  Sunny Bay MTR there and back.

Why it's worth it:


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Right off the Sunny Bay MTR, head left and up the escalator.

Exit 'A'

Go right, pass the toilets.

You will see this little building on your right, go around.


The pedestrian underpass so you can go under the train tracks.


Right out of the underpass subway, take the stairs up...

Then head right on the road in front of you, then right again at the crossroad



After about 400m on that road (shortly after the tunnel), you will see  stairs on your left and multiple levels of metal railings. Leave the road and go climb these stairs.

All the way up the stairs until there are no more...

Then follow the plastic tube to the trail (yep)



About 35-40 minutes into the hike (from the MTR exit), you will reach this point where you must make a hard-right and up. Plastic tubing are good indicators.
This fork is just after the derelict house/school.




You keep going up until you reach the second altitude marker. That's it!
Easy enough? Enjoy the view.
When you are done, you can just retrace your steps back to the MTR


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Please, don't litter!

Hiking is about communion with nature. So please pickup after yourself. There's no excuse to leave plastic bags, water bottles or any rubbish on or around the trails; if you managed to bring it, you can manage to bring it back!