It didn’t take long for 2020 to be a very unique and unfortunate year. The world changed and went to a complete stop. Restaurants, bars, gyms, and other facilities struggled. Tourism died down with travel no longer an option. The culprit? The COVID-19 pandemic is to blame. My source of inner peace? Discovering new hikes in Hong Kong!
People nowadays stay home to keep safe and started different things to keep them sane. For me, I focused a lot on fitness (hehe but still love burgers!). I did all sorts of exercises: gym, HIIT, cardio, etc. The best one? Finding new hikes in Hong Kong! It’s a fun activity to see nature views and burns many calories at the same time.
A consideration these days (because of social distancing queues) is the crowd level. I tried to go outdoors as much as possible, but still avoid being close to people. This post features 4 new hikes in Hong Kong that I’ve done in the past 3 months – West Buffalo Hill, Suicide Cliff, Ap Lei Chau to Ap Lei Pai, and Pineapple Hill. If you are interested in more hikes, do check out my sunset or sunrise hikes in Hong Kong post if you want more!
Table of Contents
West Buffalo Hill
West Buffalo Hill (and Buffalo Hill) is one of the lesser known hikes in Hong Kong, but I highly recommend it because of the 360 scenic view you can get from the summit. Its name still remains a mystery to me since I didn’t find any buffaloes there.
The starting point is located near Wong Nai Tau bus terminus. I took the train to Shek Mun and then a short cab ride (also walkable for about 20mins) to the terminal. From there, there are signs that lead you to the trail and is easy to follow along.
To be honest, I was not prepared when I did this hike. I went on a hot sunny day and only brought along a small bottle of water with me. So, I recommend to bring sufficient water (maybe around 2 liters) as the trail is quite long and some parts are steep and relatively not shaded.
There are a lot of unique rock formations along the way where people can take photo (and pose for Instagram). Also, the sunset view is really amazing on a clear day! My favorite! Being lucky on that day with a clear sky, definitely West Buffalo Hill is a hike I will recommend!
Suicide Cliff – One of the most dangerous hikes in Hong Kong?
Suicide Cliff isn’t really an unknown trail as it is accessible around Kowloon. It is also one of the popular hikes in Hong Kong for instagram shots because of the awesome city views. However, as it is not a hike for beginners, it is relatively less crowded (compared to, say, hiking Dragon’s Back or Victoria Peak). Do proceed this hike with caution as there have been reported deaths of hikers falling off the trail.
The route I took is not exactly the shortest one. I started from Choi Hung MTR station and hiked all the way up from Jat’s Incline. This path will lead you to Kowloon Peak (or Fei Ngo Shan), Kowloon’s highest peak. From Kowloon peak, there is a small trail to the right of the resting spot that leads directly to Suicide cliff.
The hike up to Kowloon Peak from Jat’s incline is moderately difficult. The path is concrete and not too steep (also accessible by car). However, the path to Suicide cliff is on the dangerous side because it is quite steep where you will need to use your hands from time to time. It takes a little over an hour from Kowloon Peak to Suicide Cliff.
Overall, this was my first time going to one of the “dangerous” hikes in Hong Kong. It makes it quite an accomplishment getting here. I mean, look at that view! Do stay past sunset (but be careful going down and I recommend bringing headlights) as it will be amazing when the city lights illuminate. Of all the views I’ve seen hiking in Hong Kong, this one takes the best view of the city. For equipment, I usually get my hiking stuff from Decathlon HK. You can get hiking poles, headlights, tents, gloves, etc. there for a reasonable price!
Ap Lei Chau to Ap Lei Pai
Hooray! One of quick hikes in Hong Kong! Okay, not really, because the GPS tracker below is a misrepresentation of this hike. I stopped the tracking when I reached the first summit and rested, but it doesn’t cover the path going down to Ap Lei Pai (which is more “interesting”).
The route I took is easily accessible from Lei Tung MTR station exit B. Make your way out to Lei Tung Estate Road and search for two small yellow office buildings (you really can’t miss it). This is the starting point of the hike and you will probably doubt that it is, but yes. Just accept it. Haha
The first hike is very straightforward, but a bit steep in some parts where you need to use your hands from time to time. Don’t worry, it’s very short and takes just 20mins. From there, you will arrive at the first peak where you can have a sea view and the first sight of Ap Lei Pai. You can chill and rest here a bit (or even stay for the sunset), but I really recommend making your way to Ap Lei Pai.
The 2nd part of the hike to Ap Lei Pai takes about an hour or so with moderate difficulty. The path is uneven where it alternates incline and decline (something that I actually hated. Haha). Make your way to the opposite side of the island, until you see the Mount Johnston lighthouse. I actually didn’t take a photo of the lighthouse, as it was not a subject of interest for me, but people do pose there for some shots. Oh, thinking about it, it may actually look nice on a drone shot with the island and waves splashing. I focused more on capturing the sun rays piercing through the unique rock formations.
Getting off Ap Lei Pai, I think you have two options. The first one is to go back the same way. (Oh God, no!) There is an easy way – just wait for a nice lady that operates a boat to and from Aberdeen Pier. Do note that the boat is irregular and there is no way to know if you caught the last ride, as well. From experience, it arrived every 30mins and I was able to take the last one at around 6:30pm. The cost per head was around 40hkd.
Pineapple Hill – Grand Canyon in Hong Kong!
Hooray! Another one of the quick hikes in Hong Kong! Well, to be honest not really. Pineapple Hill itself is one of the quicker hikes, but getting there (if you do not live around Tuen Mun area) may take more time. I took the MTR to Siu Hong and then transferred to the 505 light rail to Leung King. From there, make your way to Castle Peak road and follow the trail going up. The name remains a mystery as I did not see any pineapples around. What do you think? Its name was actually what got me curious enough to hike and visit this area of Hong Kong!
Hiking up is quite easy, with a moderately steep incline in the first 10mins. The path is a well maintained road, so safety isn’t an issue. After about 30mins, you will be surrounded by landscape views. Oh, Pineapple Hill is also known as the “mini-Grand Canyon of Hong Kong”. Can you see the resemblance below?
The scene is indeed quite unique and something I do not expect hiking around in Hong Kong. I think this path is lesser known (definitely haven’t heard of it before), but do expect that from time to time it can get a bit crowded because it lies on the easier side in terms of difficulty.
So, have you tried any of these hikes in Hong Kong? I honestly have never heard of them until I decided to find new trails to discover. I hope I gave you more options to explore and maybe you can also recommend more to me in the comments below!