One of the best things about Hong Kong is how easy it is to get out of the bustling up and about city to go to the nature areas. As a landscape photography enthusiast, golden hour is my favorite time of day and finding the best spots for sunset and sunrise in Hong Kong is how I kill time around.
There are a number of trails for hiking in Hong Kong and each one offers unique views. I enjoy watching the sunset and sunrise from different vantage points because there’s just something about seeing those golden rays piercing through landscapes that get me. This is my ultimate guide to the different hikes I’ve done around this city to chase the golden hour. This post will keep evolving as I hike and explore more spots for sunset and sunrise in Hong Kong.
Check out my vlogs where I showcase these hikes. Just like my most magical sunrise in Hong Kong from Tai Mo Shan to photograph a sea of clouds at golden hour.
Table of Contents
Victoria Peak
This location is a common recommendation for tourists. However, I usually see generic guides of how to hike Victoria Peak, but seldom showcase the best time for hiking. Since the views are more open to the east, I prefer visiting during sunrise to watch the city wake up. Probably the best sunrise view from this location would be the one on Lugard Road, around a 10-15mins walk from the main square at the Peak. During early spring, it is also the hotspot for watching the sea of clouds and is an incredible sight to capture.
Hiking is not a requirement to see the views above as Victoria Peak is easily accessible by transportation such as the Peak Tram, bus, and taxi.
Tai Mo Shan – Highest peak for both sunset and sunrise in Hong Kong!
Tai Mo Shan is the highest peak of Hong Kong and arguably one of the best views for both sunrise and sunset. The peak offers open views from all directions and is an experience like no other. The route going to the starting point of the hike is to take Bus 51 from Exit A of Tsuen Wan MTR station and alight at Country Park station. Although, I actually “cheat” on this hike usually as I take the cab up to the parking lot close to the peak. Well worth it!
Make your way to the top and conquer the highest mountain by witnessing how amazing sunset and sunrise in Hong Kong can be! It’s also another hotspot for the sea of clouds, a perfect golden hour moment.
Sharp Peak
The name is appropriate as this one is the steepest incline you can get out of hiking in Hong Kong. I took on this challenge as I wanted to discover new and less crowded trails around. Hiking Sharp Peak is no easy feat that may require you to go on all fours. The route I took started along MacLehose Trail Stage 2, in Pak Tam Au. Continue along the trail and you will reach Chek Keng village. From there, carry forward and there will be a turn that takes you to the trail of Sharp Peak. It takes about another hour from that point to the peak.
Sharp Peak gives you a 360 degree open view, which makes it a perfect to see the sunset and sunrise in Hong Kong. I was extremely lucky with the sunset there.
Sunset Peak
I have a love-hate relationship with this trail. It’s the first hike I ever did in Hong Kong and the views absolutely pulled me in. However, the landscape in the Lantau area generates its own weather and quite unpredictable. More often than not, you could be hiking within the clouds and the views will be elusive.
Despite that, it is still one of my favorite hikes in Hong Kong. Of course, when hiking Sunset Peak, the sunset is absolutely magical. The fastest route is by taking a bus from Tung Chung terminus and stop at Pak Kung Au. The bus stop will be directly in front of the starting point (also for Lantau trail!). It takes around 2-3 hours uphill to the peak, but on a good day there are views along the way already.
After sunset, it gets dark really fast, so do not forget to bring a flashlight or a torch. Lantau Island is relatively away from the main city area and you can see more stars than usual on a clear night. So, I usually stay behind after sunset so I can do some astrophotography as well.
Lantau Peak
2020 update: I finally captured the sunrise in Lantau Peak! Lantau Peak is the 2nd highest mountain in Hong Kong. The starting point I took is exactly the same as Sunset Peak, in Pak Kung Au, just headed the opposite side of the bus stop. Taking about 2.5hours to climb up from there, it definitely lies on the challenging and longer hikes on this list.
The view is definitely worth getting up in the wee hours and the effort because, well, look at that view. However, I must warn everyone that some luck is needed as this part of Lantau somehow defies weather forecasts. The situation can get really foggy, very fast, which is why it took me multiple tries in either Sunset Peak and Lantau Peak before I managed to get a decent photo.
My approach was what I said about that “interesting idea” for Sunset Peak. Go for the sunset, wait there until midnight to see a clear night sky (I wasn’t lucky), and then hike down continuing all the way to Lantau Peak for sunrise. This is long and not for everyone, but it does make for a great adventure. The scene below captures the twilight before sunrise at the peak.
Kam Kui Shek Teng: Epic Drone Shot for Sunset in Hong Kong
This is a lesser known hike to non-locals and needed a bit more research. However, I truly believe it is the best spot for drone photography at sunset.
If you don’t have a drone, that’s ok too! The views are still impressive and I captured this sunset panorama from on top of the rock.
Braemar Hill / Red Incense Burner Summit
Hiking in Hong Kong is not always difficult, but lower difficulty does not mean the view is sacrificed. There are definitely quick wins around, but this very short hike along Braemar Hill is my most notable. It is probably the easiest hike with the best view! If you do not have the time to go on a 3-4 hour hike, this trail is perfect to experience what hiking in Hong Kong has to offer. It is also very accessible by bus or minibus. I took Bus 25 along the Island side and it directly goes to the base of Braemar Hill.
Devil’s Peak
Another short and easy hike is Devil’s Peak. It is slightly more challenging than Braemar Hill, but the trail can still be finished in 40mins. The trail can be accessed by MTR to Yau Tong Exit A and just walk towards Lei Yue Mun Estate.
MacLehose Stage 1 – High Island Reservoir East Dam & Long Ke Beach
The MacLehose Trail is a 100-kilometre hiking trail that is probably one of the most sought after challenge hikers in Hong Kong have. The trail passes through a variety of natural scenery including beaches and mountains and is divided into 10 stages. The first stage begins in Pak Tam Chung and ends in Long Ke Beach through the High Island Reservoir East Dam. It is a very easy hiking path, mostly flat and a paved road throughout. The path is around a 10km stretch, so if you get tired, take a cab. My suggestion is to hike High Island Reservoir East Dam for sunset, and then camp in Long Ke for the sunrise. Perfect for seeing the sunset and sunrise in Hong Kong!
The High Island Reservoir East Dam is one of the special hikes in Hong Kong as it is part of UNESCO’s Global Geoparks. You see open views of the reservoir, touch hexagonal rock columns, and meet with buffaloes (lol). You may learn more about the reservoir through their website. I absolutely loved watching the sunset there.
After East Dam, make your way to Long Ke Beach by hiking further down the trail for about 15minutes. This is an official camping site, so you can bring a tent and spend the night here for sunrise and beach activities.
What do you think of these trails? I look forward to hiking and seeing more views of the sunset and sunrise in Hong Kong. Such as those other notable hikes mentioned earlier but not yet on this list. Let me know if you have other suggestions for future hikes around in capturing the sun moments!