Hong Kong hikes for Chinese New Year

• Hiking during Chinese New Year is a popular activity in Hong Kong and is believed to encourage good fortune by 'rising' to new heights

• Combine your hike with a visit to a nearby temple to maximize good luck for the year ahead

• Wear items of red clothing and time your hike with sunrise of early morning for better luck

Hong Kong hikes for Chinese New Year - scaling the Dragon's Back on Hong Kong Island

Easy does it

Ocean Park to Repulse Bay, Hong Kong Island

This easy walk is part of the Southern District Coastal Trail, which itself is a section of the Hong Kong Coastal Trail that circumnavigates the whole island. The first part of the walk is along the Mills and Chung seafront path that leads to the seaview promenade at Deepwater Bay. Stop in Deepwater Bay for a snack and a swim or follow the promenade along Deepwater Bay beach until it turns away from the road and hooks up with the Repulse Bay seafront path. 

Hiking notes: A great walk for young children. The five kilometre route is flat and paved and suitable for strollers but mainly unshaded. There are plenty of snack and swim options at Deepwater Bay and Repulse Bay.

Starting point: Island Road at the bottom of Shouson Hill (the nearest MTR station is Ocean Park). The steps to Mills and Chung Path are just past the entrance to the Hong Kong Country Club. 

Finishing point: Repulse Bay. Catch the number 6 or 6X bus back to Central and the MTR. There are also regular minibuses to Aberdeen.

Suitability: All ages, mostly stroller-friendly (some steps).

Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail, Hong Kong Island

This easy, downhill walk through Tai Tam Valley in Tai Tam Country Park passes lots to points of interest as well as being a pretty forest walk. The heritage trail opened in 2009 and includes four reservoirs, dams, pumping stations, an aqueduct and bridges built from the late 1800s onwards. The reservoirs were once the primary source of water for Hong Kong Island. The trail is mostly shaded with attractive forest and water views and multiple information points and BBQ areas.

Hiking notes: Ideal for young children, this gentle five kilometre downhill trail is all on concrete pathways with lots of shade. It ends at Tai Tam Reservoir Road from where you can catch a minibus or taxi to Stanley for a swim and lunch.

Starting point: Tai Tam Reservoir Road by Parkview Mansions. 

Finishing point: Tai Tam Reservoir Road by Tai Tam Upper Reservoir; catch a minibus to Stanley or hail a taxi (there’s a stopping place as the hike exits onto Tai Tam Road).

Suitability: All ages, stroller-friendly.

Bowen Road Fitness Trail, Hong Kong Island

Bowen Road Fitness Trail is a popular walk which links Midlevels with Happy Valley, high above the city. The four kilometre, relatively car-free route winds its way around the sides of the Peak and offers spectacular views over Wan Chai, Central and Happy Valley. The hike is suitable for all fitness levels and is stroller friendly and there are plenty of shaded seating areas along the route. The route can be accessed either from Happy Valley at the Stubbs Road and Wong Nai Chung Gap Road intersection, or from Mid-levels near Magazine Gap Road. 

Hiking notes: This easy, shaded and flat hike is popular with runners and young families alike. The historic road was originally built above an aqueduct carrying water from Tai Tam Reservoir to Central. It was completed in 1888 and named after Sir George Bowen, the ninth Governor of Hong Kong.

Starting point: Stubbs Road and Wong Nai Chung Gap Road intersection, Happy Valley, or in Mid-levels near Magazine Gap Road. 

Finishing point: Stubbs Road and Wong Nai Chung Gap Road intersection, Happy Valley, or in Mid-levels near Magazine Gap Road. 

Suitability: All ages, stroller-friendly.

A bit harder

Sai Kung to High Island, Sai Kung

High Island, also known as Yau Lei, is located inside the beautiful Sai Kung Country Park in Hong Kong’s New Territories. This is a great hike for youngters as the trail is along paved paths and mostly flat, with some steps down to the waterfront (look out for the signs to Pak A Village). The drawcard for High Island is its yummy Yau Lei Seafood Restaurant by the beach with plenty of fun for kids splashing in the waves or jetty-jumping into a sheltered bay at the front of the village.

Hiking notes: This is an easy hike along flat, paved pathways and one set of stone steps down to the waterfront. Bring swimmers and allow an hour-and-a-half for this five kilometre hike.

Starting point: Sai Kung Country Park gates at Pak Tam Chung (catch a minibus or green taxi to Pak Tam Chung from Sai Kung Town).

Finishing point: Hike back the way you came or book a speedboat to Sai Kung New Pier with Yau Lei Seafood Restaurant.

Suitability: All ages, mostly stroller-friendly (some steps).

Lamma Island Family Walk, Lamma Island

This paved, shady hike links the ferry piers of Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan; as both offer a regular ferry service back to Central this hike can be done either way round, depending on where you want to end up for lunch! Sok Kwu Wan is home to the famous Rainbow restaurant and can even offer a restaurant boat to take you back to Central, or at Yung Shue Wan is the popular Terracotta restaurant, as well as a plethora of other dining options. The hike is steep in places, but what goes up must come down so there are plenty of easy downs, too. The hike passes Hung Shing Yeh beach; bring swimmers if the weather is clement.

Hiking notes: This reasonably gently hike is around five kilometres along paved paths and with options for sandy beach stop-offs along the way. There are plenty of dining options in both Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan.

Starting point: Yung Shue Wan or Sok Kwu Wan ferry piers (catch a ferry from Central).

Finishing point: Yung Shue Wan or Sok Kwu Wan ferry piers.

Suitability: All ages, mostly stroller-friendly (some steep sections).

Pok Fu Lam Reservoir to The Peak, Hong Kong Island

This steep but rewarding hike starts by the Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School on Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road. There are a handful of parking spaces which fill-up quite quickly, so catching a taxi or bus to Pok Fu Lam Road and the start of the trail is advised. Follow Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road with the riding school on your right until you reach the start of the reservoir and the entrance to Pok Fu Lam Country Park. Follow the road past the reservoir until the path starts to climb. The twisting route eventually reaches The Peak Road opposite The Peak Galleria. 

Hiking notes: This is a reasonably gentle hike with steep sections along a wide, paved and shady road. There are plenty of stopping points along the way and the views out over Pok Fu Lam reservoir and the Lamma Channel are superb.

Starting point: Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road off Pok Fu Lam Road.

Finishing point: The Peak Road, Victoria Peak.

Suitability: All ages, stroller-friendly (some steep sections).

Quite tough

Discovery Bay to Mui Wo via Trappist Haven Monastery, Lantau Island

This relatively challenging 10km hike starts next to the Lantau Yacht Club entrance - shimmy past the boom bar and turn right onto Nam Shue Wan beach path. Head through Nam Shue Wan village and past the allotments and eventually the trail leads up some stone steps and onto a wide, shaded and paved avenue that winds steeply up to Trappist Haven Monastery. There’s an optional additional viewpoint at the top of Mount Redwater (take it, the views are spectacular) and then the trail winds down hundreds of stone steps to Silvermine Bay and along the beach to Mui Wo. The China Bear restaurant by Mui Wo Ferry Pier is a good refuelling spot. 

Hiking notes: A beautiful walk past beaches and through forests. Mostly shady although there is no shade coverage on the steps to Silvermine Bay. Take swimmers for kids to paddle at Silvermine Bay beach.

Starting Point: Discovery Bay Ferry Pier (catch a ferry from Central).

Finishing Point: Mui Wo Ferry Pier (catch a ferry back to Central).

Suitability: Challenging uphill and downhill sections and lots of steps; older children from around eight years.

Dragon’s Back, Hong Kong Island

Winding its way across the ridges of Shek O Country Park, Dragon’s Back trail is dubbed Asia’s top urban hike with good reason. It’s a tough initial climb up to the ridge from Shek O Road, but the views from the top are sensational, initially of Tai Tam Bay and then out to the South China Sea over Shek O and Big Wave Bay as the hiking trail winds its way towards Tai Tam Gap. Follow the signs down to Big Wave Bay and enjoy a well-earned lunch in Big Wave Bay village and a swim at the beach.

Hiking notes: The first half of the hike is unshaded. A moderately difficult trail of seven-and-a-half kilometres; allow three to four hours. Some steep inclines and unpaved track.

Starting point: Shek O Road at To Tei Wan bus stop (catch the number 9 bus to Shek O from Shau Kei Wan bus terminus at Shau Kei Wan MTR).

Finishing point: Big Wave Bay; minibuses run regularly from Big Wave Bay beach car park to Chai Wan MTR station.

Suitability: Challenging uphill sections and uneven terrain; older children from around eight years.