As well as admiring the fantastic views and getting some fresh air, outdoor explorers may be lucky enough to come across some interesting flora and fauna. Hong Kong provides a habitat for leopard cats, barking deer, pangolins, civets, mongooses, dolphins, ferret badgers, porcupines, bamboo snakes (bright green and very dangerous), pythons, cobras, water buffalo, macaques, brown kites, bats, butterflies and several endangered species of fish, coral and birdlife.
There are altogether 23 country parks in Hong Kong and five marine parks and reserves. Information on all parks can be found at http://parks.afcd.gov.hk. Most country parks are equipped with barbecue pits and some also have visitor centres. Several areas of Hong Kong, such as Tung Ping Chau and Mau Shi Chau, are rich in fossils and of significant geological interest.
Hiking
Hiking at the weekend is a great antidote to the stress of the working week. For those who like their hiking in small and manageable doses, there are the green, shady walks above Central and Wanchai, spanning the
Peak and
Bowen Road: for instance, Black’s Link and Lady Clementi’s Ride. For others who are happy to hike for five to six hours or more, Hong Kong’s efficient public transport means it’s easy to get out of the city to the beautiful scenery of the New Territories for the day.
The YWCA and YMCA run hikes where you follow the leader, but there are also informal hiking get-togethers organized by the
Hong Kong Trampers (
www.hktrampers.com ) who tramp every Sunday and the
Saturday Hikers Club (
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saturdayhikers ).
Other informative websites include Martin Williams’
www.hkoutdoors.com , which has postings on different walks and eco-tours in Hong Kong, forums and logistical information on how to get out to the farther reaches of the territory. Fellow hiker Phil Benson’s website
http://ec.hku.hk/hiking/ allows
the browser to choose a trail according to level of difficulty. He is particularly informative about trails in the Shatin area. A selection of fitness, tree and family walks are given on the website
http://parks.afcd.gov.hk . There are several excellent hiking trail books in print, including the laminated cards
Hong Kong Hikes by Christian Wright.
Maps
Government countryside maps are available for purchase at Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yaumatei, major post offices, selected bookshops or online at
http://bookstore.esdlife.com/eng/default.asp . Information on how to get to the country parks is provided at
http://parks. afcd.gov.hk .
Safety
The best time of the year for hiking is from September to May, when the sun is not as fierce and the humidity is less stultifying – typically, year-round humidity is 75–90%. Hikers should take plenty of water and cover up to avoid mosquito bites and sunburn. Heatstroke claims several lives every year, so take precautions. Although hiking is generally safe, there have been more than a few muggings attributed to illegal Chinese immigrants in recent years, including on the Peak and in Tai Tam Country Park, where victims were tied up and robbed of their ATM and credit cards.
The only other nuisance to watch out for are the bands of macaques that roam Lion Rock, Kam Sham and Shing Mun Country Parks. The monkeys have become used to being fed, which is illegal, and have been known to harass strollers and even their dogs in pursuit of food.
Major Trails
- Hong Kong Trail, which goes through Pok Fu Lam, Aberdeen, Tai Tam and Shek O Country Parks.
- Wilson Trail, encompassing Violet Hill, Stanley Mound on Hong Kong Island, and Shing Mun and Pat Sin Leng Country Parks in the northern New Territories.
- Maclehose Trail, used for November’s Trailwalker charity race (www.trailwalker.com), Hong Kong’s longest trail stretches the width of the New Territories.
- Lantau Trail, which runs from Mui Wo down through Lantau North and South Country Parks past Sunset and Lantau Peaks.