Wanchai to Aberdeen via Wanchai gap road

Duration: 

2.25 hour (6 km), 3-4 if you want to explore the urban part and museum

Difficulty: 6.5/10

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 0.5 liter

Appreciation: 8/10. Some historical urban exploration. Some views. Nice police museum

Transportation: Wanchai MTR exit A3. Return via any number of buses in Aberdeen. And, actually, via the Wong Chuk Hang MTR station, starting Dec 28th, 2016

Details: http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/1911829604/

Why it's worth it:

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Get out at Exit A3, from Wan Chai MTR station

Go straight across Johnston Road, onto Toy Street, aka Tai Yuen Street (太原街).

Spend some time exploring the various toy stores, with classic, and modern kid-pleasers.

Once done, keep going on Tai Yuen until you reach Queen's Road

You will see the old post-office. Take Wan Chai gap road, immediately on the left of the post-office (now is the Environmental Resource Center)

Cross Kennedy Road and take the stairs up. A bit of a steeper climb at this point

You'll reach Bowen Road Park. Take a little break and admire this quaint little park

Then resume your climb toward Wanchai gap, still via Wan Chai Gap Road

You'll reach this point, Wan Chai gap proper. With its eponymous park. The Police Museum is on the right. Worth a detour

The police museum. It is free. Once you are done visiting, retrace your steps to the park.

Then take Aberdeen Reservoir Road

About 500m to the upper reservoir, another 150m to the lower reservoir

Almost done

Descending towards Aberdeen. Tons of buses to wherever you want to go. And MTR!

But, before you leave, try some local food at one of the Cha Chaan Teng

Rhino rock in Stanley (斜炮頂), Turtle rock, and St.Stephen beach

Duration: 

1 hour (2 km)

Difficulty: 7/10. Slippery slopes

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 0.5 liter

Appreciation: 8/10. Nice views. A rock rhino head!

Transportation: Take bus 14 from Sai Wan Ho MTR station, Exit A (stop is right at the exit). Get off at the end stop, Stanley Fort. Return by either walking to Stanley and then taking whichever bus you want, or again, taking bus 14 back to Sai Wan Ho.

Details: http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/1895842028/

Why it's worth it:

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The trail head is right by bus 14's final stop (Stanley Fort). These are military barracks.

Take the path up at the left of the gate

The path follows the fence

After about a 10 minutes climb, you'll have reached the top of the hill.

Take a right through the bushes

Left immediately into the bushes

The view will open up. Head to the right of the big round rock

You can see the path at this point, just follow. I circled your destination*

You'll reach this point where there's a fork. On your left, you can see the 'turtle rock' from where the peeps on the picture are. It is displayed on the second photo from my title picture at the top of this blog entry. You have to have a bit of imagination. This is not the rhino rock. To go to the rhino rock, head right...

This is the rhino rock from behind

There ya go! This one, no imagination required; quite a good rendition.

With the Stanley prison in the background. When you are done taking half a million pictures, retrace your steps all the way back to the top of the hill where you found the marker...

Here... So, you can always retrace your steps back to the end-stop of bus 14. But instead, I suggest, you go around the little building to discover some more cool stuff...

A little gem of a bamboo jungle!

Left, behind the big rock

You'll see a water pipe, just follow it on the right. It will lead you to the road. Head right on the road until you reach the bus stop to return to Sai Wan Ho. Alternately, you can go down to the beach!

St,Stephen's beach. Quite pretty