Hike Hong Kong: 2021

Sunday, July 4, 2021

Quarry Bay (鰂魚涌) to Repulse Bay (淺水灣) via Tai Tam reservoirs (大潭水塘)

Duration:

(10 kilometers)
3 hours

Difficulty: 5/10. 424m elevation gain. Rating 5 instead of 2 because the last 200m is steeper and can be slippery. About 70% shaded.

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere.

Water needs: 1.5 liter

Appreciation: 8/10. Nice after a downpour, creating lots of small waterfalls. Historical site of Tai Tam.

Transportation: Quarry Bay MTR exit A. Return via numerous and frequent buses in Repulse Bay, on Repulse Bay Road.

Why it's worth it:

And, sometimes...
https://youtu.be/DYFe-ejdvJQ

Map & Details:

https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5890815946

Exercise Area: Yes (Quite a few along Mount Parker Green Trail)

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From Quarry Bay MTR exit A, turn right on King's road.
Then walk for about 250m to Mount Parker road (on your right).
You can't miss it, there's a big brown sign announcing the Mount Parker Green Trail.
Walk up on Mount Parker road, which will merge into the Green Trail.

This cooked food centre on Mount Parker Road is quite good.

After about an hour (3.5km) on the Mount Parker Green Trail, you will reach the Quarry Pass Pavillion. Take a right towards Tai Tam Tuk reservoir. Still is Mount Parker Green Trail.

Keep going towards the reservoirs.

At the upper Tai Tam dam (1h25. 5.3km), you will be leave Mount Parker Road by crossing the dam, and then heading left right after on Tai Tam reservoir road.

Around 1h45m (6.8km) and immediately after crossing the masonry bridge on Tai Tam reservoir road, take a right, towards the Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir.

Keep on left here...

At the Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir Dam, you can take 5 minutes to walk to the middle of the dam to take a few pictures. When done, come back and take the dirt path that follows along the South side of the reservoir.

About an hour walk from the Intermediate Reservoir Dam, you will be reaching this point; Tze Kong Bridge (Repulse Bay Gap). Cross the bridge, take an immediate left, then immediate right and down the path with a sign that advise you not to do so... ;-)
At this point, you are about 200m away from Repulse Bay

Soon enough, you will reach this road (South Bay Close), with the Hong Kong International Primary School on your left. Take the concrete steps down and just follow the road down.

You are almost there, follow the road to the left, then take the next right...

... and there you go: The Pulse, for late lunch or early dinner. Maybe some beach time afterwards. Once you are done, walk along Beach Road and you will see stairs on your right that will take you to Repulse Bay Road where there are tons of buses that will take you back to the city.

Sunday, April 25, 2021

Wong Nai Chung Gap Road to Wan Chai, via Mount Nicholson (聶高信山) & Mount Cameron (金馬倫山). Bonus rock bird & face

Duration:

(6.5 kilometers)
3 hours

Difficulty: 7/10. 386m elevation gain. Rating 7 instead of 5 because the down part after mount Cameron is steep and slippery. About 40% shaded.

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere.

Water needs: 1.5 liter

Appreciation: 8/10. Nice views. Some interesting rock formations, and another James Bond villain's lair!

Transportation: Bus 6 from Central (Exchange Square), get off at Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park. You will end your trek at Wan Chai MTR station.

Why it's worth it:

Map & Details:

https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5699380030

Exercise Area: Yes (Wan Chai gap)

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Get off at 'Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park', which is right next to the Sinopec station.
You will see it coming and there are usually a lot of hikers getting off at this stop.

Cross the road in front of you (Wong Nai Chung Gap road), there's a little path that goes by the stone stele. Then cross the road again to the bus stop. Then head left.

Then, keep right on Deep Water Bay road for just about 50m...

... then head right unto Black's Link. You will see the sign of the Hong Kong Trail on your left

Keep going on Black Link's road

Eventually, the road narrows

After about 20 minutes walk from the Sinopec station, and 1km, you will see the electrical pylon on your left, and, on your right, this is where you will start your climb of Mount Nicholson. The rock formation you see at the top of that hill is where the 'bird' and 'face' rocks are located.

When you get to this point, the spiky rock is the bird's beak.

Looking back at the 'bird.

Once you are done with the rocks picture taking, keep going up the path towards the building which looks like something out of a James Bond movie...

Walk by the concrete structure

... then right after, you will see the James Bond villain's lair on your right (image below), and a path from the building, going down on your left. Take the path going down.

Quite pretty...

About 800m after the James Bond building, you will get back on the Hong Kong trail section 4 path. Head right

After about 25 minutes on HK Trail section 4, you will see a pavilion on your left, and a sign post on your right. Take a left towards Aberdeen Reservoir...

... but just a few meters into that path, you will see stairs going up on your right. Ignore the warning sign and climb up.

Right before the top of the stairs, you will see a dirt path going up on your left.
Take that path.

After another 400m or so, you will reach this fork in the path. Notice the trees that will make it relatively obvious. Head left.

You have reached the top of Mount Cameron!
Keep going straight and you will progressively go down.

There is one obvious fork after 300m from the top of Mount Cameron. Take a right. Be careful afterwards as the path gets steep and very slippery. Hang-on to the trees.