Central to Wan Chai via The Peak, Peel Rise, Aberdeen, and Wan Chai Gap

Duration: 

12km (3.5 hours). 

Difficulty: 

5/10. 693m elevation gain. Paved throughout. Nicely shaded pretty much throughout

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere.

Water needs: 1.5 liter.

Appreciation: 8/10. Nice views, varied scenery from iconic city views to forrest paths and reservoir.

Map & Details: https://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/3261673501/

Exercise Area: Yes, extensive: 12 areas along the way.

Transportation: Mid-level escalator, return via Wan Chai MTR.

Why it's worth it: 

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You can start at the escalator level, next to the 100QRC building. If you wait for 10:30 am, the escalator should be going up. Just follow the path of the escalator all the way to its end (~15 min, 1 km).

Escalator ends here, on Conduit Road. Head right but stay on the left side of the road.

After about a 300-400m walk, cross the street at the lights and go up on Hornsey Rd

You'll reach Old Peak Road after having walked about 600m.
Head left, take the stairs, and then keep going up on Old Peak Road.

Stay on your right here. Be on the lookout for a city boundary stone which will be on your right, about 50m further up.
This was the boundary of Victoria City in 1903

Another km on Old Peak Road and you'll reach this point, head right. You will go by a big red house on your left.

Almost at The Peak! Just a few meters left...

At The Peak, the iconic Hong Kong harbour vistas can be seen be walking a bit more to your left. When you are done, come back to this point and head right on the road going around the Peak shopping mall (Peak Road).

Go left on Peak Road

There's quite a bit of traffic on Peak Road, so stay on the left side where there's a quieter side-road

About 700m onto Peak Road, you'll reach this point, keep to the right.

A further 100m and you'll reach Peel Rise Rest Garden. Take the road down that goes right by it (Gough Hill path).

Another 75m and you'll reach this junction. Take a right onto Peel Rise.

Ben, May, and Dan, our hiking models for today, are telling you to keep going straight at this intersection which is about 1.2km into Peel Rise... Basically, you just stay on Peel Rise/

Keep on going down on Peel Rise. Taking a left is a shortcut, but what fun would that be!?

You'll get into Aberdeen, past the cemetary. Then reach Aberdeen Reservoir Road.
Take a left on Aberdeen Reservoir Road.

At this junction, keep going straight, towards the Lower Aberdeen Reservoir.

Lower Aberdeen Reservoir. The dam will be on your right, don't cross it, just keep going straight.

Friendly wild boar

Another intersection, head left, following the direction to Wan Chai Gap

Straight, Wan Chai Gap

Keep going straight.

You have reached the Wan Chai Gap park, head left...

... then go right in between the four roads, crossing them, Wan Chai Gap path is there, going down.
Follow that path

After 15-20 minutes walks, you'll reach Kennedy Road, go right.

Across the street, go down the stairs, left of the temple.

There, back to Wan Chai!

HKU to The Peak via streams

Duration: 
2.5 hours, 6km

Difficulty:

6/10. Not very difficult but parts are overgrown and the thorny leaves and branches are really annoying

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 1 liter

Appreciation: 7/10 after very large rainfall. I would think that it is very unimpressive when it hasn't rained

Transportation:

HKU Station Exit A1. Return via bus on The Peak

Details: http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/2285580812/
Thanks to Iurgi for the original instructions that I used for my own visit: https://hkoutdooradventures.com/2017/04/06/to-the-peak-by-streams/

Why it's worth it:

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Take the MTR to HKU. Exit A1, HKU FB level.

When out of the elevator, just go straight and cross the University grounds.

Behind the University, you'll see University Avenue. Take the stairs down to reach it, then head right.

Up the little hill...

The stairs to take will be on your left, right after the Chow Yei Ching Building.

Climb the stairs all the way to the top. Head right atop the stairs.

There will be many paths to your left. None to be taken. Keep going on the main path.

Similarly, many streams which may seem inviting... stay the course!

The first stream is about 1.4km from your starting point.

It is not too hard to find as there will be a flight of stairs on your right just before it.

Don't rely on the green boards being there. The stream actually has a well defined path following it.

Very pwehtty when there it has been raining a lot.

At one point, you'll reach a larger waterfall and the stream branches to the right as well, with the path following it. You will want to climb a few steps on the right, then take the path leading left to the top of the waterfall and to the left-stream.

From the entrance of the stream to the exit (pictured above), it should take you about 20-30 minutes. Head right. In about 800m (12-15min), you will connect with Hong Kong trail section 1

Keep going on HK trail section 1

Don't take stairs going down. HK trail section 1 I said!

About 3km and 1 hour walk from the exit of the first stream, you'll reach the entry point of the second stream. It might be easier to miss but one sure indicator that you missed it is if you get to the sharp turn in the trail

The second stream's entrance. One helpful indicator is the CW-28 sign on the left. Not sure whether that will stay there forever though...

This second stream is about 700m long from entrance to exit. Try to stay in the stream as much as possible as the thorny bushes on the edge of the stream are, at best, annoying. Also, stick to the stream with most water, when encountering a fork. In all cases, it will more or less get to the same spot. But it will be easier and nicer in a larger stream

You'll eventually reach that bridge on Harlech Road. You'll get some mesmerized glances from people walking by. Go under the bridge  and climb the fence on the left. That's it! Head right on Harlech and you will be at The Peak in about 1 minute.