Pat Sin Leng, 八仙嶺, The 8 immortals

101 tricks & tweaks to make your life easier

https://www.amazon.com/Life.../dp/B0919VPL49/ref=sr_1_1

Duration: 

12.5km (5 hours)

Difficulty: 

8/10. For distance and elevation gain of 744m

Cel phone coverage: Parial.

Water needs: 2 liters. 20% shaded

Appreciation: 9/10

Map & Details: https://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/4043295136/

Exercise Area: No

Transportation: From Fanling MTR exit 'C', take green minibus 52B. Get off at Hok Tau. Return to Tai PO MTR via Bus 75K, or minibus 20C to Tai Po.

Why it's worth it: 

--------------------------------------

Right out of Fanling MTR ground-level exit 'C', you will see the green minibus terminus. Take 52B.

Then, it really depends on how comfortable you are telling the minibus driver to drop you off where there isn't a stop. We dropped off at 'A' because we weren't sure, but the actual final stop (not need to tell the guy, he will kick you out!) is 'B'

Drop off point 'A', usually, a few people will get off there. Otherwise, the end-stop is 'B". If you got off at 'B', retrace your steps to Hok Tau Road, and turn right. If you dropped off at point 'A', just keep following Hok Tau road.

If you dropped-off at point 'A', you will go by the 'Hok Tau' recreation centre.

Walking along Hok Tau Road

(1.5km, about 20 minutes into the hike) You will eventually reach this bridge/dam (above and below pictures), cross it.

You have a few of some of the peaks you'll be climbing!

A little later,  you will get to this pavilion (above and below pics), head left. 

You are on Wilson trail so, if you follow the trail marker posts, you can't really get lost. There is one marker every 500m.

There's even clear signage of Pat Sing Leng (in yellow on the marker stone)

Climb up here. Again, very clearly marked. You are going to Pat Sin Leng.

Keep following the Pat Sin Leng signs all the time. By the way, at this point, the signage states that you are 6km away from Pat Sin Leng's "immortals",; there's more than 6km left to hike in total!

About 7.2km and 3 hours into the hike, you will get here. You have not reached Pat Sin Leng yet but are quite close! The first of the immortals, Shun Yeung Fung, is about 500m and 25min away.

That's it, you have gone over the 8 immortals and are now descending towards Tai Mei Tuk.  At about  4h30m and 9.5km, you will reach this fork, head right. Bridal's Pool is on the left.

30 minutes later, you'll reach this final junction point, head right towards Tai Mei Tuk

You've come back to civilization. That's Bride Pool's Road, which merges into Ting Kok Road. Right, then continue until you reach the bus terminus which will be on your left in about 600m. Bus 75k or minibus 20C will bring you back to Tai Po Market MTR station

Wilson Trail Section 8-9-10 (Cloudy Hill, 九龍坑山, Pat Sin Leng, 八仙嶺, The 8 immortals)

(Updated 2020-02-23)

Duration: 

(23.4 kilometers) 8.5 hours

Difficulty: 9/10. For distance and elevation gain.
A shorter and more popular version of the Pat Sing Leng hike can be found here:
http://www.hongkonghikes.com/2020/02/pat-sin-leng-8-immortals.html

Appreciation: 10/10 on a non-smoggy day (was smoggy when I went). You'll also have a bonus view of the large statue of Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. Get some background on the 8 immortals before going: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Sin_Leng

Cel phone coverage: Partial.

Water needs: 3 liters. 50% shaded

Exercise Area: No

Transportation: Tai Wo MTR station, exit A or B will do. Return via green minibus 55k to Sheung Shui MTR, or 78k bus to Fanling MTR.

Why it's worth it:

Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/424923922

---------------------------------------

Strictly speaking, my route doesn't start at the beginning of Section 8 but it doesn't require taking the minibus or cab there. And it also skips a less appealing city walk. Follow the map above for the first 2k as there is virtually no signage.

Walk on Po Nga road by the MTR track. That's the road you'll be on when exiting at A or B.

Then, just before the large road crossing, there's a small road to the left, take it and go by the estate.

You'll arrive at a water catchment "river", head right and under the overpass.

Follow the "river" for about 100 meters. Then head right to the road, right before the river turns to the left.

Follow the sign towards Cloudy Hill (Wilson Trail)

Big apartment buildings will be on your left.

You will be back on Po Nga road. Take the pedestrian tunnel under the MTR track.

Right after the tunnel, head right.

You are now on the non-urban portion of the trail. Smooth sailing from this point on.

Just a word of caution as there are many trails branching out from the Wilson trail; at any intersection, look for the little hiking guy (left pic) and follow the arrows. There are also yellow signs from time to time; stay on the Wilson trail. And, as always, there are mileage posts every 500meters. If you stop seeing them, you went the wrong way! They will go upward from W098 to W137. Quite easy.

Getting in to the Pat Sin Leng country park!

As usual, follow the little hiking guy!

You'll be going over the dam.

Good spot for a lunch break, you're about halfway into the hike.

This one was a little bit confusing but you'll see a mileage post soon after.

Haunted?

Going towards Nam Chung. You can relay on my Garmin map at that point.
You will go through a little village towards the end of the trail.

Almost done. Turn left towards the main road to Fanling. There, head left to the bus stop where you can return to the MTR via bus 78k or green mini-bus 55k.