Don’t miss the pure great thing about Hong Kong (it’s not all skyscrap…

In case you’re planning a visit to Hong Kong, you’re in all probability pondering of dim sum, skyscrapers and gorgeous Victoria Peak views.

These are all enjoyable and worthy issues to discover in your Hong King trip. Nonetheless, removed from the hustle and bustle of town, there are lovely seashores, marshes, wetlands teeming with life, and loads of out of doors adventures.

Do you know that three-quarters of Hong Kong’s 1,108 sq. kilometers of land is rural and practically pristine?

I didn’t comprehend it both till Craig and I final visited Hong Kong.

We did the traditional touristy issues: journey as much as for views out over town, wonton soup and rickshaw noodles, A Symphony of Lights and some expat celebration bars, however my greatest recollections are of getting out to the opposite islands. One thing I had by no means thought of about Hong Kong earlier than till our expat pal we have been staying with advised us that was the place the sweetness lay.

You imply, nature in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is not only town, however a area comprised of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and over 200 offshore islands and greater than 330 hills!! That opens up an entire world of off-the overwhelmed path experiences for you.

The truth is, The MacLehose Path, a demanding 100-kilometre route throughout the New Territories, was chosen as one of many world’s 20 “dream trails” by Nationwide Geographic, whereas Time journal as soon as named the Dragon’s Again path on Hong Kong Island as Asia’s greatest city hike.

This Spring, Hong Kong Tourism is highlighting 5 distinctive and new nature hikes and we’re partnering with them to showcase the stress-free and restorative facet to Hong Kong you in all probability didn’t find out about.

We don’t need you visiting Hong Kong pondering it’s only a metropolis filled with skyscrapers like we did.

Fortunately our expat mates modified this notion for us as soon as we arrived.

As nature lovers, and out of doors adventurers, notably as a pair – means simpler than with children – we made a plan and left the skyscrapers behind. These are the 2 experiences we treasured essentially the most as being distinctive, preserving us in contact with nature, and serving to us escape the crowds and frenetic tempo of Hong Kong metropolis.

10,00zero Buddha Monastery

The 10,00zero Buddha Monastery was a pleasant discovery of nested within the Po Fook Hill mountains in Sha Tin. It’s composed of 1 fundamental temple corridor, a nine-story pagoda and a number of other shrines, halls and pavilions unfold in two fundamental ranges on the facet of the mountain.

The expertise begins with a steep climb up 400 steps lined with golden Buddhas in a wide range of poses. We held our baggage shut as Macaque monkeys stealthily adopted us alongside the leafy switchbacks of the hill.

We took our time pausing to catch our breath and admire the small print on the statues. We had by no means seen so many Buddhas earlier than. the overhanging timber offered welcome shade and reduction from the warmth.

On the prime was the lavishly embellished fundamental temple. Inside are hundreds of miniature Buddha states overlaying the partitions.

Outdoors within the grounds are terraced ranges with colourful pavilions, shrines, temples and rock gardens. Most placing was the 9 story Pagoda providing spectacular views of the New Territories. We spent a very long time exploring the grounds and absorbing the serenity.

It’s a ravishing area and extra quieter and extra peaceable than different Hong Kong temples or the Large Buddha in Lantau. It was a type of journey experiences that I’ll all the time keep in mind as one thing so surprising and surprisingly good.

It’s a simple hike and not too removed from town – only a 40-minute prepare journey from Central after which a 10 min stroll from the station.

Cheung Chau

We wished so as to add a little bit extra rest to our Hong Kong couple’s getaway, so we jumped on a ferry to Cheung Chau, an outlying island solely 40 minutes from town of Hong Kong.

It’s solely a small island, however with seashores, temples and brief hikes there’s a lot to do for the day.

Getting round is by foot or bicycles, motorized automobiles aren’t allowed!

We walked straight over to the other facet of the island to Tun Wan Seashore earlier than setting gout on a path alongside the coast. The path, often known as the Mini Nice Wall, snakes the hilly facet of the coast. There are lookout pavilions and gorgeous views of the ocean and outer islands.

We barely noticed one other particular person on the path. It was unimaginable to have come from rubbing shoulders with hundreds in Hong Kong to all this area and serenity to ourselves. Even within the harbor we noticed few vacationers.

We didn’t make it to the Cheung Po Tsai Cave, which is a well-liked spot tucked into the south-west nook of the island and has a historical past of pirates and hidden treasures. We turned again on the finish of the nice wall with views of the wild southeast coast. Persevering with will take you to via bamboo forests and lovely seashores and rocky headlands.

I wanted we saved going. However we wished to get again to the harbor to feast on scrumptious seafood at one of many eating places alongside the waterfront promenade earlier than heading again to Hong Kong.

With views over the bustling harbor it was the proper ending to a realizing and exquisite Hong Kong day. We weren’t anticipating moments like this once we first deliberate to go to Hong Kong.

Of all of the thrilling and enjoyable issues we did in Hong Kong, our day journey to Cheung Chau is what we speak about essentially the most. It was quiet and fairly and an surprising treasure of Hong Kong and made us need to return to find extra hidden treasures amongst its pure magnificence.

Hong Kong is a lot greater than the enterprise district, Victoria Peak and Kowloon.

Take a look at these Hong Kong nature hikes

Hong Kong Tourism is highlighting 5 particular nature hikes this spring, and we’re partnering with them to showcase the stress-free and restorative facet to Hong Kong you in all probability didn’t find out about.

So pack your boots and your beloved and get climbing. In a congested metropolis like Hong Kong you’ll relish the chance to get nearer to nature.  these guided excursions are led by professionally certified geo-tour guides. It’s problem free and enjoyable!

Take a look at the next excursions for a more in-depth have a look at Hong Kong’s lesser-known pure treasures!

1. Lantau South Heritage Hike

Tai O, an space on the island of Lantau retains a wealth of eco-cultural treasures, together with stilt homes, salt discipline relics and Chinese language White Dolphins which dwell within the waters surrounding the realm.

On this Hong Kong hike you too can expertise farming on the close by village of Yi O, the place terraced rice paddies can nonetheless be discovered.

2. Geopark Boat Tour

Sai Kung has distinctive surroundings and extraordinary rugged profiles and boasts the longest stretch of shoreline and essentially the most quite a few outlying islands in Hong Kong.

The tour guides you thru the area’s wealthy geodiversity, which incorporates magnificent sea stacks, breathtaking tubular rock columns and sea caves. See extra right here. 

3. Lai Chi Wo Climbing Tour

400 years in the past, Lai Chi Wo was as soon as among the many most prosperous villages within the Northeastern New Territories. The homes and the woods behind the village stay effectively preserved.

The guided tour leads you alongside the spectacular reddish shoreline to the biggest mattress of Coastal Heritiera (Heritiera littoralis) in Hong Kong and the White-flower Derris which kinds a ‘pure swing’ alongside the mangroves.

4. Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Area

In Sai Kung, there’s a caldera, which is the results of a volcanic eruption. This guided tour will take you thru attention-grabbing geological formations to discover aged rocks specimens, minerals, fossils and proof of tidal influences.

You’re going to get an opportunity to stroll over a naturally occurring 250-metre-long tombolo on Sharp Island to achieve Kiu Tau, earlier than paying a go to to the Volcano Discovery Centre at Sai Kung Pier and Lions Nature Training Centre in Tsiu Hold. Study extra right here.

5. Geopark Climbing Tour

The guided tour alongside the Sai Kung shoreline takes you thru magnificent hexagonal columnar joints, a pure tombolo at Sharp Island and an inland water dam wall at Excessive Island Reservoir.

This marketing campaign was created and sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in partnership with iambassador. yTravel retains all editorial management of the phrases.

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How have you ever skilled nature in Hong Kong earlier than? Have you ever achieved any nice Hong Kong hikes