Tai Mo Shan
A fun 20-kilometre hike with monkeys, reservoirs and the best view in town.
At 957 meters Tai Mo Shan is Hong Kong’s tallest peak. This walk has a good mix of reservoir, forest and mountain as it combines sections from the Wilson and MacLehose trails to wind its way up to the peak before a sharp drop back down to Route Twisk.
The hike can be divided into three sections. The first 7 km is flat along a good path that follows the waters edge. Watch out for the monkeys along the way. The second 7 km is a slow climb of around 900 meters, first in the forest and then above the tree line where the views open up. From the top of Tai Mo Shan you can see most of the SAR and Shenzhen behind you.
The last section is an easy decent along a road.
DIFFICULTY
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DIRECTIONS
- From Tsuen Wan West Railway station, take bus route 51 and get off at Country Park and find Wilson Trail section 7. From there, it’s a pleasant flat stroll around the water with plenty of wildlife on hand to enjoy.
- At the north end of the reservoir, you will reach a road where you turn left following the Wilson Trail. Follow the road all the way to Lead Mine Pass, where you leave the Wilson Trail and turn left onto the MacLehose Trail Section 8. Here the climb gets more serious with a lot of steps before you break the tree line. The path opens into large bolder fields with views on all sides.
- Continue climbing to the peak of Sz Fong Shan, after which you drop down to join a road that will take you up to the top of Tai Mo Shan. Unfortunately, you cannot reach the top of the peak as there is a weather and military station on top, so be sure to enjoy the views back to Shenzhen before you pass the station. As you do, a vast panorama of Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and Lantau Island opens up that will stay with you most of the way down.
- To end, go to Route Twisk and take bus route 51 and back to Tsuen Wan West Railway Station.