The Gates of Heaven

For most people the hills of Hong Kong make any hike a challenge. But for those who want to go extreme, we asked our subscribers to tell us what they thought was Hong Kong’s toughest day hike. Then of course we had to do them.

Starting in the village of Shek Mun Kai, close to Tung Chung, you start along concrete paths till you reach the Po Lam Monastery. Soon after that look for a ribboned path that takes you on a scramble up to the Lo Han Tower. From here you enter the North Gate, a scary traverse across a cliff face first then up through a gully to Lantau Subpeak before reaching the main peak.

To exit through the South Gate first follow the signs down to Ngong Ping but continue straight down where the path turns shop right. A few meters after this look for a left turn which takes you along a traverse passed Skylight Rock and then up through another gully to join the Lantau Trail and a hike back down to Pak Kung Au.

DIRECTIONS

Get to the start: You can walk from Tung Chung to the start at Shek Mun Kai or grab a blue taxi from outside the Tung Chung MTR for a short ride.

Get home: Pak Kung Au sits on Tung Chung Road between Tung Chung and Mui Wo. There are regular bus route 11/23 back to Mui Wo (left), or the closer option is down to Tung Chung (right).

GALLERY