As Hong Kong is a city characterised by skyscrapers and rush hours, many people often overlook the natural wonders of the city. But despite being the centre of industry and business, Hong Kong is also home to some of the worlds most scenic sites.
In late June, I got the opportunity to experience a hike on a lesser known trail just on the outskirts of the city, on a mountain called “Sunset Peak.” Before taking on the hike, I had done a fair amount of research on the area, only to find that most people brand it one of the most challenging hikes they had ever done before. In addition, snakes seemed to an issue on the mountain. However, standing at the peak after a five-hour hike, the view melted all our worries away.
Since Sunset Peak is not classified as a family-friendly hike in Hong Kong, the few people we ran into were very experienced hikers—mostly photographers, in fact, hoping to capture a few good shots of the mountains at its grandest moments. The hike was scenic all the way up, and it reminded me of a mixture between Scotland and Denmark. The trail also had great historical value, as there were small huts that dated back to World War II when British soldiers set camp in Hong Kong.
Although it is far from the most popular hike in the city, the scenery certainly beats most others. However, I do agree that the hike is quite challenging at times, as some parts of the trail are not paved and can be rocky. But this challenge is what made the hike fun, and the view you get at the top is rewarding. As a relatively inexperienced hiker, I didn’t find this trail too hard, so I definitely recommend this hike for people of all levels!