HK Hikes: Tung Chung Rescue Trail
New year, new you! Happy 2017 everyone. How have you spent your new year so far, or is that too premature of a question to ask? Anyways, I think if you live in Hong Kong, you would've felt the hiking heat by now. That's right, the it thing to do after boozy brunching and getting married is now HIKING.To be fair, HK's nature side is quite worth the literal hike and I, like many other young boys and girls in their sports bras and 2XU tights have taken to the mountains for instagram-worthy snaps and a breath of fresh air. One of the most memorable hikes I've taken is the Tung Chung rescue trail - here now in all its glory in image form. Enjoy.
Where do I start?
You can take off from the Big Buddha/Ngong Ping like I did, or go from the other end and start from Tung Chung. The trail takes you from one end to the other, and is not a loop. Check out this link for all the useful details you need.P.S. make sure to stop for some tofufa/tofu pudding at the Big Buddha before/after your hike.
The actual hike
... takes about 3-4 hours. Be warned that this trail isn't for the extremely-faint-hearted, because once you're half way in, there's no turning back. It comes with a large amount of stairs and steep hills. You're essentially walking below the cable cars and up AND down numerous small mountains. You'll arrive in different service stations of the cable cars, and that's when you know you're on the right track. You'll also get to check out the airport from above, and get a giant dose of nature on the way.There are no pitstops/benches, stores or toilets in between. GET PREPPED before you head in and be sure to bring some snacks and water with you. Don't litter either, kids!
Look at these stairs... They're so steep they've got a gantry and sign warning you of danger.
The other side
After you hit the last peak, you'll hit the jackpot view - see top photo. Then, it's downhill from there. It can be a bit scary heading down steep flights of stairs with nothing on your sides, so go with friends (definitely) and bring a hiking stick (recommended).It's crazy rewarding and I highly recommend this trail if you've got no intense fear of heights. It's really zen! The trail is also very well constructed because it's a rescue trail, so you don't need to buy hiking shoes or have any special equipments other than a water bottle and legs that won't quit.
If you go, definitely show me the photos! Enjoy xoxo
