Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hiking
Many visitors are surprised to learn that Hong Kong is an excellent place for hiking.
Lengthy wilderness trails criss-cross the territory and its islands through striking mountain,
coast and jungle trails. The four main ones are the
MacLehose Trail
, at 100km the longest
in the territory; the 78km-long
Wilson Trail
, which runs on both sides of Victoria Harbour;
the 70km-long
Lantau Trail
; and the
Hong Kong Trail
, which is 50km long. Hong Kong's
excellent public-transport network makes it feasible to tackle these trails a section at a time.
For full details and advice on routes and suggested itineraries, invest in one of the excel-
lent hiking guides that are widely available in Hong Kong bookshops. Before heading out
it's also a good idea to consult the official Hong Kong
hiking website
(
www.hkwalkers.net
)
for updates on weather and the condition of the trails (landslides can sometimes mean route
closures or diversions). Hikers can camp on remote beaches.
PARK
Country & Marine Parks Authority
HIKING
Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association
(HKYHA; 2788 1638;
www.yha.org.hk
)
SNAKES ALIVE
Take care when bushwalking in the New Territories, particularly on Lamma and Lan-
tau Islands. Poisonous snakes, the most common being the bamboo pit viper, are a
hazard, although they will not attack unless surprised or provoked. Go straight to a
public hospital if bitten; private doctors do not stock antivenene.
Horse Racing
Horse racing is Hong Kong's biggest spectator sport. There are two racecourses: one in
Happy Valley
and one at
Sha Tin
.
Attending one of the Wednesday race meetings (7pm,
HK$10 entrance fee) at Happy Valley during the racing season (September to June) is a
great way to experience horse racing in Hong Kong.
Martial Arts
Hong Kong has a glut of martial-arts programs, but only a few have special arrangements
for English-speaking visitors.
