Hiking Hong Kong Tung Chung to Tai O

This hike from Tung Chung to Tai O is great as a family hike as it is reletively flat all the way - the biggest height variation being about 75 meters. Although it is reletively long, as long as you leave early in the morning you can take your time and enjoy the beautiful scenery and wildlife. Everywhere that you look there are insects and various creatures waiting to be discovered. Be warned however that snakes are commonly seen on this trail both at the waterfall areas and alongside the trail amongst the dead leaves.

This trail gets 3 stars for both enjoyment and difficulty. It passes through some small, interesting villages along a coastal trail, however most of it consists of views of the Airport. In terms of difficulty, the trail itself is quite easy, however it gets 3 stars due to the length - at 14km long, this is quite a trek!

If you are very fit you can complete this hike from Tung Chung to Tai O in about 2.5 hours - you may even wish to turn around and head back to Tung Chung on the same path. If your fitness level is not that great, you should be able to complete the whole trail in about 4 hours, taking time for photos and rests along the way.

Starting in Tung Chung, from the MTR station make your way toward Exit C. Head out past Planet Pluto pet store, turn right and head towards Pizza Hut. Continue past and around the buildings to the right along the walking path in the photos shown below.

Make your way through the tunnel and continue around and up the gentle slope which leads to another tunnel which you make a right turn into. In the tunnel, be sure to keep left and continue up and out of the tunnel until you get to the main road.

Walk along this path which is quite long, leading to Yat Tung estate. You can also catch a bus from Tung Chung to Yat Tung estate (the number 38) if you are feeling lazy. In fact Yat Tung estate is only about 15 minutes walk from Tung Chung, and the extra time that it takes to get to and from the bus stop on either side probably amounts to the same time that it takes to walk to Yat Tung estate.

When you get to the overhead walkway, be sure to go up it as it crosses the main raod ahead. Continue straight across. Looking to the right makes for a nice view. Coming down from the walkway, you will pass Yat Tung estate. Evidently the people here use this walkway and adjacent area as a place to hang all their washing. It is chock a block here - there is washing hanging from street poles, strung between them, on bicycle stands, draped across bushes - basically wherever you look.

Continuing along, be sure to keep to the right of the next overhead walkway - you don't want to use this one. A little further along after you have passed Yat Tung estate, after you cross a river, be sure to turn right, exiting this walkway.

Follow this path which continues along the waterway just across from Yat Tung estate.

At the end of this path, keep left just after the little temple area, where you can take a rest if you want.

Follow this path which winds along an elevated walkway through the mangroves. If you keep you eyes peeled along here you should see little jumping fish called mudskippers (Periophthalmus modestus) as well as lots of little crabs.

At the end of this path, turn right at the signs (below) and then keep left, passing the sports ground.

There are some nice views out to the right along here of the airport and of the Nong Ping 360 Cable Car.

Looking out to the left also offers great views of Lantau Peak before heading on through the trails. On this bridge, cast your eyes downward and look for the fish swimming below. I actually saw a pipefish swimming along here on my last hike along this trail to Tai O.

The path traverses along these elevated walkways through the mangroves where you can see a variety of crabs and other insects along the way. Pictured above is a Red Clawed Crab (Parasesarma bidens).

Continuing on to the defined trail once again, keep your eyes peeled for some interesting insects and also keep your camera handy for some nice views of the airport.

The great thing about the first 2/3 of this trail is that it is covered by trees most of the way giving you cover from the intense sun. Either way be sure to bring your suncreen with you as the last third of the trail is exposed. I spotted this beetle on the hand rail. It is a Tallow Stink Bug (Erthesina fullo).

The trail meanders along like this for the majority of the trail.

I also spotted this Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) on the hand rail post. This was an interesting find with its yellow body and very long hairs protruding from its body. This caterpiller is a larva of the Pale Tussok moth of the Lymantriidae Family.

It seems that this path is also popular as a bicycle path. Towards the end of the path there are some steps where you would need to dismount and carry your bike. I'd say the first 2/3 of the trail would be suitable to average riders and the last 1/3 of the trail more suitable for mountain bike riding.

Follow the path through this small village. Keep straight wherever you can, otherwise look out for signs which point to Tai O. Such as the one below.

When I was coming through here, some of this section was being concreted, but it is now complete. Need a toilet? There is one just up ahead.

There are some great little huts along here great for taking photos of. Not sure about their history though. They appear to be very ancient. I'll have to do some research on them.

I have decided to cut this hike into two parts as there are way too many pictures to take along the way.

Follow the sign to Tai O and follow this link to page 2 of this hike from Tung Chung to Tai O.