When you think of Hong Kong, the image that usually comes to mind is a skyline filled with towering skyscrapers tightly packed together, harmonizing with buildings along the coast of Hong Kong Island.
However, in Hong Kong, you can discover hidden natural beauty through a trekking course called Dragon’s Back. It was selected as the best trekking course in Asia by CNN and Time magazine in 2004.
“Time’s Pick, Asia’s Best Trekking Course, Dragon’s Back”
The Dragon’s Back trekking course in Hong Kong consists of gentle slopes. When you reach the summit, you can enjoy views of both sides of the sea between the hills, and the sight is breathtaking.
The location of the Dragon’s Back trekking course can be found southeast of Hong Kong Island, leading to the village of Shek O.
“How to Get to the Dragon’s Back Trekking Course in Hong Kong”
Typically, you’ll be traveling from the Central or Chai Wan areas of Hong Kong. In this case, first take the MRT subway and alight at Shau Kei Wan station. Then, board bus number 9 heading towards Shek O at the bus terminal. Finally, disembark at the entrance of the Dragon’s Back trekking trail.
The bus stop you’ll get off at is called “To Tei Wan,” and right in front of it, you’ll find the entrance to the Dragon’s Back trekking trail.
“Boarding the Bus at Shau Kei Wan Station”
To reach the bus stop from Shau Kei Wan station, go out through Exit A2. As soon as you exit, you’ll immediately spot the bus terminal. Here, you can find the boarding point for bus number 9 heading to Shek O.
Since there are quite a few people traveling from Shau Kei Wan to Shek O, you’ll find it easily. After boarding the bus, just alight at the “To Tei Wan” bus stop.
“The Scenic Route of Bus Number 9”
While traveling on bus number 9, you can enjoy the view through the windows, particularly of the southern sea of Hong Kong Island. Unlike in Korea, Hong Kong follows the British traffic system, so vehicles drive on the left. It’s recommended to take a seat on the right side of the bus to have a view of the sea.
There are even double-decker buses available, and sitting on the second floor provides a great view of the sea. In fact, I personally took a double-decker bus and was able to enjoy the sea view. I went one stop further than my intended stop before I could get off.
“Returning after the Trek”
The return journey after the trek may vary depending on how far you trekked. Since the Dragon’s Back trekking course is quite long, it’s recommended for travelers to only enjoy sections 1-2 or 1-3 before heading back. (Personally, I explored about half of the entire trekking course, but it took too long, and after section 3, the scenery started to repeat, so there wasn’t much excitement.)
In the following post, I’ll share my personal experience of actually trekking the Dragon’s Back in Hong Kong.
“Hong Kong Shek O, Dragon’s Back Trekking”
- Trekking Duration: Approximately 2 to 4 hours.