Wan Chai is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. On the Wan Chai Heritage Trail, you'll be able to see historical landmarks and other significant sites that tell the neighborhood's story. Spanning 3 kilometers (1.8 miles), this 2-hour walk features temples, historic buildings, and other sites (totaling to 15). Some of them feature touch-screen computers to help visitors learn.
Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail, part of Tai Tam National Park, is a five kilometer (a little more than three miles) long walking trail with four major reservoirs located along the route. Although the trail is open all day long, visitors are suggested to get there before dawn, or the waterside road might be slippery because of the humidity at night. The view from this trail is breathtaking, with picturesque forests, ponds and waterfalls in sight. The highly diverse plants and animals help visitors easily feel the charming natural environment of Hong Kong. It is a great place to have a fun half-day trip!
At 957 meters (3,140 feet), which is nearly twice the height of Victoria Peak, Tai Mo Shan is the highest mountain in Hong Kong. There are many hiking trails snaking their way around the mountain, which are pretty exhilarating to navigate and make for interesting excursions. On clear days, the view from the top of Tai Mo Shan is impressive and refreshing. You surely cannot afford to miss these breathtaking views on a bright, outdoorsy day out in the city.
This popular trail is a circular route that begins and ends in Mui Wo, also known as Silvermine Bay. It consists of 70 kilometers of easy, difficult and at times torturous hiking. A good hiker can cover the trail in a couple of days, camping at designated spots, though it is best to take your time and dawdle rather than race. The trail is divided into 12 sections and maps are available from the Government Publications Office next to Pacific Place. Check the weather before you set off, take a mobile phone and let someone know your route.
Managed by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Mai Po Marsh sits on the edge of Deep Bay and is a lush landscape of mudflats, wetlands, mangroves and ponds. A wonderful habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl, insect life and aquatic life that inhabits the marshes, this offers a peek at Hong Kong's natural biodiversity. Among the 270-plus species of birds found here, the endangered black-faced spoonbills are especially noteworthy. The park's splendid ecology makes it an ideal conservation land for birds and other wetland mammals. Organized walks and tours are led by trained nature interpreters and offer insight into this protected ecosystem.