Lion Rock Country Park.

This is a very accessible park, close to Wong Tai Sin MTR. A taxi from the station to the gates of the park is under $30HKD. It is most famous for the Lion Rock hike, Hong Kong’s most scenic and popular hike. The huge granite peak stands at 495m tall and from the top, you have absolutely stunning views across Hong Kong, Kowloon on one side and Shatin, and the New Territories on the other. It is also known for two other dramatic features, Amah Rock and Beacon Hill. There are lots of opportunities for hiking here. The Wilson Trail Stage 6, Shatin’s Pass and MacLehose Trail Stages 5 & 6 all cross through the park. They are well sign-posted and easy to follow, although there are lots of challenging stairs and steep stretches. It is also a great place to see wild macaque monkeys. I had wrongly assumed that they were native. They are actually a feral population that got out of control. In the early 1900s, some were released to control the spread of a local poisonous plant, strychnos which the monkeys loved to eat. Fun as it is to see the monkeys, be careful not to go too close. We saw one aggressively snatching food from one hiker so it’s best to keep all food in your back pack and don't bring it out if there are monkeys around. Importantly, make sure to go prepared. Water, snacks, hat and sunscreen are absolute essentials. There is nowhere to refill water bottles so take enough with you. You’ll also need good shoes with grip. The paths can be steep and rocky, with loose gravelly, slippery surfaces. GETTING THERE - You can enter the park at several points. Start off at Wong Tai Sin MTR. From there, many people get a taxi to Jong Fat temple and walk up Shatin’s Pass Rd but I prefer to get a taxi to the Lion Rock Park on Lion Park Rd. You can walk from the station to either point but a taxi will cost less than $30HKD. Entry to the country park is free. #themepark#zoo#nationalpark#lakes#beaches