Hiking in Hong Kong: One Sharp Peak, Three Heads, and Four Bays

"One Sharp Peak, Three Heads, and Four Bays" refers to "蚺蛇尖 (Sharp Peak), 米粉咀 (Rice Flour Head), 短咀 (Short Head), 长咀 (Long Head), 东湾 (East Bay), 大湾 (Big Bay), 咸田湾 (Ham Tin Bay), and 西湾 (West Bay)." It is the most scenic of Hong Kong's "four major hiking test routes" and the second test route I have hiked. Unfortunately, like the first one (Bowen Double Crossing), I underestimated the difficulty of the route and completed it in two separate hikes. The standard route is: Pak Tam Au — Chek Keng — Tai Long Au — Sharp Peak — Rice Flour Top — Rice Flour Head — Short Head — Long Head — East Bay — Big Bay — Ham Tin Bay — West Bay — Chui Tung Au — Sai Wan Pavilion. The total length is about 27 km, and it takes at least 8 hours. The three heads require returning along the same path. Some sections overlap with Section 2 of the Maclehose Trail. Although this route is challenging, the scenery between the mountains and the sea is superb and highly recommended. Figures 1–4: View from the top of Sharp Peak. Figure 1 shows Long Head and East Bay, and Figure 2 shows East Bay and Big Bay. Figures 5–7: Scenery of Rice Flour Head. Figures 8–10: Scenery of Short Head. Figures 11–15: Scenery of Long Head. Personally, I think Long Head has the best scenery. Figure 16: East Bay. Figure 17: Big Bay. Figure 18: Ham Tin Bay, with Sharp Peak in the distance. Figure 19: West Bay. Figure 20: A distant view of the four bays from Long Head. Transportation: Buses 94 and 96R are available to Pak Tam Au. The NR29 village bus is available to Sai Wan Pavilion, or you can take a taxi. The last NR29 bus on weekends is at 6 pm, and there are up to 5 buses per departure.