Hong Kong may be famous for its hoppin’ urban areas, but two-thirds of it is covered in natural areas. On Hong Kong Island, the 50 km (31 miles) Hong Kong Trail is a great way to experience forestland, beaches and awesome geology. We tackled the 8.5 km (5.2 miles) section known as Dragon’s Back, named by TIME magazine as the best urban hiking trail in Asia in 2004.
Most of Dragon’s Back winds through wooded areas with some very colorful trees. The browns, oranges and whites on the bark of these trees reminded us of a giraffe’s neck. Oh, and the silence… With all of the hustle bustle over the last couple of weeks, the silence of nature is deafening.About halfway to the summit of Shek O Peak, the skies opened up and made the red clay paths a muddy mess. With the summit in sight, we encountered a puddle the size of a small pond that engulfed the path. Already soaked to the skin, we decided to forgo the swim and enjoy the near-summit views.The views of Big Wave Bay and the South China Sea made the wet walk worthwhile.Established more than 200 years ago by local fishing clans, the quiet, colorful streets of Shek O Village feel a million miles from the city. The vibe was much like the coastal villages of Central America.Finally! We’d been dying for a beach day on this trip and finally got one at Shek O Beach. Despite a decent-sized crowd, the beach was fairly quiet except for the occasional screams of from the kids being swept up in the waves on their inflatables. The otherwise calm waters were perfect for soaking the sore hiking muscles.
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