Winner of Time magazine’s best urban hike in Asia; a title which is potentially misleading – as there is nothing urban about the Dragon’s Back – this is one of the most popular Hong Kong hikes.
The urban hike moniker is thanks to the Dragon’s Back being within breathing distance of Hong Kong’s skyscrapers, yet set amidst complete, unspoilt beauty. Found on Hong Kong Island’s wild south side, the Dragon’s Back winds across the ridges of Shek O Country Park affording superb views over Clearwater Bay and several uninhabited islands stranded out in the South China Sea.
At the end of the trail is Shek O – an attractively ramshackle seaside village with a handful of bars and restaurants and a couple of excellent beaches.
Difficulty: 3/5. The Dragon’s Back is sometimes characterised as one of the easier Hong Kong hikes. It is, but it’s no stroll along the promenade either. It does require a decent level of physical effort and boots. That said, it is certainly accessible to the non-hiker.
Where: This is the difficult part. The Dragon’s Back is not easy to reach and not really its own hike, it’s actually part of the Hong Kong Trail part 8. To reach the Dragon’s Back take the number 9 minibus from Shau Kei Wan MTR. Get off at To Tei Wan – you may need to ask a passenger - and the hike is about 1km uphill from the road. There are signposts.
