Guide to Hiking Lion Rock Hong Kong
Spectacular views across Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and the vast South China Sea littered with small islands, monkeys frolicking in the trees, the peaceful sounds of nature high above the urban jungle and endless mountain peaks to the north. Here’s everything you need to know for the Lion Rock hike, one of the best Hong Kong hikes.
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Hong Kong is an exciting and bustling metropolis where life moves at high speed and never stops. Ferries transport passengers across Victoria Harbour, the metro whisks commuters across neighbourhoods, people haggle for deals in the Mong Kok markets, friends hang out at rooftop bars high above the city and street food vendors serve up steaming dim sum to feed the crowds.Â
It’s also a city of contrasts and a fascinating blend of old meets new. Traditional modes of transport drift past opulent shopping malls, ancient temples, striking glass skyscrapers, wet markets, chic restaurants, bustling street food stalls and luxury hotels.
But, look beyond the vast concrete jungle and discover rolling mountains, lush forests and tranquil national parks providing an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle. Enjoy some of the best hiking in Hong Kong amongst beautiful natural scenery.
Lion Rock is one of the most popular hikes in Hong Kong. It’s easily accessible from the city, and although it’s quite challenging, this route isn’t long and offers some of the best views in Hong Kong over Kowloon’s epic skyscrapers across to Hong Kong Island.
As you stand at the top of Lion Rock, it’s hard to imagine the frenetic streets below.
We hiked to Lion Rock Peak in the morning as we visited Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden in the afternoon. However, this would be one of the best spots to watch the sunset in Hong Kong.
There are several routes to hike Lion Rock Hong Kong that vary in length and difficulty. We did a rather steep, short route as we were short on time. This is perfect for a shorter Hong Kong itinerary if you don’t want to spend a full day hiking Lion Rock.
We started at Lion Rock Park and ended at Fat Jong Temple, which is the route you’ll read about here.
In this guide to the Lion Rock hike Hong Kong, we’ll share with you everything you need to know, including how to get to the trailhead, the difficulty of the route, what to take with you, the best time to hike Lion Rock and more.
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Contents
Everything You Need to Know To Hike Lion Rock
How to get to the trailhead
The trailhead is at Lion Rock Park, which can be easily reached from the city.
The most convenient way to get there is to hop in a taxi, which will only take about 15 minutes. Taxis are also relatively inexpensive.
Alternatively, take Bus 103 from Kowloon to Rainbow Primary School and walk 15 minutes.Â
Difficulty, distance and duration
This route for hiking Lion Rock is approximately 3.5 kilometres and should take around 2 hours. There are longer routes to make it a loop if you prefer.
Lion Rock hike is moderately challenging as it’s very steep in some places with dirt staircases that can be a bit slippery. You may also need to manoeuvre around large boulders at times.
We always felt very safe, and the route is well signposted. If you have an average fitness level, you’ll be absolutely fine.
What to take
Take plenty of water and suncream, particularly for Lion Rock Peak, where there’s no shade. Take some snacks and maybe a top layer, depending on the time of year, as the summit may be quite windy.
Where to stay in Hong Kong for hiking Lion Rock
Wherever you stay, you can reach the Lion Rock hike easily so, deciding where to stay in Hong Kong depends on personal preference.
The two main areas to stay are Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, each with its own character, charm and attractions. And, you can travel between the two easily and efficiently.
If you’re looking for the most authentic and local side of Hong Kong, stay in Kowloon. Dai pai dongs, bustling markets, endless street food stalls, intricate temples and incredible views of the iconic skyline make Kowloon a fantastic and culturally rich base for the Lion Rock hike.
If you’re after the high-end restaurants and glitzy skyscrapers right on your doorstep, Hong Kong Island is what you want.
We stayed in The Kerry Hotel in Kowloon and absolutely loved it. The hotel is gorgeous and has an infinity pool overlooking Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island. It’s just outside of Tsim Sha Tsui, so you can escape the crowds but also get around quickly. Hung Hom Ferry Pier is also right outside the hotel, giving you quick access to Hong Kong Island.
The best time to hike Lion Rock
The best time of year to hike Lion Rock Peak is outside of the summer (May-August) when temperatures can soar to 40 degrees Celsius.
We hiked in December when it was about 23 degrees, which was perfect.
The best time of the day for hiking Lion Rock is either first thing in the morning to avoid the hottest part of the day, or a couple of hours before sunset, so you can enjoy watching the sun go down over the city.
Our top tip: combine the Lion Rock hike with a visit to Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens. Chi Lin Nunnery is a Buddhist temple complex connected to the tranquil Nan Lian Gardens. Both are built in the Tang dynasty style known for simplicity, elegance and blending harmony with nature. They’re a stark and gorgeous contrast to the city that envelops it.
Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know for one of the best Hong Kong hikes, continue reading for a description of the route.
Lion Rock Hike Description
Start at Lion Rock Park, which is also the last stop for bathrooms if needed.
From the park, walk out the main gates and continue down the road until you see stairs on the left signposting you to Lion Rock. These stairs set the tone for the hike! The trail, for the most part, at least until you get higher, is paved and well-maintained, which makes the incline more bearable.
Thankfully, you’re mostly in the forest, shaded from the heat. Now and again, there’ll be a gap in the trees so you can enjoy the view over Kowloon as you get higher.
Early into the Lion Rock hike, you may come across some monkeys. As long as you don’t have any food or water on show, they’ll leave you alone. They’re quite funny to watch frolicking around in the trees, playing like children!
Continue heading up. The path is easy to follow, and there’ll be a sign if there are any merging trails.
When you need a break, there’s often a nice spot to sit and take in the view overlooking the city and vast South China Sea, scattered with Hong Kong’s Outlying Islands.
You’ll come to a wide open area with several benches and numerous hiking trails to different areas of Lion Rock Country Park. Here is perfect for a last break before the final push to the summit.
The last leg to Lion Rock Peak is rather gruelling. A steep incline of uneven rocky steps and squeezing around huge boulders at times. But, it’s part of the adventure and the view at the top is worth it – definitely one of the best views in Hong Kong!
At the peak, the trees give way and you’re out in the open, gazing over the skyscrapers of Kowloon to the jaggedy mountain peaks on Hong Kong Island.
Turn around, and the rolling mountains continue to the north until you reach China. How green Hong Kong is, up here really surprised me! When you’re in the city, it’s hard to see past the high-rises, crowds and noise and imagine the tranquillity of nature high above the urban jungle.
Once you’ve enjoyed the views at the top and been made to feel very small, continue following the trail until it goes down. The path descending is in better condition than the way you came up.
There’s no large boulders to squeeze around, and the stairs are stone rather than dirt so it’s much more stable.Â
With this route, going down is much quicker than up, as it’s a shorter route and you’re not looping back to the start. It’s approximately 1 kilometre to Fat Jong Temple, which took us about half an hour from the summit.
Again, as you near the bottom, you may encounter some monkeys, but continue walking. They’re not bothered by you if you’re not carrying food or water on display.
That’s the Lion Rock hike complete – without a doubt one of the best Hong Kong hikes for spectacular 360-degree views across the city in not much time.
We hope you found this guide to hiking Lion Rock Hong Kong helpful. Check out our other Hong Kong guides below for a fantastic and memorable trip and everything you need to know.
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