I always say that one of the most amazing things of Hong Kong is the fact that, in 10 minutes cab…read moreride, you are in the middle of nature. How many cities can say that? And how cool is that? In most other big cities, you may need to get on a train, pay a high fare and travel for a couple of hours. It also means you need to plan. That's not the case in Hong Kong and whether you are a hiker or not, you can still enjoy beautiful landscapes and retreat for a few hours. Feeling like an easy Sunday hike? One of your options is Tai Tam Tuk Reservoirs, located at the Tai Tam Country Park, in the East side of Hong Kong Island. That's what three of us did early on a Saturday morning a few weeks ago. We only walked for about an hour, contemplating the nature and chatting. It is a very easy hike, flat and signaled all the way, mostly sheltered by trees so there is plenty of shadow. We went through the main stone bridges, of similar design but different heights and dating back to the 20s. They are all English style building classified as I Grade heritage. And so is the huge dam, that you can see from afar. What impressed me more was the bright turquoise water, and the contrast with the greenery and the intense blue of the sky, which created such an inspiring view! If you are in need of a deep breath of pure air outside of the city, but not feeling like hiking up the hills, get on a cab and head to Tai Tam, you'll feel alive again.

Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir is part of the Tai Tam group of reservoirs which were erected from the late…read more1880s into the early 1910s when Hong Kong's demand for water constantly outstripped supply. Tai Tam Tuk is the biggest one of out the group and probably the one seen by most people as they make their way to Stanley, when they pass by the precariously narrow dam road that lines one side of the reservoir. This is truly one of Hong Kong's scene of natural beauty where within 20 minutes from bustling Central you can get to somewhere that's basically been untouched since the beginning of time. One of the favourite routes to take in all this would be to take a hike from Parkview (which is at the top of the hill) and walk down past the smaller reservoirs up top and then onto this main body of water where it joins back with the main road. One of the attractive features of this route would again be the masonry of the buildings here, being built at that time it had a very heavy British influence and much like parts of Hong Kong; you would at times think whether you really are on the edge of the South China sea or somewhere Somerset. This is also a particularly popular path as the route is mainly downhill hence making it easier for families and it takes around 2 hours in total. Locals and tourists alike- I will be willing to bet my money that you won't be disappointed.

Experience fishing villages, temples, beaches, cafes and bars on a Lamma Island hike. Day trips to…read moreLamma is good with family, friends & dogs. The Island is small so you can walk from one side to the other. If you do plan to spend the day then I suggest getting to Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island: Take a ferry from Central Pier No. 4 to Yung Shue Wan. It takes about 30 minutes. Then leaving from Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island: Take a ferry from Sok Kwu Wan to Central or Aberdeen. Stop 1: Yung Shue Wan the main residential area on Lamma Island, with shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Stop 2: Hung Shing Yeh Beach (Around a 20-minute walk from Yung Shue Wan Pier) white sandy beach, you can enjoy the sun, sand and water. Stop 3: Tin Hau Temple Stop 4: Sok Kwu Wan This tiny village is still very much focused on fishing. The seafood restaurants along the bay are great!

Although Lamma Island comes highly rated on Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet's 2015 Travel Guide,…read moreit's a huge tourist trap and doesn't necessarily capture the beauty of Hong Kong's countryside. From Pier 4 at Central, there are two ferries to take to/from Lamma Island's two main piers: Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan, with the former being more popular and running more frequently. Most visitors hike the Family Walk, which is a ~4 km long trail (~2 hours slow-paced walking with stopping for breaks and photos), from one pier to the other. The power plant at Yung Shue Wan is an eyesore, but there are a few other lookout spots on Lamma Island that provide stunning views of the fishing villages, beaches, and sparkling waters. I recommend Sai Kung over Lamma Island for a half day trip, but Lamma Island is still a good option for those who prefer mild hiking (ie: not too long or difficult in elevation).

Good for family , especially those with kids. They have a room with this sorta jungle playground,…read morewhere kids can climb here and there , basically to exhaust their energy. There are 3 sessions of opening in the afternoon, and sometimes it can get busy, so I would say talk to the staff and get a ticket and a rough idea when you should bring the kids there. Otherwise, you can miss it and your kids might get grumpy. lol It has a beuatiful lotus pond, and the flowers are budding and only a few has opened. There are other fishes and insects from nature to look at as well. In the butterfly garden, a speaker will explain to you the life of a butterfly and the features of them. But it is in Cantonese only. Must bring Hat, sunscreen and mosquito repellent! srsly I got bitten even with mosquito repellent on.

When I was working as a kindergarten teacher in Yuen Long, we would come up with fun field trips…read morefor the children. Hong Kong Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai was probably one of our highlights: the park being a huge open area with ecodiversity that few Hong Kongers ever get to truly appreciate. If I hadn't worked in Yuen Long, I'm not sure I would've ever heard of the Wetland Park, which would have been a shame since the project site has been designed so well, architecturally and educationally. There's a butterfly garden, and a few trails that pass by mangroves, fishponds and streams - all seemingly miles away from the urban Hong Kong hustle and bustle. So, strap on your fanny packs, rock your sun visors, and dip in a bath of sun screen, because the Wetland Park is a day-trip of eco-friendly fun. Down with the 18 degree aircons! Well, down with the 18 degree aircons for a little bit: there's an indoor exhibition area, the Visitor Centre, where you can learn about animals that live in the wetlands - including Pui Pui the crocodile, who has a home at the Wetland Reserve. The viewing gallery also gives you a good view of the Wetland Reserve too from an indoor site. Admission is $30 for a standard ticket, while concessionary tickets are half price. The Park is a great place to take the kids, to get some fresh air, or to learn more about conservation in Hong Kong.

This is my favorite park and I am biased because I live by it and grew up with it. It is not a…read moregreenery based type of park although it has a lot of walkways with trees and stuff surrounding. This park has basketball courts, public exercising equipment, fountains, large spaces where people can gather to do morning exercises, and a big lot where it hosts a lot of shows. Every so often there is something happenin including flower shows, food stalls during CNY, displays etc. This time it has panda displays with the 75th year of CCP.

Once again, I do sort of wonder how long this park will retain its name, though the suggestion is…read morethat maybe it will change in about thirty years time, that is in 2050 when apparently Hong Kong's automomous status will be reassessed. However, this park is basically the park where you will find one of those ubiquitous objects that are scattered all across the former British Empire, and that is the statue of Queen Victoria. Once again, I'm not entirely sure how long this statue will remain since I suspect that there will be a time when places will want to move on from their past.

Large park close to business district in Hong Kong. Depending on the time of the year, they have…read moredifferent exhibitions and shows going on in the park. It's a very open space with a gorgeous view of the surrounding buildings and Victoria Harbour.

I had been looking around for a place to do sprints for a few weeks and wasn't happy with the…read moreoptions around my place: Victoria Park was too crowded and there wasn't any straight trail where I could run without bumping into people; Wan Chai Park...too hilly; Hong Kong Park, again crowded and uneven. I had resorted to the treadmill (and risked my life with it!) until a friend told me about Tamar Park. Yeah, I didn't know about it until recently, sorry! To get to Tamar Park from Admiralty, you need to get to Admiralty Center and cross the bridge until you get to the Government Offices. It's a huge, beautiful park overlooking Victoria Harbour. From the entrance of the park you can see a green large carpet. The design of the park is simple and elegant. The first time I went there was on a sunny Sunday and was delighted to have found such a place, a little away from mayhem in Central and exceptionally quiet (on a Sunday, yes!). There were groups of people here and there but I could easily find a free spot under a tree and enjoy my book. It is also a great place for those who work around Admiralty, like me. The downside is that there isn't much shelter and you may want to avoid it during the hot stuffy months. I came back at night a few weeks ago and the view is astonishing, much better than at daylight. It's probably one of my favorite spots to contemplate Hong Kong from. It's just a perfect mix of romanticism and peace. Now, the reason I wanted to check it out was to go sprinting, and you can definitely do that, both in the park, in the early morning when it is empty, or you can go down to the Central Promenade. You will find people jogging along quite often but I expected it to be more crowded. If you carry on this trail, you can reach Central Piers and Star Ferry. Whether you are runner or jogger or you simply haven't found you 'green piece' in the city, I would very much recommend you visit Tamar Park. Or take your other half there at night, he/she will fall in love with you if that hasn't happened yet!

Ha Pak Nai is a subdivision of Pak Nai ( Ha means 'lower'). It is a coastal area in the…read morenorthwestern area of New Territories, and faces the Deep Bay. Partly a shallow pebbly beach and partly a wetland mangrove, it is listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hong Kong. Besides driving (actually the parking space is kind of limited due to the rush of people at weekends days of good weather), you can also get there by taking minibus route no. 33 at Tai Fung Street at Yuen Long town center, not far from Yeun Long or Long Ping MTR station, and get off after Lau Fau Shan roundabout. Some friends also opted for biking there but it's not an easy route, so only for people with confidence with biking skills. Because of its vantage location along the western coast, it is one of the best places in Hong Kong to view the sunset, unobstructed by buildings in front and overlooks onto the Shekou area of China on the far far horizon. The scene is quiet and open, and the sky stretches to infinity. It is even more serene if there is a bit of cloud in the sky, with the rays of golden lights refracted over the brim of the clouds forming layers of golden cotton candies . Quite a romantic view for couples indeed! On the pebbly beach you can often some fisherman's raising nurseries for seafood and also oysters raised on pieces of concrete blocks. Additionally, it is also very close to Lau Fau Shan, a popular place from Chinese-style fresh seafood in HK for reasonable price, so it is a very common itinerary for the locals to go for the sunset view at Ha Pak Nai and then have a seafood feast over at there.

For a long time this was a hidden secret for those who knew their way amongst the back end of Yuen…read moreLong and Tin Shui Wai; this was the border and unless you lived here or worked here; no one would venture this far. The reasons were clear: there is a track that ran along the seaside with pretty much nothing to do- moreover at night this was a good location for IIs to come ashore so it wasn't the sort of place you would like to hang around. Times have changed though. Shenzhen has become more prosperous and there's more to look at on the opposite side of the shore than there is on this side. After the SARS event Hong Kongers have taken to the countryside which is decidedly a good thing as we now fully appreciate our natural beauty spots; which includes deep bay. This used to be a fishing village where oyster farms were abundant (water quality: not too sure) and most people came to Lau Fau Shan for the famed seafood and the local produce: salted fish and various dried fishery items. These are all still here but I guess the grips of commercialism has hit and it has lost the quiet ambience some what, with cars clogging up the route up here every weekend. Still though, if you venture down the path down deep bay towards the new Western Crossing, you will still find the mud banks which it is famed for. At low tide the mud banks are exposed and you will find all sorts of wild life here: crabs, birds and the sunset view is simply second to none. Cyclist will enjoy the fact that the further you go the less cars there are so they are free to roam this area. There's not much in terms of attractions here but that is in itself the beauty of it.

An underrated and local spot to soak in the city views. Why pay to go up to the peak tower when you…read morecan go on this shaded looped to see the skyline from nearly all angles?! I took a taxi up here during the mid-autumn holiday weekend. Took my partner and I about an hour to do the loop and took some incredible photos while we were at it. There were not a lot of people, it was not overly crowded and people were able to get lots of photo ops. I highly recommend doing this vs. the peak tower because its what the local does and it feels much less touristy and more quiet.

If you need a quick beautiful 2 mile hike with spectacular scenery and views of Hong Kong, this is…read morefor you. The trail loops around Victoria Peak, and you can turn in and up the mountain and go see the Victoria Peak garden's as well. There are trees everywhere and even after a week after a typhoon, the walk was pleasant and there wasn't much damage. There are figs and all sorts of different trees in good condition, too many to list. The path is well maintained and there's almost always a good view. Lots of runners in the morning, and depending on the time of day the breeze is super good up there. Not much else to say except to see it yourself. It's pretty nice for a hike.

Ah, can't wait to hike it again. Joined a tour to check out the Dragon's Back trail. Booked on…read morePelago as you get double Krisflyer miles per dollar spent. It started mid morning 10a.m. Met the tour guide outside the metro station, grabbed a local bus up the mountain and started the trek 128m from the summit. It's chockers full of people so go earlier !. We set a crazy pace up the massive steps, stones and earth. Stopped only to catch a view and a quick breath. Everyone was out there but it was absolutely lovely and shady. The views of course were well worth it!. We diverted to walk down steps after the reservoir to get to Big Wave Bay where local surfers hang out. Ended the hike in 2.5 hours ( give yourself 4 to 5 hours, our guide was fast). Spent the next 45 minutes by the beach watching the waves and cooling down. Best time is winter for cool weather. Best time for wildlife is July!

This is a great Medium difficulty hike with spectacular views of the beaches and bays on either…read moreside of the island. Take a bus to drop you off at the trailhead and start your hike up the mountain. Total time to hike the trail took about 2 hours at a brisk pace. If you're taking a leisurely stroll it will take much longer. I would recommend doing the hike that leads to Big Wave Bay where you can grab a bite to eat by the beach while watching the surfers catch some waves.