Your guide to hiking Ma On Shan at sunrise

There is something rather magical about watching the sunrise over the outlying islands of Sai Kung, after wading your way through the dark of night and reaching the summit of one of Hong Kong’s most beautiful hills – Ma On Shan.  For a leisurely start, it’s best to begin the hike at around 4:15am. You will reach the peak by the time the sun breaks the horizon.

Read more: Best hikes in Sai Kung

How to get there

• By MTR: Take the 99 bus from Sha Kok Mei to Kei Ling Ha Lo Wai, then walk 2km to Wong Chuk Yeung
• By taxi: For an easier walk, a taxi can take you to where the Maclehose Trail crosses Wong Chuk Yeung

Expert tip

If you are not too confident of a nighttime hiker, a head torch can definitely be helpful. Although, for the most authentic experience and once you feel comfortable finding your stepping without your iPhone’s torch, try to let your eyes adjust to the natural light of the moon, especially if it’s a full one. However, for those scared of wild boar encounters, you best keep your light on.

Route

Head up Chuk Yeung Road, onto Shan Liu Sheung, and then further onto Wong Chuk Yeung. Once you reach the divide, bear left and you will find yourself on the Maclehose Trail. Continue on and follow the Maclehose trail as it veers off the road left once again, you will find yourself journeying up Ma On Shan mountain. 

Once you have begun this section of the walk, the path will eventually lead you through a valley to a T-junction. Here, continue left until you reach a plateau path running along a ridge, giving you a beautiful vantage point of Sha Tin to the right and Sai Kung to the left.

Instead of carrying on across this ridge, take a sharp left. Here, you will find a less-trodden path leading you up a rocky incline, before bearing slightly right through a grassy area. At this point, a torch may be necessary to find your step.

Follow this path for a few more minutes, you will find yourself moving up a small hill to your right, through an area of longer grass. If you time it right, you will be reaching the summit of this hill with an awesome view of a reddening sky, facing East over High Island and beyond.

Once you have experienced the bliss of the mountains it is time for breakfast, retrace your steps down the hill or follow over the ridge towards Po Lo Che.

All images courtesy of Matthew Teague.