Walk the Dragon’s Back to Big Wave Bay

The Dragon’s Back is a ridge on the south-east of Hong Kong Island, and the walk along it is the best-known hike in Hong Kong: a few hours above the sea, with Shek O, Tai Tam Bay and Stanley below, and a city bus at either end. It forms part of Section 8, the last and longest stage of the Hong Kong Trail, which ends on the beach at Big Wave Bay.

What the experience is

The trail starts at the To Tei Wan bus stop and climbs at once. About half a kilometre in, a viewpoint opens over Tai Tam Bay; at about a kilometre and a half the path reaches the summit of Ta Lan Ching Ding Shan, 284 metres high, with Shek O and its peninsula below. From there the Dragon’s Back proper runs for about three kilometres to Wan Tsam Shan, rising and falling like the spine that gives it its name, past a viewing platform that looks over Shek O, Stanley and Tai Tam Bay.

The second half is gentler and shaded. The path turns into woodland on Wan Tsam Shan, passes a pavilion with views north to Chai Wan and Tseung Kwan O and the picnic site at Ma Tong Au, and descends to Big Wave Bay, Tai Long Wan, a surf beach with cafés and a prehistoric rock carving near the shore. The whole section is 8.5 kilometres and takes about two and three-quarter hours; the government trail guide rates it as strenuous overall, because the first half is an unbroken climb.

Good to know

Take the MTR to Shau Kei Wan and Citybus route 9, or a red minibus, to To Tei Wan; from Big Wave Bay, the same bus and minibuses run back to Shau Kei Wan. A shorter loop of about five kilometres returns to the road instead of continuing to the beach. The ridge has almost no shade and can be windy, so bring water, sun protection and a layer, and go on a weekday if you can: weekends are crowded.

Sources: Hong Kong Government, Enjoy Hiking: Hong Kong Trail Section 8; Hong Kong Free Press; Hong Kong Tourism Board.