2021.12.25 SAT 【Hiking • 010】
Yuk Kwai Shan . Ap Lei Pai . Mount Johnston • Lighthouse
玉桂山 . 鴨脷排 . 玉桂山 • 燈塔

Located in Ap Lei Chau, 【Mount Johnston (玉桂山)】 stands at a height of 196m. The trails here are notoriously steep and rugged, often requiring you to use both hands and feet to 『scramble』 up the slopes. The entire route takes approximately 3 to 4 hours and is best suited for hikers with some experience under their belt. As there are no refill points along the way, make sure to pack plenty of water and 『supplies』. This trek offers a fantastic blend of Southern District’s natural beauty and historical remnants, making for a truly memorable adventure.

Route:

Lei Tung Estate (利東邨) → Mount Johnston / Yuk Kwai Shan (玉桂山) → Ap Lei Pai • Tombolo (鴨脷排 • 連島沙洲) → Ap Lei Pai (鴨脷排) → Mount Johnston • Lighthouse (玉桂山 • 燈塔) → Lei Tung Estate (利東邨)

Duration
3 hrs
Distance
4.5 km
Highest Point
197 m
Difficulty
3 m
Explore the Route
daydreamer.hk. .

Route Overview

Lei Tung Estate (利東邨) → Mount Johnston / Yuk Kwai Shan (玉桂山) → Ap Lei Pai • Tombolo (鴨脷排 • 連島沙洲) → Ap Lei Pai (鴨脷排) → Mount Johnston • Lighthouse (玉桂山 • 燈塔) → Lei Tung Estate (利東邨)

【Start】 Setting off from 【Lei Tung Estate (利東邨)】, this route invites you to explore the hidden gems of Hong Kong Island’s south side. Begin behind the Lei Tung bus terminus, following the catchwater path to the left near the base of the mountain. After a few flights of concrete steps, you’ll transition onto the rugged trail of 【Mount Johnston (玉桂山)】.

Once you 『bag the summit』, prepare to be blown away by the 『killer views』. From the peak, you get a 360∘ panoramic vista overlooking all of Ap Lei Chau, the 【Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter (香港仔避風塘)】, and 【Brick Hill / Nam Long Shan (南朗山)】. The horizon is incredibly vast and open.

【Finish】 Descending from the summit, you’ll head toward the 【Sandbar (連島沙洲)】. Take extra care on this stretch—the slope down to the sandbar is covered in loose gravel and scree, making it a bit of a 『slip-and-slide』 if you aren’t careful.

This sandbar connects 【Ap Lei Pai (鴨脷排)】 and 【Mount Johnston (玉桂山)】 and is one of Hong Kong’s rare natural wonders—perfect for a 『gram-worthy』 photo. After crossing, you’ll enter 【Ap Lei Pai (鴨脷排)】. While the path here is relatively flatter, you still need to keep your wits about you. Follow the trail to the southern tip of the island to reach 【Lighthouse No. 198 (198號燈塔)】, where you can enjoy stunning views of Lamma Island and Ngan Chau.

After a quick 『breather』 at the lighthouse, you can retrace your steps back to 【Lei Tung Estate (利東邨)】. The return journey allows you to wind down and soak in the coastal beauty one last time.

Duration
3 hrs
Distance
4.5 km
Highest Point
197 m
Scenery
3.5 ⭐️
Difficulty
3 ⭐️
Exposure Index
4 ⭐️
. .

Here are the reference statistics for this journey:

Total Ascent
288 m
Total Descent
426 m
Moving Speed
2.3 km/h
Average Speed
1.5 km/h
Moving Time
2 hrs
Total Journey Time
3 hrs

Transport Guide

START

🚩

Lei Tung Estate (利東邨)

  1. Take the 【MTR • South Island Line (南港島線) 】 to 【Lei Tung Station (利東站) • Exit B】, then head towards 【Lei Tung Commercial Centre】.
利東站 • B出口
👉🏻

END

🏁

Mount Johnston • Lighthouse (玉桂山 • 燈塔)

  1. After leaving 【Mount Johnston • Lighthouse (玉桂山 • 燈塔)】, you can retrace your steps back to 【Lei Tung Estate (利東邨)】.
  2. From 【Lei Tung Estate】, take the MTR or various buses to return to the urban area.
玉桂山 • 燈塔

Route Breakdown
🚶🏻‍➡️ Full Route 《Lei Tung Estate (利東邨) → Mount Johnston (玉桂山) → Ap Lei Pai (鴨脷排) → Mount Johnston • Lighthouse (玉桂山 • 燈塔)》

1. 📍 Start: Lei Tung Estate

利東站 • B出口

MTR • Lei Tung Station (利東站) 《B 出口》

Take the 【MTR • South Island Line (港鐵 • 南港島線)】 to 【Lei Tung Station • Exit B (利東站 • B出口)】, then make your way toward 【Lei Tung Commercial Centre (利東商場)】.
利東商場

Lei Tung Estate • Lei Tung Commercial Centre (利東邨 • 利東商場)

Start at the bus terminus right outside 【Lei Tung Commercial Centre】. Look for the small mountain path next to the bus station to begin your ascent up 【Mount Johnston (玉桂山)】.

2. 📍 Ap Lei Chau (Salt Water) Service Reservoir

鴨脷洲(海水)配水庫

Ap Lei Chau 《Salt Water》 Service Reservoir (鴨脷洲 《海水》 配水庫)

Continue uphill along the mountain trail flanking the 【Ap Lei Chau Service Reservoir】.

3. 📍 Hiking Poster: “Hiking is not about risking your life”

山中海報 • 行山唔係搵命搏

Hiking is not about risking your life (行山唔係搵命搏)

A friendly reminder: when hiking, safety should always be your top priority.

4. 📍 Mount Johnston • Warning Sign 《I》

玉桂山 • 告示牌《壹》

Mount Johnston • Warning Sign 《I》

This sign warns hikers about the trail conditions: the path to 【Mount Johnston (玉桂山)】 and 【Ap Lei Pai (鴨脷排)】 is steep and treacherous. It is not suitable for hiking during mid-summer or unstable weather. If you lack the proper gear, supplies, or physical fitness, do not attempt to proceed. Accidents have occurred here—for your safety, please be extremely cautious.

5. 📍 Mount Johnston • Mid-levels

玉桂山 • 山腰

Mount Johnston • Mid-levels (玉桂山 • 山腰)

About 500m from the start at Lei Tung, you’ll reach an elevation of 104m. Look back to enjoy the view of the 【Ap Lei Chau Service Reservoir Playground (鴨脷洲配水庫 • 遊樂場)】.

6. 📍 Mount Johnston 《View of Lei Tung Estate》

玉桂山《腳下 • 利東邨》

Mount Johnston 《View of Lei Tung Estate》 (玉桂山《腳下 • 利東邨》)

After walking about 700m (roughly half an hour), you’ll hit 164m in elevation. Turning around offers an even more expansive bird’s-eye view of 【Lei Tung Estate (利東邨)】.

7. 📍 Mount Johnston • Warning Sign 《II》

玉桂山 • 告示牌《貳》

Mount Johnston • Warning Sign (玉桂山 • 告示牌《貳》)

A reminder about the descent: please budget enough time to head down before sunset. The downhill sections are steep and difficult; Watch your step!

8. 📍 Mount Johnston • Trigonometrical Station

玉桂山 • 標高柱《時尚的汪星人》1

Mount Johnston • Triangulation Pillar 《Stylish Doggos》｜1

After about 30 minutes of hiking, you’ve reached the 『main star』 of the trip: the summit of 【Mount Johnston (玉桂山)】. 
玉桂山 • 標高柱《時尚的汪星人》2

Mount Johnston • Triangulation Pillar 《Stylish Doggos》｜2

You might even run into some 『stylish doggos』 posing by the pillar!

9. 📍 Mount Johnston • Summit

玉桂山 • 山頂

Mount Johnston • Summit (玉桂山 • 山頂)

Past the pillar, continue toward 【Ap Lei Pai (鴨脷排)】. Looking to your right, you can spot 【Lamma Island (南丫島)】 in the distance, including 【Mo Tat Wan (模達灣)】, 【Sok Kwu Wan (索罟灣)】, and 【Mount Ling Kok (菱角山)】.

10. 📍 Mount Johnston • Stone Tablet

玉桂山 • 石碑

Mount Johnston • Stone Tablet (玉桂山 • 石碑)

About 100m past the pillar, there is a stone monument. It serves as a historical record of events related to World War II.

11. 📍 View of Ap Lei Pai from Mount Johnston

玉桂山 • 腳下的鴨脷排

View of Ap Lei Pai (腳下的鴨脷排)

Continue another 400m past the stone tablet. You are now at the start of the incredibly steep, sandy, and rocky descent toward the 【tombolo (連島沙洲)】.

12. 📍 Ap Lei Pai • Tombolo

鴨脷排 • 連島沙洲

Ap Lei Pai • Tombolo (鴨脷排 • 連島沙洲)

After conquering the steep slope, you’ll arrive at this flat, pebbly beach that connects the two islands.

13. 📍 Ap Lei Pai 《Looking back at Mount Johnston》

鴨脷排《回望 • 玉桂山》

Looking back at Mount Johnston (回望 • 玉桂山)

Cross the sandbar and begin the ascent onto 【Ap Lei Pai (鴨脷排)】. When you stop for a 『breather』, look back to admire the imposing silhouette of 【Mount Johnston (玉桂山)】 behind you.

14. 📍 Ap Lei Pai • Mid-levels

鴨脷排 • 山腰

Ap Lei Pai • Mid-levels (鴨脷排 • 山腰)

Push upward toward the peak in front of you—this is the highest point of 【Ap Lei Pai (鴨脷排)】.

15. 📍 Ap Lei Pai • Summit

鴨脷排《遙望 • 海洋公園 / 南朗山》

Ap Lei Pai 《View of Ocean Park / Nam Long Shan》

You’ve finally reached the last peak of the trip! Looking left, you can see the 【Aberdeen Channel (香港仔海峽)】, with 【Nam Long Shan (南朗山)】 and 【Ocean Park (海洋公園)】 right across the water.

16. 📍 Finish: Mount Johnston • Lighthouse

玉桂山 • 燈塔

Mount Johnston • Lighthouse (玉桂山 • 燈塔)

Walk to the very end of Ap Lei Pai to reach your final destination: the 【Mount Johnston Lighthouse (玉桂山 • 燈塔)】. After taking your victory photos, retrace your steps back to 【Lei Tung Estate (利東邨)】 to finish the journey.