2023.01.28 SAT 【Hiking • 020】

Pat Sin Leng . Wong Leng . Cloudy Hill

八仙嶺 . 黃嶺 . 九龍坑山

【Start】 Set off from the 【Tai Mei Tuk • Bus Terminus (大美督 • 巴士總站)】 and walk along 【Ting Kok Road (汀角路)】 for about ten minutes to reach the 【Plover Cove • Country Park 《Visitor Centre》 (船灣 • 郊野公園《遊客中心》)】. From here, hop onto the 【Pat Sin Leng • Nature Trail (八仙嶺 • 自然教育徑)】. This initial section is quite shaded, making it a perfect warm-up. You’ll find several info boards along the way introducing local natural phenomena and flora, so you can pick up some facts while soaking in the greenery.

Keep heading up the nature trail until you cross the small bridge at 【Wang Chung Stream (橫涌石澗)】—it’s a great spot for a breather where you can enjoy the peaceful sound of running water. Continue further to reach 【Spring Breeze Pavilion (春風亭)】, which commemorates the two teachers who heroically gave their lives during the 1996 Pat Sin Leng wildfire. The view here is incredibly open, offering a panoramic look at 【Ma On Shan (馬鞍山)】 and the 【Plover Cove • Reservoir (船灣 • 淡水湖)】, making it a prime photo op.

【Mid-section】 Moving on from the pavilion, you’ll hit the first peak of the “Eight Immortals”—【Sin Ku Fung (仙姑峰)】. There are quite a few stairs on this stretch, but the stunning views make the grind worth it. From there, you’ll traverse the ridge, passing through 【Tsao Kau Fung (曹舅峰)】, 【Kwai Li Fung (拐李峰)】, 【Kao Lao Fung (果老峰)】, and the rest of the eight peaks. While the distance between peaks isn’t huge, the terrain is quite rugged, so watch your footing. Once you reach the highest point, 【Shun Yeung Fung (純陽峰)】, take a moment to rest and enjoy the scenery. Descending from there leads you to 【Lai Pek Shan (犂壁山)】, another ideal spot for photos. Continue toward 【Wong Leng (黃嶺)】; though this part of the path is relatively flat, the ground is heavily weathered, so be extra careful with the loose trail conditions.

【Finish】 Next, head down the scree slopes toward 【Hok Tau Reservoir (鶴藪水塘)】. This section is fairly steep and might require a bit of scrambling (using your hands for balance), but the vistas are spectacular. Once you hit the reservoir, it’s a good time to refuel and hydrate.

From the reservoir, follow the trail up toward 【Cloudy Hill (九龍坑山)】 until you reach the infamous 【Cloudy Hill Sky Stairs (九龍坑山 • 天梯)】. This part is a real vertical challenge that tests your stamina, but the view from the summit is world-class. Heading down the “stairs,” you’ll pass 【Yuk Sau Peak (玉秀峰)】, which offers equally beautiful scenery. Finally, follow the path down toward 【Hong Lok Yuen (康樂園)】 to reach 【Tai Po Tau Road (大埔頭路)】, marking the end of this epic hike.