2025.01.26 SUN 【Hiking • 021】

Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine . Robin’s Nest . Sha Tau Kok
蓮麻坑 • 礦洞 . 紅花嶺 . 沙頭角

This hiking trail kicks off at Lin Ma Hang, passing through the MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan), the Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine, Robin’s Nest, Hung Fa Chai, and Ah Kung Kok, before finally reaching Sha Tau Kok. It is a scenic yet challenging route, perfect for seasoned hikers with a bit of experience under their belt. The entire trail covers about 12km and takes roughly 5 to 6 hours to complete. With stunning views and plenty of historical sites along the way, it’s a demanding but super rewarding trek. Hope you enjoy this perfect blend of nature and history on your adventure!

Route:

Lin Ma Hang → MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan) → Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine → Robin’s Nest → Hung Fa Chai → Ah Kung Kok → Sha Tau Kok

Duration

5.8 hrs

Distance

10.7 km

Highest Point

492 m

Difficulty

2.5 ⭐️

Explore the Route

Route Overview

Lin Ma Hang → MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan) → Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine → Robin’s Nest → Hung Fa Chai → Ah Kung Kok → Sha Tau Kok

【Start】 Starting from Lin Ma Hang, this hiking route takes you through an area rich in history and stunning natural scenery. Lin Ma Hang Village is a peaceful little village famous for its long heritage and pastoral vibes. After hopping off the minibus at the village entrance, follow the winding mountain paths uphill. You’ll soon reach the MacIntosh Fort. Built in the early 20th century, this fort stood witness to the turbulent years of that era. The surrounding military relics and mine shafts really give you a sense of the weight of history.

【Mid-Section】 Pushing on, you’ll enter the Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine area. This spot was once a major lead mining hub in Hong Kong and has now transformed into a destination full of adventure. Inside these ancient shafts, you can still see traces of the miners’ hard work and imagine them hustling away in the dark. Once you leave the mines, head towards the next landmark: Robin’s Nest. It is famous for its breathtaking landscapes and rich ecosystem. Here, you can check out various local flora and fauna while soaking in the great outdoors. Continue trekking to reach Hung Fa Chai, a picturesque high point that overlooks the entire Robin’s Nest area—the perfect spot for a breather and some photos.

【Finish】 After crossing Hung Fa Chai, follow the ridgeline and you’ll quickly arrive at A Kung Kok. Though it’s a quiet little peak, the open sea views are absolutely refreshing, offering a bird’s-eye view of Sha Tau Kok and the Yantian Port cityscape. After a quick break here, keep going until you reach Shan Tsui Village Road, where this journey comes to a perfect close.

Duration

5.8 hrs

Distance

10.7 km

Highest Point

492 m

Scenery

4 ⭐️

Difficulty

2.5 ⭐️

Exposure Index

3.5 ⭐️

Here are the reference statistics for this journey:

Total Ascent

525 m

Total Descent

575 m

Moving Speed

2.93 km/h

Average Speed

1.83 km/h

Moving Time

3.5 hrs

Total Journey Time

5.8 hrs

Transport Guide

START

🚩

MTR East Rail Line – Sheung Shui Station

You can take 《Green Minibus 59A》 directly from Sheung Shui Station to Lin Ma Hang Village.

🚇 MTR Sheung Shui Station, Minibus Terminus, 59K

👉🏻

END

🏁

Sha Tau Kok Road, Tai Chung Au Section

You can take 《Green Minibus 59A》 to head back to Sheung Shui Station.

Sha Tau Kok Road, Shek Chung Au Section 《IV》

Sha Tau Kok Road, Shek Chung Au Section 《III》

Sha Tau Kok Road, Shek Chung Au Section 《II》

Route Breakdown
🚩 Start 《Lin Ma Hang → Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine → Robin’s Nest》

1. 📍 Start: Lin Ma Hang Country Trail, Entrance

Distance Post: Lin Ma Hang Country Trail

Lin Ma Hang, Entrance

Take 《Green Minibus 59A》 from MTR East Rail Line – Sheung Shui Stationstraight to the entrance of Lin Ma Hang Village (蓮麻坑村). Once you hop off, you’re at the starting line of the trek.

2. 📍 Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. VIII

Discover Robin's Nest - Checkpoint 8 《II》

Discover Robin's Nest - Checkpoint 8 《I》

Robin’s Nest Country Park – Map Information Board

Follow the mountain path, and you’ll soon hit an information board. It mainly introduces the hiking trails within Robin’s Nest Country Park and serves as the route map for today’s journey.

3. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《I》

Distant View of Across the Shenzhen River 《I》

Distant View of Across the Shenzhen River 《II》

Uphill Section 《I》

Past the entrance of the Lin Ma Hang Country Trail, it’s all uphill. It was drizzling that day, making the walk a bit of a struggle. But even in the rain, if you just enjoy the process, you’ll find beauty in it—like spotting snails along the way.

4. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail – Short Trig Station

The Charred Hillside

Every autumn and winter, hillfires often break out in Hong Kong. Seeing this scorched hillside is heartbreaking. Hopefully, today’s rain helps the local flora and fauna recover!

5. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《II》

Looking Up MacIntosh Fort - Panoramic View

Looking up at MacIntosh Fort

Since it’s been uphill from the start, I had to stop for a breather every now and then—and of course, take in the views surrounding Lin Ma Hang (蓮麻坑).

6. 📍 MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan) / Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. VII

MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan) - Information Board

MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan) - Observation Post

MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan)

After hiking uphill for about 26 minutes from Lin Ma Hang Village, I finally reached the first landmark on a small peak: the MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan) .

7. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine, Entrance / Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. VI

Chronicle of Lin Ma Hang Mine 《Information Board》

Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine, Entrance

Just a few steps past the fort, you’ll arrive at the Entrance of Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine.

8. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《III》

Mountain Path to Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine 《I》

Mountain Path to Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine 【《II》

Mountain Path to Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine 《III》

The Path of Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine

Head through the entrance and follow the downhill path for a bit, and the mine shafts will come into view.

9. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine

Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine - Information Board

Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine

It’s about 1.1km and a 36-minute walk from the starting point at Lin Ma Hang Village to reach the Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine (蓮麻坑鉛礦洞).

📸 Fun Fact:

The Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine (蓮麻坑鉛礦洞) is a major historical site located within Robin’s Nest Country Park. It was once one of the largest lead mines in Hong Kong, primarily producing galena. It hit its peak in the 1930s with nearly 2,000 workers. Following WWII and a drop in global lead prices, the mine was gradually abandoned and officially shut down in 1962.

10. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《IV》

Uphill Section 《II》

After checking out the Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine, backtrack to the main trail and keep pushing toward the next stop: Robin’s Nest (紅花嶺).

11. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《V》

Looking up at Hung Fa Chai

Passing through this section, I thought the peak ahead was Robin’s Nest, but after checking the map at home, I realized it was actually Hung Fa Chai (紅花寨).

12. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《VI》

Lin Ma Hang Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《I》

Lin Ma Hang Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《II》

Lin Ma Hang Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《III》

Lin Ma Hang Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《IV》

Lin Ma Hang Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《V》

Lin Ma Hang Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《VI》

Chinese New Year Flower, Enkianthus 《I》

I didn’t expect to find so many Chinese New Year Flowers (吊鐘花) here in Robin’s Nest Country Park for hikers to enjoy.

13. 📍 Robin’s Nest – Ascent Entrance

Robin’s Nest – Ascent Entrance

After passing the flowers, you’ll hit a fork in the road. Turn right and head up to reach Robin’s Nest.

14. 📍 Robin’s Nest – Trig Station

Robin’s Nest (紅花嶺)

Starting from Lin Ma Hang Village, it’s a 1.1km trek along the mountain path that takes about 36 minutes to finally reach the Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine.

📷 Fun Fact:

Robin’s Nest (紅花嶺) is one of the highest peaks in the Northern District of the New Territories, standing at 492 meters. The terrain consists of rolling ridges, with the northern slopes featuring secondary forests and shrubland, while the southern slopes are mostly upland grasslands. This diverse landscape provides a great habitat for local biodiversity, making it a hotspot for hikers.

Route Breakdown
🏁 Finish 《Robin’s Nest → Ah Kung Kok → Shan Tsui Village》

15. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《VII》

Signpost: Lin Ma Hang Country Trail / Robin's Nest Country Trail / Shan Tsui

Dew on Grass 《Rusty-haired Raspberry / Snake Berry》

Chik Hang Teng (直坑頂)

After leaving Robin’s Nest, backtrack downhill to the fork and head towards Sha Tau Kok (沙頭角). You’ll spot the nearby peak, Chik Hang Teng, right ahead.

📷 Fun Fact:

Chik Hang Teng (直坑頂) sits at about 487m within the Country Park. The terrain is quite steep, making it a popular challenge for local hikers. The summit offers a killer view of the coastline stretching from Sha Tau Kok (沙頭角) to Shenzhen (深圳).

16. 📍 Lin Ma Hang / Robin’s Nest Country Trail – Junction / Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. V

Junction ofLin Ma Hang and Robin's Nest Country Trails 《I》

Junction ofLin Ma Hang and Robin's Nest Country Trails 《II》

Junction of Lin Ma Hang and Robin's Nest Country Trails - Panoramic View

Junction: Lin Ma Hang / Robin’s Nest Country Trail

About 4km and 4 hours in from the start at Lin Ma Hang Village, you’ll hit the end of the Lin Ma Hang Country Trail, which doubles as the start of the Robin’s Nest Country Trail. From this high ground, you can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the villages and peaks flanking Starling Inlet / Sha Tau Kok Hoi (沙頭角海).

17. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail 《I》

Distant View of Tiu Tang Lung / Sharp Peak 《I》

Distant View of Tiu Tang Lung / Sharp Peak 《II》

Robin's Nest Country Trail - Panoramic View 《I》

Distant View of Hung Fa Chai / Robin's Nest Pavilion 《I》

Distant View of Hung Fa Chai / Robin's Nest Pavilion 《II》

Robin's Nest Country Trail - Panoramic View 《II》

Robin’s Nest

Once you hop onto the Robin’s Nest Country Trail, the next targets are the Robin’s Nest Viewing Point and Hung Fa Chai in the distance.

18. 📍 Robin’s Nest Viewing Point

Distant View of Tiu Tang Lung / Cloudy Hill / Lung Shan

Looking Back Robin's Nest - Panoramic View

Robin's Nest Pavilion, Northward Facing - Information Board

Robin's Nest Pavilion, Eastward Facing - Information Board

Robin's Nest Country Trail, Robin's Nest / Hung Fa Chai - Panoramic View

Distant View of Crooked Island / Robinson Island 《I》

Robin's Nest Country Trail - Panoramic View 《III》

Robin’s Nest Viewing Point

A 1km walk from the trail start gets you to the Robin’s Nest Viewing Point. The panorama here is wide open—you can see all the way to Yantian, Shenzhen (深圳鹽田), plus a full view of the mountain ranges around Tiu Tang Lung (吊燈籠). It’s stunning on a clear day (though the drizzle and clouds didn’t stop me from enjoying the vibes!).

19. 📍 Hung Fa Chai

Hung Fa Chai

A short walk from the viewing point brings you to Hung Fa Chai (紅花寨).

20. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail 《II》

Hung Fa Chai, Mid-hill Path

As you walk along the side of Hung Fa Chai, the path gets quite narrow and sketchy, so watch your step and take it slow.

21. 📍 Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. IV

Discover Robin's Nest - Checkpoint IV 《I》

Discover Robin's Nest - Checkpoint IV 《II》

Robin's Nest Country Trail - Panoramic View 《IV》

Distant View of Tiu Tang Lung / Sharp Peak 《III》

Robin's Nest Country Park Ecology - Information Board

Robin's Nest, Wutong Mountain Ecological Corridor - Information Board

『Discover Robin’s Nest Country Park』 – Hiking Challenge

This challenge was set up to get people exploring Robin’s Nest Country Park (held from Nov 2024 to Feb 2025). Hikers had to hit 8 stations to win prizes like coasters or a titanium cup. It’s a cool way to appreciate the biodiversity and history of the area.

22. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail 《III》

Robin's Nest Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《I》

Robin's Nest Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《II》

Robin's Nest Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《III》

Robin's Nest Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《IV》

Robin's Nest Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《V》

Robin's Nest Country Trail, Chinese New Year Flower 《VI》

Robin’s Nest, Chinese New Year Flowers《II》

Leaving Station IV and heading for A Kung Kok (亞公角), you’ll find another cluster of Chinese New Year Flowers (吊鐘花). The trees here are shorter, making it way easier to snap a good photo of the blooms.

23. 📍 A Kung Kok / Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. III

Japanese Pillbox - Information Board 《I》

Distant View of Crooked Island / Robinson Island 《II》

Distant View of Crooked Island / Robinson Island 《III》

Distant View of Crooked Island / Robinson Island 《IV》

A Kung Kok Lookout

After trekking 7.3km and roughly 4.6 hours from the start, you finally arrive at A Kung Kok (亞公角).

📷 Fun Fact:

The A Kung Kok Lookout is located in the Sha Tau Kok area. Since this was once a restricted military zone, the area is dotted with relics like pillboxes and barracks. It’s a prime spot for photographers looking for epic sea views.

24. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail 《IV》

Downhill Section 《I》

Past A Kung Kok, it’s finally the “happy hour” of the hike—all downhill! A great chance to give those tired legs a break.

25. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail 《V》

Downhill Section 《II》

Keep cruising down the mountain path!

26. 📍 Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. II

Robin's Nest Country Trail - Distance Post

Robin's Nest Country Trail - Panoramic View

Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. II

Besides being Station. II, you’ll also find another trig station here.

27. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail – Short Trig Station

Robin’s Nest Country Trail – Short Trig Station

Here, we see another one of these strange – Short Trig Station. I wonder what the purpose of such a distance post is?

28. 📍 Shan Tsui Village Road , Japanese Pillbox Hill

Japanese Water Reservoir - Information Board

Japanese Pillbox - Information Board 《II》

Trench System and Weapon Pits - Information Board

Japanese Pillbox Hill

Heading down from the trig station, you’ll run into a pillbox. Turns out, this was a machine-gun nest built by the Japanese army.

📷 Fun Fact:

During WWII, after occupying HK in 1941, the Japanese army built fortifications around Shan Tsui Village (山咀村) to ward off guerilla attacks. This pillbox is one of the best-preserved of its kind in HK, featuring a well, observation posts, and gun mounts inside.

29. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail – Entrance / Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. I

Closure of Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine for Revitalisation Works - Information Board

Robin's Nest Country Park - Map Information Board 《III》

Robin's Nest Country Park - Map Information Board 《IV》

Robin's Nest Country Park - Information Board

The Entrance of Robin’s Nest Country Trail

After passing the pillbox, you’ll reach the foot of the hill, which is the official entrance (or exit for us!) of the Robin’s Nest Country Trail.

30. 📍 Shan Tsui Village Road

Shan Tsui Village Road

Follow Shan Tsui Village Road (山咀村路) toward Ha Tam Shui Hang Village (下担水坑村) along the paved road.

31. 📍 Finish: Sha Tau Kok Road, Shek Chung Au Section

Sha Tau Kok Road, Shek Chung Au Section 《I》

Sha Tau Kok Road, Shek Chung Au Section

Reaching the entrance of Ha Tam Shui Hang Village marks the end of the trip! Cross the road to Sha Tau Kok Road (沙頭角公路) and catch 《Green Minibus 55K》 back to MTR Sheung Shui Station

2025.01.26 SUN 【Hiking • 021】 Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine . Robin’s Nest . Sha Tau Kok 蓮麻坑 • 礦洞 . 紅花嶺 . 沙頭角

Route Overview

Here are the reference statistics for this journey:

Transport Guide

START

MTR East Rail Line – Sheung Shui Station

END

Sha Tau Kok Road, Tai Chung Au Section

Route Breakdown 🚩 Start 《Lin Ma Hang → Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine → Robin’s Nest》

1. 📍 Start: Lin Ma Hang Country Trail, Entrance

Lin Ma Hang, Entrance

2. 📍 Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. VIII

Robin’s Nest Country Park – Map Information Board

3. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《I》

Uphill Section 《I》

4. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail – Short Trig Station

The Charred Hillside

5. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《II》

Looking up at MacIntosh Fort

6. 📍 MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan) / Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. VII

MacIntosh Fort (Kong Shan)

7. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine, Entrance / Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. VI

Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine, Entrance

8. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《III》

The Path of Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine

9. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine

Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine

10. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《IV》

Uphill Section 《II》

11. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《V》

Looking up at Hung Fa Chai

12. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《VI》

Chinese New Year Flower, Enkianthus 《I》

13. 📍 Robin’s Nest – Ascent Entrance

Robin’s Nest – Ascent Entrance

14. 📍 Robin’s Nest – Trig Station

Robin’s Nest (紅花嶺)

Route Breakdown 🏁 Finish 《Robin’s Nest → Ah Kung Kok → Shan Tsui Village》

15. 📍 Lin Ma Hang Country Trail 《VII》

Chik Hang Teng (直坑頂)

16. 📍 Lin Ma Hang / Robin’s Nest Country Trail – Junction / Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. V

Junction: Lin Ma Hang / Robin’s Nest Country Trail

17. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail 《I》

Robin’s Nest

18. 📍 Robin’s Nest Viewing Point

Robin’s Nest Viewing Point

19. 📍 Hung Fa Chai

Hung Fa Chai

20. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail 《II》

Hung Fa Chai, Mid-hill Path

21. 📍 Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. IV

『Discover Robin’s Nest Country Park』 – Hiking Challenge

22. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail 《III》

Robin’s Nest, Chinese New Year Flowers《II》

23. 📍 A Kung Kok / Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. III

A Kung Kok Lookout

24. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail 《IV》

Downhill Section 《I》

25. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail 《V》

Downhill Section 《II》

26. 📍 Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. II

Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. II

27. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail – Short Trig Station

Robin’s Nest Country Trail – Short Trig Station

28. 📍 Shan Tsui Village Road , Japanese Pillbox Hill

Japanese Pillbox Hill

29. 📍 Robin’s Nest Country Trail – Entrance / Discovering Robin’s Nest – Station. I

The Entrance of Robin’s Nest Country Trail

30. 📍 Shan Tsui Village Road

Shan Tsui Village Road

31. 📍 Finish: Sha Tau Kok Road, Shek Chung Au Section

Sha Tau Kok Road, Shek Chung Au Section

2025.01.26 SUN 【Hiking • 021】

Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine . Robin’s Nest . Sha Tau Kok
蓮麻坑 • 礦洞 . 紅花嶺 . 沙頭角

Route Breakdown
🚩 Start 《Lin Ma Hang → Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine → Robin’s Nest》

Route Breakdown
🏁 Finish 《Robin’s Nest → Ah Kung Kok → Shan Tsui Village》