🌿 【Double Haven Country Trail (印洲塘 郊遊徑)】 is a scenic hiking route in the northeast New Territories of Hong Kong, nestled within Plover Cove Country Park and Yan Chau Tong Marine Park. Starting from Wu Kau Tang, the trail passes through Kau Tam Tso, Sheung Miu Tin, and Ha Miu Tin, stretching all the way to Sam A Chung and Sam A Tsuen before finishing at Lai Chi Wo—a Hakka walled village with over 300 years of history. The whole hike is around 8 to 13 km long and takes about 3 to 6 hours, making it a moderate route. —
📌 Basic Information
Category Details 🗺️ Route Name Double Haven Country Trail 📍 Start / End Points Start: Wu Kau Tang | End: Lai Chi Wo 📏 Total Distance Around 8 km for the main trail; up to 13.2 km if you tackle the Sai Lau Kong detour ⏱️ Hiking Time Around 3 to 6 hours, depending on whether you take the detour and how long you rest 🧗♂️ Difficulty Moderate to challenging; some sections are quite rugged, so proper hiking shoes with good grip are highly recommended 🌄 Landscape Features Sedimentary rock landforms, pink rock beach (Sam A Chung), mangroves, mudflats, streams, and calm bays 🧭 Places Passed Kau Tam Tso, Sheung Miu Tin, Ha Miu Tin, Sam A Chung, Sam A Tsuen, Ngau Shi Wu, Sai Lau Kong, and Lai Chi Wo 🐾 Ecological Highlights Fiddler crabs, mudskippers, White-flowered Derris, mangroves, Illigera (flowering season: March–May), and the Hollow Tree 🏘️ Cultural Attractions Lai Chi Wo Hakka Village (over 400 years of history), Geo-Education Centre, feng shui wood, and the fishing village culture at Sam A Tsuen 🛳️ Transport Going there: Green Minibus 20R or Bus 275R from Tai Po Market Station to Wu Kau Tang | Heading back: Ferry from Lai Chi Wo to Ma Liu Shui (weekends and public holidays only) 🏝️ Surrounding Islands Wong Wan Chau, Ngo Mei Chau, Kat O, Pak Ka Chau, etc., all within the Yan Chau Tong Marine Park area 📸 Photo Hotspots Pink Rock Beach (Sam A Chung), Lai Chi Wo Viewing Platform, autumn foliage at Kau Tam Tso, and the Hollow Tree 🧴 Refuel & Amenities Local stores (stores), rest pavilions, and public toilets are available at Sam A Tsuen and Lai Chi Wo ⚠️ Things to Note Certain sections can get flooded during high tide, so be sure to check the Hong Kong Observatory’s tide tables before you go; gear up for sun protection, mosquitoes, and chilly weather — This country trail is famous for its incredible mix of natural scenery and cultural heritage. Along the way, you can soak in the serene bays and lush green hills of Yan Chau Tong—widely known as the “Little Guilin of Hong Kong”—and check out the natural wonder of Sam A Chung’s coast, where iron-rich sandstone has oxidized into a unique pink rock beach. You will also get to discover the ancient Hakka culture, feng shui woods, and old Looking-glass Trees at Lai Chi Wo, while spotting fiddler crabs and mudskippers hanging out in the mangroves and mudflats. The final stop, Lai Chi Wo, is a Hakka walled village dating back over 300 years. Its houses are neatly arranged along the hillside, protected by a surrounding wall, backed by a feng shui wood, and facing right out onto Double Haven, perfectly preserving its traditional rural charm. Inside the village, the old schoolhouse has been turned into the Siu Ying Story House, showcasing oral histories and local artifacts that bring the area’s history, culture, and vibrant past back to life. —
🗺 Detailed Route Breakdown
🔹 1. Wu Kau Tang ➡ Kau Tam Tso
- The trailhead features a pavilion and a map information board.
- You’ll head past streams and along shaded mountain paths lined with Sweet Gum trees, which burst into vibrant red foliage every December.
- Kau Tam Tso is a quiet, peaceful little plain.
🔹 2. Kau Tam Tso ➡ Sheung Miu Tin ➡ Ha Miu Tin
- Pass by rocky streams and the ruins of old villages, with stone tablets marking the way.
- Plenty of shade and flat paths, making it a great spot for taking photos and plant-watching.
🔹 3. Ha Miu Tin ➡ Sam A Chung ➡ Sam A Tsuen
- Sam A Chung features a rare pink rock beach, formed by the oxidation of iron-bearing sandstone.
- The trail has rope handrails to help you get through the wetlands when the tide rolls in.
- Sam A Tsuen has local stores where you can grab a bite and refuel, and it also serves as the junction for the detour path.
🔹 4. Detour: Sam A Tsuen ➡ Ngau Shi Wu ➡ Sai Lau Kong (Optional)
- Distance post markers C2717–C2721, spanning about 2.6 km. The round trip takes around 2.5 hours.
🔹 5. Sam A Tsuen ➡ Lai Chi Wo (Continuing the main trail)
- The coastline is packed with thriving mangrove ecology, where you can spot intertidal creatures like mudskippers and fiddler crabs.
- Lai Chi Wo features a Geo-Education Centre and a viewing platform that overlooks the entire Double Haven bay.
- Lai Chi Wo is a Hakka walled village with over 400 years of history, beautifully preserving its traditional architecture and feng shui wood.
— To get to the Double Haven Country Trail, you can hop on green minibus 20R from MTR Tai Po Market Station, or take bus 275R (which only runs on Sundays and public holidays) to Wu Kau Tang to kick off your hike. For the return trip, you can either hike back the way you came or take a kaito ferry from Lai Chi Wo Pier back to Ma Liu Shui (note that this ferry service only operates on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays). Since some sections of the trail can be quite rugged and refueling spots are limited along the way, hikers are advised to wear proper non-slip hiking shoes, pack enough food and water, and stay protected from the sun. —
🚍 Transport Arrangements
Getting There Heading Back (If not returning the same way) Take green minibus 20R from MTR Tai Po Market Station to Wu Kau Tang Take the ferry from Lai Chi Wo Pier to Ma Liu Shui (only available on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays; boat departs at 3:30 PM) ⚠️ Take Note: There is only one ferry departure per day—if you miss it, you’ll have to hike all the way back. —
🌄 Natural & Cultural Highlights
🔬 Geological Wonders
- The sedimentary rock strata are clearly defined, and the pink rock beach formed by oxidized iron-rich sandstone is a rare natural sight in Hong Kong.
- The pink rock beach located at Sam A Chung is a massive photo hotspot.
🌱 Mangrove Ecology
- The intertidal zone is teeming with life, including fiddler crabs, mudskippers, and White-flowered Derris.
- The junction where the mudflats meet the mangroves in Lai Chi Wo is a real biodiversity hotspot.
🏘️ Hakka Culture
- The village houses in Lai Chi Wo are built along the hillside, preserving the classic layout of a traditional walled village.
- With over 400 years of history, this Hakka walled village has kept its ancestral halls, ancient wells, and feng shui wood intact.
- The Geo-Education Centre displays everyday items used by past villagers alongside ecological facts.
- The Siu Ying Story House showcases oral histories and historical artifacts from the villagers.
- Guided tours are available on weekends and public holidays to give you a deeper look into the village culture.
🏝️ Peaceful Bay Scenery
- The Sai Lau Kong detour section offers great views of the geological wonders known as the Six Treasures of Double Haven, which symbolize a scholar’s desk: Pak Ka Chau (the pen rack), Kat O (the brush tip), Wu Pai (the inkstone), and Yan Chau (the imperial seal).
- Dubbed the “Little Guilin of Hong Kong”, Double Haven is a picture-perfect paradise of calm, glassy waters surrounded by rolling hills.
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📸 Top Photo Spots
Location Photography Tips Pink Rock Beach (Sam A Chung) Shoot from a low angle to capture the texture of the rock layers against the blue sky and sea. Lai Chi Wo Viewing Platform Use a wide-angle lens to capture the panoramic view of the entire bay and islands. The Hollow Tree Stand inside the tree hollow for a shot that creates a beautiful, natural frame. Kau Tam Tso Autumn Foliage Area Shoot against the light under the Sweet Gum trees for a poetic, dreamy autumn vibe. Panoramic View of the Six Treasures of Double Haven (Pak Ka Chau, Kat O, Wu Pai, etc.) Best captured along the Sai Lau Kong detour section. Historic Hakka Village & Geo-Education Centre The Hakka walled village has over 400 years of history, retaining its traditional ancestral halls, ancient wells, and feng shui wood. —
⚠️ Things to Keep in Mind
- The ferry only runs on weekends and public holidays, leaving promptly at 3:30 PM.
- The red rock path floods easily, so it is best to check the Hong Kong Observatory’s tide schedules beforehand.
- You can find local stores and basic snacks/drinks at Sam A Tsuen and Lai Chi Wo.
- Set off early in the morning so you don’t run the risk of missing the ferry back.
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