People & Places

Hiking the Cheung Sheung Trail

Footprints on the Hills - 1

by Ken Ng

Summit Development Consultant Group Ltd.

The Cheung Sheung Country Trail winds its way from Hoi Ha to Kei Ling Ha Hoi (Three Fathoms Cove) and Yung Shue O, high in the hills of the Sai Kung Country Park. You'll need about four hours to complete your walk of this 4.2 km trail.  

 

From the trailhead marker on Hoi Ha Road, it's a pleasant 2.2 km walk of about an hour through the forest followed by a climb up to the 280 metre-high Cheung Sheung highland. Paths extend from here in all directions, making it an ideal spot for a rest before continuing on.  

 

A rolling chain of mountains surrounds the highland, where villages are nestled in the woodlands, and streams, ponds and fields complete its pleasing wild picture. Shek Uk Shan is visible to the north and Wa Mei Shan to the south. The villages and schools at

Cheung Sheung have long been abandoned, but the

grassy fields, pond and swamp have become a valuable wetland for many small creatures.

 

A local villager has been operating a shop on the hill for many years but beware: it's only open on weekends and holidays and only sells necessities. The shop's herbal tea and 'dou fu fa' (sweet bean curd) are quite famous, so it's well worth a stop.

 

Follow the sign to Au Men for a 2 km walk through the famous 'Jacob's Ladder' ('sky stairs' in Cantonese) towards Yung Shue O.  On the way, you'll get a grand view of the wonderful scenery of Kei Ling Ha Hoi (Three Fathoms Cove) and if the sky is clear, to the north you'll see the Tolo highway, Tai Po and Pat Sin Mountains.  

 

It takes about an hour to reach Yung Shue O Village and, from there it's a 3 km walk to Sai Sha Road where you can catch a bus to Sai Kung or Shatin.