Central New Territories
Due north of Kowloon, this part of the New Territories is little more than a continuation of urban Kowloon, which begins with Tai Wai before arriving at the original and still bustling Hong Kong new town, Sha Tin. While there’s nothing remarkable about Sha Tin, it enjoys a pleasant riverside setting, holds Hong Kong’s second racecourse, a fine Heritage Museum, the atmospheric 10,000 Buddha Monastery and all of this is less than half an hour away by KCR.
Hong KongHeritageMuseum, 1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin (Wed-Mon 10 am-6 pm; HK$10; Sha Tin KCR). See our Hong Kong Museum section.
♥♥ 10,000 Buddhas Monastery, Sha Tin (daily 9 am-5 pm; free; Sha Tin KCR, Exit B). Although it’s a comparatively new monastery, the 10,000 Buddhas is certainly worth the climb. The path is lined with golden arhats and when you arrive you’ll be greeted by the arresting sight of a vast collection of miniature statues of Sakyamuni, actually numbering 13,000.
 |
Many of the statues are quite unusual – look out for the statue of Sakyamuni astride a dog. In the small annex behind the main temple, you’ll find the body of the temple’s founding monk, now enshrined in gold leaf, whose mole reputedly continues to grow hair!
You’ll also find it hard to miss the bright red gleaming pagoda that dominates the complex and even features on some Hong Kong HK$100 bank notes. If the walk up to the monastery has stimulated your appetite there’s also a good vegetarian restaurant (set meal HK$50) on-site.
To get to the monastery look for the IKEA store just outside the KCR station where you’ll see the first sign and from here it’s about a 30-minute walk.
10,000 Buddhas Monastery
|
Sha Tin Racecourse (Sha Tin Racecourse KCR). Sha Tin racecourse was built in 1978 and may not have quite the history of its older sister, Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island, but the atmosphere at the 83,000-capacity course is electric nonetheless. You can also see the world’s longest video screen here, extending an amazing 257 feet. Race schedules vary so it’s best to check in advance.
Western New Territories
The western part of the New Territories has experienced a great deal of change over the last 25 years, due to the rapidly inflating population in Kowloon and new towns have quickly developed. Only eight or nine miles from Kowloon, TsuenWan is the biggest new town in this part of the territories, while Tuen Mun is another new center out in the northwest and marks the end point of the cross territory Mac Lehose Trail.
While neither town is a particularly interesting place to visit, Tsuen Wan is well connected by MTR, KCR West Rail and boat. It offers a few worthwhile destinations, including an ancient walled village and a couple of religious sights that can make for an easy day-trip. North of here, 3,140-foot Tai Mo Shan is Hong Kong’s highest peak, making for a steep climb, though the summit itself is fenced off.
♥ Sam Tung Uk Museum, 2 Kwu Uk Lane, Tsuen Wan ( 00852-2411-2001; Wed-Mon 9 am-5 pm, free; Tsuen Wan MTR, Exit E). This ancient Hakka walled village was first built in 1786 by migrants from Fujian and was inhabited until the 1970s, after which it was restored to serve as a portal into the past. See our Hong Kong Museum section.
♥ Yuen Yuen Institute, Sam Dip Tam, Tsuen Wan (www.yuenyuen.org.hk; daily 8:30 am-5:30 pm, free; Tsuen Wan MTR, Exit B1). For some insight into China’s principle three religions, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, the Yuen Yuen Institute is a good place to start, although you won’t be alone. The temples are popular with both tourists and locals. The expansive compound enjoys an attractive hillside location and incorporates a host of temples including houses of worship for each of the Chinese birth signs and a main structure resembling Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. There’s also a good vegetarian restaurant here. To get here, take minibus #81 from Shiu Wo Street near Tsuen Wan MTR.
♥♥ Chuk Lam Shim Yuen Monastery, Fu Yung Shan, Tseung Wan (daily 9 am-5 pm; free; Tsuen Wan MTR, Exit B1). If you want a quieter religious experience this hillside monastery sees fewer tourists and seems like a much more authentic place of worship. The monastery is contained within tranquil grounds and you’ll often see monks chanting prayers in the temple at the far end of the compound. To get here take the MTR to Tsuen Wan then a taxi or minibus #85 from Shiu Wo Street.
Northern New Territories
The northern New Territories are accessed easily by the KCR and stretch up to the Hong Kong border at Lo Wu, offering distractions such as the Wishing Trees at Tai Po, Kadoorie Farm and the walled village at Fanling along the way. In the east, Plover Cove Country Park is a lovely area, while wildlife is the focus of the new Wetland Park in the west, and ornithologists will delight in the Mai Po Marshes (although you’ll need to book long in advance for one of their organized tours).
♥ Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po ( www.kfbg.org.hk; 9:30 am-5 pm, no entrance permitted after 4 pm; free; Tai Wo KCR). Established in the early 1950s, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Gardens is a vast green sanctuary set on one of Hong Kong’s highest peaks (Kwun Yum Shan) and gives the opportunity to see some of the region’s fantastic flora and fauna. The project was set up by the wealthy Jewish brothers, Horace and Lawrence Kadoorie, with the aim of promoting self-reliance and sustainable agriculture in the dwindling local farming community. All visitors must call in advance to arrange a visit. Guided tours of the park run with a minimum of 20 people or you can join the tourist office’s Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Experience Tour on Mondays. To get here without a tour, take the KCR to TaiWo and then a 20-minute bus ride on route #64K to the park.
♥The Wishing Trees, Lam Tsuen Village, Tai Po ( 00852-2654-1262; Tai Po Market KCR and then bus #64). Just 20 minutes from Tai Po Market, Lam Tsuen valley contains the extraordinary Tai Po wishing trees. These large Chinese banyans offer the chance for your wishes to come true and are a popular pilgrimage site. To try your hand, you need to throw a brightly colored streamer attached to an orange (known as bao die) into the branches. Only if your orange stays in the tree will your wish come true, so it’s worth watching the locals first! If your bao die falls back to the ground, superstition says you were too greedy with your wish. It’s a particularly busy spot throughout the Chinese New Year celebrations, with people from all over the region visiting to make their New Year’s wishes come true.
♥ Plover Cove Country Park, Tai Mei Tuk (Tai Po KCR and then bus 75K). This country park centers on a reservoir that was created when a former sea bay was dammed in the 1960s. The park has a variety of hiking trails offering fine views, pretty pools and perhaps even a glimpse of Hong Kong’s largest fauna, including barking deer. Routes include the Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail from Tai Mei Tuk to Bride’s Pools (where you can camp) and a marked circular walk around the park which takes an hour to complete. There’s a hostel and visitor center in Tai Mei Tuk.
Hong Kong Wetland Park (www.wetlandpark.com; Wed-Mon 10 am-5 pm; HK$30; Wetland Park Light Rail Station). Hong Kong’s Wetland Park opened to great fanfare in May 2006 offering visitors the opportunity to experience some of the region’s most precious habitats. Its first few months were marred by the actions of a few visitors who clearly couldn’t care less about the environment as they noisily discarded litter into the wetlands. Measures have since been taken to educate the un-environmentally savvy and the park is big enough to ensure that you get a chance to be at one with nature; but try to come during the week to avoid the crowds.
The park contains a visitor center and some 150 acres of wetlands to explore, all well laid-out with boardwalks, lookout towers and viewing decks. There are so many different routes through the park that you should pick up a map from the visitors center so you can find your way. To get here you can join the tourist office Wetland Park tour (contact the tourist office) or jump on the KCR to Tin Shui Wai and change onto the light rail to the Wetlands Park.
Eastern New Territories
This is Hong Kong’s least developed zone, which makes it an outstanding place to really experience the wilder side of the territory. The Sai Kung peninsula and ClearWater Bay to the south offer Hong Kong’s best beaches and a host of kayaking and hiking opportunities (see Adventures, p. 539) and if you’re seeking serious escape this is the place to come.
The Sai Kung Peninsula
The Sai Kung Peninsula offers some of the best vistas in Hong Kong, full of rugged headlands and clusters of small islands. The whole area is covered with lush vegetation and foliage. The potential for walks through the country is endless.
The main town, Sai Kung, is also a pleasant escape, retaining a sleepy laid-back atmosphere, centered on an old fishing port. There are a number of good seafood restaurants, cafés and bars that cater to the expats who have taken up residence in the area. Sai Kung also makes a great place to explore the nearby islands and beaches. You can rent sampans from the harbor (HK$50 per 30 minutes) and a short trip will give you a brief glimpse of the coastline, but you’re better off negotiating a price for a half-day so that you can go out and really explore. Two of the best islands to head for are Tai Long Wan and Yim Tin Tsai, which remain quiet and remote.
♥♥♥ Sai Kung Country Park, Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung. The highlight of any trip to this spectacular area is a visit to the Sai Kung Country Park (divided into eastern and western sections), which covers a vast part of the eastern New Territories. Virgin Forest and lush grasslands cover the park, dropping down to secluded golden sand beaches. The area has been a country park since 1978 and has escaped the development of the surrounding areas. The country park offers some of the best hiking in Hong Kong and sections of the Mac Lehose Trail pass through here, along with plenty of other rambles. With so many possible options and limited public transport, you’ll need careful planning in order to maximize your time in the park and it’s worth sitting down with the staff at the tourist office before your visit. On arrival you could also pay a visit to the Sai Kung Country Park Visitor Center (Wed-Mon 9:30-4:30 pm) in Pak Tam Chung, which provides a whole range of information about the area, including some free maps. Although it is possible to visit the area in one very long and tiring day, it’s best to come for a few nights. Hostels are the order of the day here, and they offer some fantastic locations, along with useful advice about the area. To get to the Sai Kung Country Park, take bus #94 from Sai Kung in the direction of Wong Shek Pier, which takes about 20 minutes.
♥♥ Clear Water Bay lives up to its name and offers some of the most beautiful coastline in the New erritories. The terrain that engulfs the bay is rugged and green, providing attractive vistas over the coastal area, especially on clear days. Two of the best and most popular beaches are the originally named Beach
One and Beach Two, which offer pristine golden beaches and, you guessed it, clear waters. It’s also worth taking a walk to the Tin Hau Temple, the oldest in Hong Kong. To get there, walk south along the
road from the Clear Water bus stop until you see the Golf and Country Club and follow the signs for the Tin Hau Temple that will lead you along a small path from the club car park. The temple dates back to 1274 and has been re-built and renovated many times over the years. Getting to Clear Water Bay is easy – take bus #91 from Choi Hung MTR or Diamond Hill MTR to the Tai Au Mun bus terminus overlooking Clear Water Bay. It takes about 40 minutes.
Visiting the New Territories (Part 1)
Visiting Hong Kong Island:
Visiting Kowloon and the Harbour
Visiting the Outlying Islands: Lamma Island, Lantau, Cheung Chau Island
Hong Kong Festivals
Back to
Hong Kong travel guide homepage