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Views of the lit-up skyline and harbour, an attempt at seeing the stars. These are our picks of the best night hikes in Hong Kong.

With over 75 percent of Hong Kong covered in greenery, it's hard to keep track of all the reservoirs, waterfalls and peaks this stunning city has to offer. But if you find the sticky, humid heat too much to bear, try making tracks at night — it’s an entirely different experience: cooler, less demanding and star-lit (or perhaps, skyscraper-lit).

Some things to know about hiking at night:

• As with all hikes, hike with one more person (at the very least). You’re safest in a group, of course, but it’s always good to have someone with you if you get lost or injured.
• Go for a trail you or a companion are already comfortable and familiar with — don’t try out a new one for the first time at night. Start with something easier and build your confidence.
• Bring a handheld torch light or headlamp, and backups. Your phone’s flashlight won’t cut it.
• Bring everything you need and more. Government countryside maps, ropes, kneepads, gloves — you name it. There’s no harm in bringing it. And pack plenty of water.

The Peak (Pok Fu Lam to The Peak)

Let’s start with the Hong Kong skyline! There's no need to explain this one — the view from Victoria Peak at night is stunning. This is a relatively easy trek through lovely greenery with more than one lookout point. Start at the Pok Fu Lam Country Park entrance and keep walking on Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road. You have an option here to make your way to the Mount High West viewing point that’s located within the country park. Otherwise, follow along the road to Lugard Road, stop at the lookout and then finally make your way to The Peak Tower.

You can take any bus to the Pok Fu Lam Country Park’s entrance on Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road (including buses NWFB 30X and 4X, CTB 7 and Green Minibus 22 from Central). To cut this hike by half, start at Lugard Road.

Distance: 6km (3.5mi) | Duration: 2-3 hours | Difficulty: Beginner

Braemar Hill (Sir Cecil's Ride)

Easy with a simple trail — this one is perfect for a brand new night hiker. Skip waiting at the summit for the city lights to come on by starting after sunset. To avoid missing any viewpoints, start from Mount Butler and take Sir Cecil's Ride up to Red Incense Burner Summit. Take your time with this one and feel free to venture off the main trail (but not too far!) to get sweeping views of Central, the Harbour and Kowloon. Braemar Hill's viewing point is just a little way up from Red Incense Burner Summit.

You can take the MTR to Admiralty Station and catch a 24M Green Minibus and alight at "Mount Butler Block C & D". To cut this hike to a walk, you can always make your way to the Braemar Hill bus terminus (or any nearby bus stop) and do a short walk up to the Braemar Hill viewing point.

Distance: 3km (1.8mi) | Duration: 1 hour | Difficulty: Beginner

Kowloon Peak

Be warned, this one is for experienced hikers. While not the most gruelling in the day, it's always good to be careful when hiking at night. Try hiking this one in daylight before committing as it can be very overwhelming in the dark — but the view is spectacular and worth the treacherous climb. (Please note: The hike has some parts that require using rope.)

Kowloon Peak is part of Ma On Shan Country Park and boasts the infamous "suicide" cliff that happens to make for a really beautiful photo spot — with caution. Inside the park, make your way to Fei Ngo San Road where you'll find a pagoda and the Kowloon Peak Viewing Point. You'll be able to see Lion Rock, Mount Davis, Victoria Peak, and Mount Butler — and plenty more — from here. Hike across Elephant Hill to reach the summit and then descend (very carefully) to the cliff where you'll be greeted with panoramic views. Take your time!

You can take the MTR to City One Station on the Tuen Ma line, and then take a minibus (like Green Minibuses 65A and 65K) from Exit D. Alight at Wong Nai Tau Bus Terminus.

Distance: 9km (5.6mi) | Duration: 4-5 hours | Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

Devil’s Peak

This beginner-friendly historic hike is an easy and relatively short trek. Named for the pirates that captured the area during the Ming Dynasty, the hill was later seized by the British who built military stations, including gun batteries. It starts at a former fishing village and travelling past ruins and relics, including Gough Battery and Pottinger Battery (mostly lost to vegetation). If you can, start just before sunset.

Make your way to Yau Tong Station and take Exit A1 into Domain Mall. Take the escalators to the mall’s ground floor and exit from the back (next to Tai Hing Restaurant) and get on to Ko Chiu Road. Walk past Lei Yue Mun Estate, take a right and walk uphill towards Tseung Kwan O Permanent Cemetery until you see the Wilson Trail ‘Pau Tai Shan’ (Devil’s Peak) entrance.

Distance: 3-4.4km (1.8-2.7mi) | Duration: 1-2 hours | Difficulty: Beginner

The Twin Peaks (Violet Hill)

Ah, the terrible twins. In fact, maybe the non-pros should just skip this entry — this is probably the most challenging hike on the list. Still here? The hike past Twin Peaks and Violet Hill takes you from Wong Nai Chung Reservoir to Stanley. Part of the first stage of Hong Kong's Wilson Trail, this hike features beautiful greenery and blooms, mountains and water. End at Stanley Gap Road.

Make your way to Wong Nai Chung Reservoir — from Central, you can take Citybus 6 and Green Minibus 66 to Parkview on Tai Tam Reservoir Road.

Distance: 5km (3.1mi) | Duration: 2-3 hours | Difficulty: Advanced

Garden Hill

Expect plenty of hikers with camera equipment around you — Garden Hill is popular with night photographers. Less of a hike, this "urban trek" (read: a 15-minute walk) is on the list because it really is a lovely spot at night to look out across the city from.

There are few ways to do this walk. You can take the MTR either to Shek Kip Mei Station and start from Exit A or to Sham Shui Po Station and start from Exit D2. Make your way to Mei Ho House and then walk up the hill.

Distance: about 1km (0.6mi) | Duration: 10-20 minutes | Difficulty: Beginner

( Hero and featured image courtesy of Chi Hung Wong via Unsplash, image 1 courtesy of Tobias Mrzyk via Unsplash, image 2 courtesy of Ed 259 via Unsplash)

The post The Best Night Hikes in Hong Kong appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Learn a little about our home's past on these hikes with history in Hong Kong.

With over 75 percent of Hong Kong being greenery, it's hard to keep track of all the mountains and reservoirs and peaks this stunning city has to offer. Take a trip back in time, far away from flashier new building to delve into the past with these heritage trails, declared monuments and historical sights.

Ping Shan Heritage Trail

The very first of its kind in Hong Kong, this heritage trail is in the Ping Shan area of Yuen Long. It passes through historical sights dating as far back as the 12^th century when the Tang Clan (one of the Five Great Clans of the New Territories) settled in the area. The 1993-inaugurated trail features walled villages, ancestral halls with courtyards, and declared protected monuments and buildings. Keep your eye out for the Hung Shing Temple, built by the Tang Clan during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, and the Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda, built over 600 years ago – the only ancient pagoda in Hong Kong.

Take the MTR to Tin Shui Wai Station, exit E3. Go any day except Tuesday and make sure to start early, sites close by 5pm. Find out more here and here.

Distance: 1.6km (0.9mi) | Duration: Under an hour | Difficulty: Beginner

Cape D'Aguilar

A #hkig favourite, this truly scenic trek has everything from rock formations to a pre-war lighthouse, surreal caves and relics. It’s an easy 8km walk (round trip) that comes with stunning views. Make time for this – you’re sure to make plenty of detours and take photos. Pass through the tiny Hok Tsui Village, walk around the PCCW Radio Transmitting station, and visit sights including the Cape D’Aguilar Lighthouse, the Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve, the Crab Cave, beach, and (of course!) the Thunder Cave. The Cape D’Aguilar Lighthouse, also known as the Hok Tsui Beacon, is the oldest in Hong Kong - it's one of five pre-war surviving lighthouses and began service in 1875.

You can make your way to Cape D'Aguilar by catching a number 9 (NWFB) bus at Shau Kei Wan MTR station, Exit A3. Make sure to find a bus that clearly says Cape D’Aguilar, either "via" or "terminating at" - other number 9 buses skip the stop entirely.

Distance: 4-8km (2.5-5mi) | Duration: 1-3 hours | Difficulty: Beginner

Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail

This stunning reservoir offers a brilliant trek through one of Hong Kong's six pre-war reservoirs. Full of waterworks heritage, 22 out of Hong Kong's 41 historic waterworks structures fall along the Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail. Go on a blue-sky sunny (but not too hot!) day for the best experience: this hike has masonry bridges over crystal clear water, and aqueducts and reservoir dams all shrouded in beautiful green - some dating as far back as 1883.

You can take public transport to Wong Nai Chung Gap near Hong Kong Parkview or to the junction of Tai Tam Road and Tai Tam Reservoir Road where the trail is located.

Distance: 5km (3.1mi) | Duration: 2 hours | Difficulty: Moderate

Pinewood Battery Heritage Trail

Just a walk away from the Peak, this trail is centred around a historic military site within the Lung Fu Shan Country Park. Dating back to 1901, it was built as a fort and later used as an air defence battery - the highest coastal defence in Hong Kong, at 307 metres above sea level. During the Battle of Hong Kong, the battery came under repeated air raids and was severely damaged by the Japanese. The site features ruins, all heavily shelled, and on a clear day, you'll be able to spot the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir and even Lamma Island.

You can go to the Peak and walk to where Lugard Road intersects with Harlech Road, then turn on to Hatton Road and either follow along the road or take the Lung Fu Shan Fitness Trail up to Mount High West until Pinewood Battery. Including this walk, the trek is about 2.3 to 2.5km.

Distance: 0.45-2.5km (1.5mi) | Duration: 20-40 minutes | Difficulty: Beginner

Shing Mun War Relics Trail

The shortest part of the MacLehose Trail, this is a great way to have a go at the famous 100km hiking trail and get your dose of history in one. This 250-metre section is on the slope of Smuggler’s Ridge of Shing Mun and Kam Shan Country Parks. As the name suggests, this is full of relics from the second world war. Part of the British military defensive Gin Drinker’s Line, it features marker stones, pillboxes, and underground tunnels named after streets in London. You’ll be able to find embedded bullets and even carvings made by Japanese soldiers who captured the redoubt. For a longer hike - just follow along and join the rest of the MacLehose Trail.

The start of the trail is through the memorial arch that leads to section six of the MacLehose Trail. You can take the green 82 minibus from Tsuen Wan Shiu Wo Street and get off at the Ho Fung College bus stop near the Shing Mun Reservoir/Shing Mun Country Park Visitor Centre. Go from the Pineapple Dam to Barbecue Site No. 5 up to the MacLehose Trail Memorial Arch. Find out more here - make sure to hit 'Eng' at the top!

Distance: 0.25km (0.1mi) | Duration: Over half an hour | Difficulty: Beginner

Devil’s Peak

An easy and relatively short trek, this is the perfect scenic hike for beginners. Named for the pirates that captured the area during the Ming Dynasty, the hill was later seized by the British who built military stations, including gun batteries. Gough Battery, built in 1898, was bombarded by a Japanese unit during the Battle of Hong Kong. Keep an eye for ruins of the Pottinger Battery (mostly lost to vegetation) as well as sweeping scenes of Junk Bay and more – for the best view, go before sunset.

Make your way to Yau Tong Station and take exit A1 into Domain Mall. Take the escalators to the mall’s ground floor and exit from the back (next to Tai Hing Restaurant) and get on to Ko Chiu Road. Walk past Lei Yue Mun Estate, take a right and walk uphill towards Tseung Kwan O Permanent Cemetery until you see the Wilson Trail ‘Pau Tai Shan’ (Devil’s Peak) entrance.

Distance: 3-4.4km (1.8-2.7mi) | Duration: 1-2 hours | Difficulty: Beginner

Wong Nai Chung Gap Trail

This relatively peaceful trail actually marks the terrain of battle: the Battle of Wong Nai Chung Gap – when Japanese forces overran British troops, leading them to surrender on Christmas Day of 1941. This hike marks key moments from the day - stop at every station to explore abandoned world war two ruins including old bunkers, pillboxes lost to vegetation, and anti-aircraft batteries.

Take any bus to Wong Nai Chung Reservoir and walk towards Parkview. The Wong Nai Chung Gap Trail entrance is opposite Parkview, next to the entrance for Wilson Trail to Jardine’s Lookout.

Distance: 3km (1.8mi) | Duration: 1-2 hours | Difficulty: Moderate

Tung O Ancient Trail

Also known as the Tung Tai Trail, this heritage trail takes you from Tung Chung to Tai O village. Before the development of the residential Tung Chung area, this used to be the main route between villages, dating as far back as the Song Dynasty. You’ll find old Chinese settlements along the way, ending at probably the most famous (and the very last) fishing village in Hong Kong: Tai O. Keep an eye out for traditional shrines amongst the greenery and mangroves, as well as the beautiful waterways and houses on stilts in Tai O.

Take exit A at the Tung Chung MTR station and make your way to the Hau Wong Temple (it was built in 1756!), where you can start the trail.

Distance: 15km (9.3mi) | Duration: 4-5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate

Dr Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail

This list wouldn’t be complete with at least one urban walk. Technically not a green hike – the Dr Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail is still a lovely trek with a lot of history. The walking tour follows Dr Sun’s education in Hong Kong, schools he attended, places he lived at, as well as the sites of revolutionary activities. Revitalised by the government, this heritage trail is full of beautiful art installations and plaques – perfect for photo-ops. Find out more here.

Distance: 3.3km (mi) | Duration: 2 hours | Difficulty: Beginner

(Hero image courtesy of Chingleung via Wikimedia Commons, featured image courtesy of Sakina Abidi, image 4 courtesy of Wishva de Silva via Wikimedia Commons, image 7 courtesy of Starcopter via Wikimedia Commons)

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