Hiking to Tong Fuk

[dengxi]

Can anyone recommend a roughly 4 hour hike ending in Tong Fuk in Lantau? Thinking to go from Pui O along the coast, but can't find many details on the best route. Thanks.

[Gruntfuttock]

Get the ferry to Mui Wo, walk up the Old Village Path to Nam Shan, then pick up the South Lantau Country Trail, walking it's entire length (crossing the Tung Chung Road at Pak Kung Au). When you reach the catchwater at the end of the long descent then turn right, walk for about 1.5km to where a road branches off to the left, downhill. Go down that road, left at the roundabout, then left again when you reach the main road to enter Tong Fuk.

[HowardCoombs]

Grunt's suggestion is good.
An alternate would be to start in TaiO and walk along the coastal route in a southerly, counter clockwise fashion. Fairly flat and easy with couple of small sections on the main road.

[Elegiaque]

The South Lantau Country Trail would be spectacular if this visibility holds up this weekend! Here's some info and map: http://www.hkwalkers.net/eng/trail_l...troduction.htm

[dengxi]

Thanks all! So about 3.5 hours for the South Lantau Country Trail? Nice trail?

How does it compare with the Tai O route in terms of scenery, and how long is the Tai O one?

[Morrison]

it all depends on weather conditions
today is good, tomorrow should be fine as well, high visibility

however, often you can't see the littel islands that are a km or two away.

I have hiked all over places here and I recommend the following, forget about TongFuk

take a bus to Shek Pik water reservoir ( get off before the reservoir starts and walk a few minutes back)
There is a wood pavilion next to the street,walk to the catchwater,
pass the catchwater and take the trail up to big buddha.
it's all easy to find
It's a slow ascend ( though a few stairs at the beginning ) up to the big buddha
and you can see the buddha from a distance.
it takes about 90 minutes

then walk past the buddha down the main street UNTIL after about 15-20 minutes there is a smaller street to your right. Walk that small street to what appears to be a temple but is a columbarium, where they store ashes of the deceased.
When you stand in front of that building, to your left are stairs down.
That area is particularly nice as there are many statues and temples, even a Japanese style monastery.
In front of that Jap bldg there is a sign for the trail to TaiO.

That should take around 4 hours.

from TaiO take bus 1 for 5 dollars or so to TongFuk

At some of the temples you can also have a meal, unfortunately in exchange for cold hard cash....

so even if visibility is bad, you can still see many temples and statues

[dengxi]

Morrison, I think you mean coming from the S-E heading west on the bus to Shek Pik? Is the path up to the buddha you are referring to the Shek Pik country trail? Then Ngong Ping road down to Sham Wat road and across?

http://goo.gl/maps/ElQWE - I think you mean we walk down from B to A on this map once we get to the buddha
http://goo.gl/maps/ucIxj - is this the Japanese building you mean?

Planning to go for food in Tong Fuk so no need to eat. Buddha's not a priority for me, but don't mind going past. Thanks for all the suggestions, sounds like if the visibility's good gruntfuttock's suggestion might be the way to go, otherwise maybe Morrison's is better. HowardCoombs - I think you're suggesting section 7, 8, and 9 of the Lantau trail, which looks like about 8 hours so a bit too much for this.

[Morrison]

Yes, I am positive it is called Shek Pik country trail, located close to the SE corner of the water reservoir.
And,yes, you would be coming from the SE by bus, heading west to the SE corner of the reservoir.

And yes, that's the building I mean
and in that area there are many statues

PDLM's suggestion is also good but there is nothing but nature and a "worn out" trail, i.e. many other hikers on a busy day

[emx]

The Meetup Hiking Group is doing the scenic downhill section of the South Lantau Country Trail tomorrow ending in Mui Wo.

Hoping the blue skies remain.

[Natfixit]

You can walk from Tung Chung, or take the 11 or 23 bus to the peak of Tung Chung rd, and head up the trail that takes you to Tong Fuk via a 3 hr walk. Can't remember the name, but I do the hike occasionally. There is also a linking road close to TC rd peak, the old TC rd that leads to the catchment path, which will lead you behind and around back to Tong Fuk.