Hong Kong New Territories: Clockwise circuit

This route is mostly flat, apart from one long but not so steep hill.  The upside, or should it be downside, is that once you've climbed this hill, the descent is even longer!  It is one of the only long routes in Hong Kong (100km +) where you can avoid any very steep hills.  Sherman and Nick started at Kowloon Station, cycled through the container port to Tsuen Wan, along Castle Peak Road by the sea, all the way to Tuen Mun.  Coffee near Tuen Mun pier.  From Tuen Mun there is a cycle track all the way to Yeun Long. Then some nice quiet back roads. We met Christina and Dave at the wonderful 'Cafe Je t'aime' in Sheung Shui.  We then all cycled through Fanling to Luk Keng for lunch.  From Luk Keng we climbed the hill along Brides Pool road to Tai Mei Yuk.  Here the cycle track begins and takes you for the remaining 30 kms through Tai Po, Shatin to Tai Wai MTR station. The cycle track very busy and very dangerous on a Sunday afternoon!

Start at Kowloon Station - Tsuen Wan (Km 12) - Castle Peak Road - Tuen Mun (Km 30) - cycle track
- Yeung Long (Km 50) - Sheung Shui (Km 65) - Fanling (Km 70) - Luk Keng (Km 85) 
- Tai Mei Tuk (Km 90) - cycle track
 - Tai Po (Km 100) - Tai Wai (Km 114)

Sherman and Nick take on our respective 06:40 ferries on a Sunday from Lamma Island and Discovery Bay arriving at the same time at the Central Piers 3 and 4

Dawn view of Central Hong Kong Island 7am

Sunrise in Central - worth getting up early for

We took the MTR train from Hong Kong station to Kowloon Station (bikes allowed on all rail lines in Hong Kong, but you have to remove the front wheel, and ideally travel at very front or rear of the train.)

Castle Peak Road - dual road and never very busy

Tin Kau Bridge

Tsing Ma Bridge

Castle Peak Road

Cafe in Tuen Mun by the Pier

Promenade at Tuen Mun

Cycle Track from Tuen Mun to Yeun Long

Cycle Path next to the tramway towards Yeun Long

Along the Kam Tin river after Yuen Long

Passing Mao statue on village road - follow Sherman!

The amazing "Cafe Je t'aime" - Sheung Shui

Near Luk Keng

Lantau: Cycling on South Lantau - Big Buddha, Tai O, Mui Wo

Tai O - The Buddha - Mui Wo

The South side of Lantau Island is a country park, and only buses, taxis and cars with a permit are allowed to go there, so the roads are relatively quiet.  

To get to South Lantau you need to travel from Tung Chung up the steep Tung Chung Road (known to cyclists as "the Beast' because of its maximum 20%   slope); or via  the Sham Wat road further west.  There is also a third way for mountain bikes through Sham Wat to Tai O along the coast but there are steps!

These routes are described in another post on routes from South to North Lantau.

The statue of the Buddha, at the Ngong Ping village and monastery sits on the top of the Lantau mountain range which goes the length of Lantau west to east. It is a tough but worthwhile climb by bike.  Tai O is a delightful fishing village in the west, and Mui Wo a nice seaside village in the east.  There are plenty of steep hills so cyclists should take it easy and take care especially going downhill. 

Km 5 and 20 is Tung Chung; Km 15 is Haeco Engineering Base at the end of the HK Airport Runway; Km 25 is at the highest point on the road from Tung Chung to South Lantau, after a climb up 'the Beast'; Kms 28 to 35 is the Water Catchment road which runs parallel, just to the north of and well above the South Lantau Road; just to the right of Km 55 is the Buddha ; Tai O is at Km 50 ; Mui Wo at Km 75.  All roads on South Lantau covered!

Coming down from the Beast to the south side of Lantau

Water Catchment Road

Shek Pik Reservoir Dam

Shek Pik Reservoir - the Buddha can just 
been seen in between the two hills 
on the left side of photo

Sherman on the dam of Shek Pik Reservoir
 with Prison behind 

Ride from South to North Lantau: Beast (300m/Km 25), then Buddha (420m/Km 40) down to Tai O (Km 50), back up to the Buddha again (!) at Km 58, and to Mui Wo at Km 75

Turning off the Mui Wo-Tai O road into the road up to the Buddha

Mark, Nick, Sherman - at the Buddha

Breakfast in Tai O - best local coffee (when it arrives)!

Kwan Tai temple in the little square by the restaurant/coffee shop

The ornate Kwan Tai temple in Tai O