Hong Kong New Territories: Tai Mo Shan - HK's highest Peak

I have cycled up Tai Mo Shan 12 times since I arrived in Hong Kong, 2 years ago. It is Hong Kong's highest peak (957m), and the road to the top serves the Hong Kong Observatory's weather radar station. 

Tai Mo Shan from Hong Kong Harbour

Hong Kong Harbour from Tai Mo Shan

 (Chinese: 大帽山; pinyin: Dàmàoshān / Dàmào Shān; Cantonese: daaih mouh sāān; literally "Big Hat Mountain") 

It is open to road vehicles in the country park to half way up where there is a car park, after that there is a barrier where only cyclists and walkers can pass.  The sign at the barrier says cycles are not permitted, but the guard in the shed by the barrier has not stopped anyone so far.

It is a great ride, my favourite, for the views, for the nice quiet interesting road, and for the challenge of the slope which goes up to 16% in parts.  Very satisfying once you are fit enough to cycle up at a reasonable pace.  I remember the first time I tried it in January 2012.  Had to push my bike some of the way! 

0 to 950m in around 12 kilometres
from Tai Wo Hau MTR station in HK new territories

The usual route is to get an MTR train to Tai Wo Hau or Tsuen Wan on the Tsuen Wan Line.  I find Tau Wo Hau is easier (see route above), although you really have to cycle on the pavement from the station to the roundabout at the foot of Route Twisk; best done early morning to avoid any police. Route Twisk starts at the roundabout, and after 6.3 Kms you turn right into the country park, for the remaining 4.6 Kms to the top.

Distances/Slope:
Route Twisk Roundabout to Country Park entrance:
6.3Kms  average slope 6% Vertical metres 375
Maximum Slope 13%
Route Twisk exit to the Summit:
4.6Kms average slope 9.9% Vertical metres 456 Maximum slope 15.7%

Kiosk at entry to Tai Mo Shan Country Park with the lady who is always there

At top of Route Twisk (so called because it links Tsuen Wan on one side of the hill with Shek Kong on the other side); there is a kiosk up the road on the right (where the car is)

Near the Car Park and Barrier;
observatory visible at top

View of the road coming up to the car park

My favourite part, the series of hairpin bends near the top; need to be careful descending on a bike as the bends are tight and no barriers

View from the top 1: Tsing Yi Island on right; Kowloon on left; West side of HK Island behind

View from the top 2: Kowloon with Hong Kong Island behind

Best weather I have seen here,
very nice road for cyclists….

….and buffalos

Quite docile creatures……(us cyclists)

Dave conquers TMS for the third time

Inevitable Group photo (Mark, Nick, Ian, and Dave) in front of the HK Observatory Weather Radar Station - as the site is restricted you can't climb to the very top, about 20 vertical metres short

Nick and Osman relaxing at the top after a hard climb

Osman, Jay and Sherman 

The views on a clear day are great, you can see the whole of Hong Kong

Looking north to Tai Po and Fanling

Looking towards the Chinese border

View of Tai Po and Tolo Harbour - looking east

Another view North - towards Yuen Long

Looking South East towards the east side of HK Island

So much for today…..

Here are some photos of other days when I climbed Tai Mo Shan when the weather was not so good….

Now we know why there are white lines on the road

Heading back down from the car park

Tai Mo Shan is up there somewhere

Can still be fun when the visibility is down

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

Lantau: Cycling in North Lantau - HK Airport, Tung Chung, Disney

Cycling on the North side of Lantau is probably the most popular place for cycling in Hong Kong for roads cyclists.  It stretches from HK International Airport in the west through Tung Chung, and along the service road next to the airport expressway to Sunny Bay and Disneyland.  Disneyland provides a lot of empty very smooth roads.  The other attraction for many is that the whole of the north side is flat.

The South side of Lantau is covered in another post.

  

Hong Kong Island: Cycling The Peak via Stubbs Road, Hong Kong

The ride from Central to the Hong Kong Peak via Stubbs Road and Peak Road (the No. 15 bus route) is not so steep as many roads in Hong Kong. The route via Magazine Gap Road is much steeper (see another Blog entry).

This ride was on 2 March 2014; climbing via the less steep Stubbs Road/Peak Road route (Bus 15), and descending via the very steep Magazine Gap Road (Green minibus No.1 route)

Stubbs Road climbs from Km 4 to the Peak at Km 12, with Mt Austin (Victoria Peak Garden) at Km14; the climb at Km 18 is a slight deviation off Magazine Gap Road via Tregunter Path re-joining Albany Road lower down

Best to cycle this route in the very early morning, Sunday being better than Saturday.

The extension beyond the Peak Tower to Mount Austin is much steeper, but a good indicator of how well you are adapting to Hong Kong's steep hills. 

We start off in Central then ride through Admiralty along Hennessey Road, and turn right on to Queen's Road East.  

Once Queen's Road East starts to climb you turn right into Stubbs Road just next to the Sikh Temple.  

Turning right into Stubbs Road by the Sikh Temple

When you come to the roundabout by the flyover you turn 180 degree right and continue climbing up Stubbs Road. 

A steady climb up Stubbs Road

An endless stream of No 15 buses link Central with the Peak 

Nice views on the way in clear weather

Stubbs Road becomes Peak Road

The Peak Tower viewing gallery

Victoria Peak Gardens on Mt Austin, a steeper climb above the Peak, but well worth it. View of Pok Fu Lam and Lamma Island.

Descending Mt Austin

Along Tregunter Path, past the Peak Tram line which follows the steepest gradient