December 20, 2023
- Unknown
I was finally able to persuade myself to return to hiking after several months of hiatus. Experiencing the wonders of nature and exploring new horizons leaves one feeling grateful and content. It was a physically excruciating climb, and moving along the steep stairways caused me pain that was later worth it as I progressed. And that being said, I made the decision to keep climbing till spring ended in order to regain my strength and agility.
The autumn until spring seasons are my ideal time to climb a mountain because of the cooler temperatures. Moreover, I love seeing the colorful transformation of landscapes throughout these three seasons. Last Sunday, December 3rd, was quite overcast. And for some hikers, it isn't an ideal day to hike since the scenery and horizons are foggy and overcast. I regretted not hiking in November, when the weather was always sunny with a chilly breeze. So, gloomy or not, I pursued my plan because I didn't want to waste the opportunity. However, later in the afternoon, the weather became brighter, and I felt grateful for that.
I had a few names of mountains on my list that I wanted to hike that afternoon. Among all, I chose Lion Rock Mountain since it has long been on my bucket list. The photo below explains why it was called Lion Rock. The mountain has the notable shape of a lion crouching atop the hill. It's an iconic mountain in Kowloon, where I currently reside. And in my previous residence, this was closer and visible from our balcony, and so I have wanted to hike this iconic mountain since then.
How to get to Lion Rock Mountain?
There are a few ways to get to this trail from different parts of Hong Kong. By following the direction guide, I chose the nearest, which is via Wong Tai Sin Station. It's just seven stations away from my place. From Wong Tai Sin Station, there's an option to walk or ride a bus. Upon seeing the steep slope going up to the starting point of the trail, I opted to ride a bus, as I didn't want to get exhausted in the beginning. It was just a few minutes away, but it saved my energy that I wanted to reserve for a later hike.
From the temple, I embarked on a new journey and braced myself for a challenging hike ahead of this road. I spotted a few hikers going up and down from the mountain. But on most occasions, I was alone on the trail, which I prefer to being in a group of unknown people.
There was only one trail in this area, so it was easy to spot the right one. I followed the inclining, winding road, and in the middle, I panted right away, which indicated that I needed more hiking to get my agility back. Along the way, I spotted this temple near the famous Amah Rock. This area is another starting point to the Lion Rock if hikers start on another side.
After more or less twenty minutes, I reached the entrance to Shatin Pass Recreation Area. On the top of these stairs is a Lion Rock Pavilion. There is a platform for visitors to rest, an eatery, and a public toilet.
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From this area, there is a map that shows the direction to Lion Rock Country Park. There are other trails from this point, and spots for recreational activities. Since it was Sunday, there were more people in this area.
By reading the direction guide beforehand, I was aware of the difficulty of the climb, duration, and height of the peak. Based on my own experience, I'll rate the difficulty at 8 out of 10, with 10 as the highest. Among all mountains I hiked, Lion Rock was third to Tai Mo Shan with the most steep and challenging trail. The duration, which was supposed to be two hours for a round trip, was almost doubled because of the steep stairs and taking a break to take photos.
I started my hike on staircases, and believe me, it's all stairs throughout the trails. Just by thinking about it, you could feel how arduous the climb is, which is why it is one of the most difficult trails to hike in Hong Kong. It might be easier for some to take stairs, but the hell no for climbing a mountain, as pressures are taxed upon your lower legs, which bear your upper body. Weak legs would definitely give up soon.
However, there are resting spots along the way. I commend those older Chinese people who can still climb a mountain at their age. I ate my lunch quite early, so there was no reason for me to take a break.
These seemed to be never-ending stairs, so I made my pace slower and steady. After more than twenty minutes, I reached this part, which offers a beautiful view of the city on the left. The staircase itself is beautiful. What a good spot for a prenup on the mountain!
The scenic city view as I ascend the stairs.
After passing the steep stairs, it was a relief to see flat terrain. I thought I'd be climbing stairs forever. But this area let my exhausted legs rest while I immersed myself in the surrounding beauty.
Walking forward, the air became infused with a fragrant scent. And while looking around to see where it was coming, I spotted trees with white flowers. Up ahead are fallen Polyspora axillaris beautifully carpeting the ground. This flower is simply called a fried egg plant because it is similar to a sunny-side-up fried egg.
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At the moment, I rested to enjoy my view and appreciate the beauty of nature. The forest ground has a carpet of flowers with a color of purity, with sturdy trees holding onto slopes and at the edge of cliffs. Apart from this plant, I spotted some white berries hiding on the sides of the flat terrain.
This part was a bit enchanting, yet captivating. It's like a sanctuary of beauty and mystery, and I was like walking in between mystic trees. The flat terrain gave me a chance to take my tripod out and take a selfie with it. I felt a sense of serenity while walking along this terrain. The city where I reside is too noisy for me, so listening to the soft melodies of nature and seeing its green foliage is calming.
As I ventured deeper, I thought there would be more flat terrain. However, I stumbled upon yet another set of stairs, like a snake winding down the slope. This time isn't inclining. I descended at a moderate pace, hoping to see another flat terrain ahead, and end the hike soon as I was a bit tired already.
I sighed with a heap of relief upon seeing the direction post stating that the peak is just half an hour ahead of the trail. This point is an intersection going to other trails. At this point, I hoped to complete my hike to Lion Rock soon, so I could visit other trails.
One kilometer more to go. I felt excited to see the peak. At the end of the flat terrain was another resting place and a viewing deck which offers a scenic view of the city.
The Final Stretch
The next direction post says there's a half kilometer more to go, so I presumed this was the last stretch, and I was right at all. The closer I got, the more excited I became to see Lion Rock from atop. This has long been on my bucket list, and I could finally reach it.
While climbing these steep stairs, it's good to look back because the city is prettier and more tranquil to look at from atop any mountain.
Here is a quite funny story. These two foreign ladies were just ahead of me when I started my hike, but I saw them going down already when I reached the last stretch. That's how fast they were 😳, or I was probably slow 🤣.
After more than twenty minutes of climbing the last stretch, I finally reached the summit!
Parts Of Lion Rock Mountain
The Tail
It was 3:45 to be exact, when I reached this part. I started my hike at 1:50 in the afternoon from Fat Jong Temple, so it took me almost two hours to reach the 495-meter height of the summit.
But if you think it is the last part, nope, it isn't, because this area is just the tail part of the lion rock. From this point, I walked a few more distances to get to the back and head parts of the Lion Rock.
To give you an idea of where I was, refer to this photo below. The summit is located on the tail part, but the main attractions are on the back and head parts. So technically, the summit was just another starting point for the main and exciting parts of the mountain.
The Crouching Back
From this part, there are a series of steep cliffs that offer a stunning view of Kowloon City on the left, Shatin on the right, and distant cities on Hong Kong Island. The mountain peak has granitic rocks, which are evident in the photo below. I spotted some Filipinas making risky poses by the cliff. Don't wonder why we are risk-takers. We just love adventures.
Now it's my turn to position myself by the cliff. It's worth noting that this is for risk-takers only. For your information, there have been cases of fatalities on this mountain from 1982 to 2020. Some fell off the cliff while taking photos. So it's not advisable to stay up late at night by this cliff.
The Head
Heading to the lion head part, I traced a steep, descending rocky slope before ascending to the very top of the lion head rock.
Climbing this lion head was quite challenging, yet rewarding. There were some hikers resting atop, while others were waiting for the sunset to fall.
I found a good spot where I captured snapshots of the city. But beforehand, I happily savored my food which relieved my hunger and thirst, while appreciating the cityscape view.
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I'm sure, 
This was the crouching back. The photo was taken from the Lion Head Rock. Can you imagine how steep it is? People are in their own positions, doing different poses by the cliff. Hiking isn't worth it without souvenir shots.
The Nose
While checking other spots on the lion head rock, I found a pointing rock connected to the head, which could be the nose. Imagine if it were a bright day. The cityscape view should have been clearer and prettier.
From the cliff, a breathtaking cityscape unfolded before my eyes, which shows a fusion of old and new architecture, retaining the city's rich heritage against the mountainous backdrop. Pedestrians are like intricate paths snaking around the city. This scenery of Hong Kong is evidence of its being a fast-growing city in Asia. Seeing the city from above somehow makes me forget how chaotic it is from within, as it looks still and calm from atop the mountain.
Meanwhile, the opposite view of Lion Rock showcases a tapestry of green foliage, and the humble city of Shatin is nestled amidst mountains. Just like watching the city from atop, the mountainous landscape seems to stand time still, and I found tranquility in it.
I always find a sanctuary amidst the mountains while watching nature's tapestries unfold before my eyes. All pains dissipate, and worries temporarily fade away. This kind of scenery makes me want to stay still, find solace in it, and appreciate more the beauty of life, which shouldn't be taken for granted along with nature. As the adage above stated, life is like hiking. Some paths are challenging, but with every step we take, we become stronger and discover new horizons. On top of that, seeing the beautiful scenery from atop the mountain makes the hike so worth it.
I ended my Lion Rock hike at four thirty in the afternoon. Afterward, an attempt to reach the Baecon Hill was made to beautifully capture the sunset from atop. You can check the link if I succeeded or failed.
See you on my next travel blog.
(All photos are mine)
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