Location: New Territories, Hongkong
Jump-off an Exit Point: Tai Mo Shan Country Park entrance, New Territories, Hongkong
Elevation: 957 MASL (3,140 feet)
Days Required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 1.5 hours
Specs: Minor Climb; Difficulty 2/9; Trail Class 1
Features: The trail is a concrete road from jump-off point to the summit passable by all types of vehicles with a gradual ascent. It has view decks which offer spectacular view of the city of Hongkong. Its summit is considered the highest point Hongkong.
The jump-off point Tai Mo Shan
This is a part of my February 1-6, 2025 Hongkong - Jeju Island of South Korea - Macau Trip with three climbs, namely: (1) This Tai Mo Shan of Hongkong, (2) Mount Seongsan Ilchulbong of South Korea, and (3) Suicide Cliff of Kowloon Peak of Hongkong. It was a different climb from my usual climbs in the Philippines, because this one has concrete 2-day road from the jump-off point to the summit plus the bonus of having the panoramic view of the skyscrapers of Hongkong.
This is quite a new climbing experience where from the jump-off point to the summit, we just walked in a two-lane concrete road and did not trek along the trails of trees and bushes.
Arriving at Hongkong International Airport
From the airport bus terminal, I took S1 bus heading to Citygate Outlets Mall for HKD10.20 or P99.71. There were two quick stops since it was very close to the airport. The point where the bus stopped was Tung Chung MRT Station, the main destination for shoppes which is right at the gate of the Citygate Outlets Mall.
Leaving my luggage at the locker for rental
Upon arrival at the Citygate Outlets Mall, my climbing buddy, Nel Opolento, went to its basement to deposit our luggage at the locker. For a big luggage, we were charged with HKD40 at 10:55 A.M. But when I retrieved it at 6:32 P.M. after our climb in Tao Mo Shan, I had additional of HKD140. There charging is HKD40 for each 2hours for first 6 hours. So, when I claimed my luggage at 6:32 P.M., I was charged for another HKD140 making my total rental for HKD180 or P1,759.53. Compared to Japan's locker for rental, 600 yen if fixed for one day or P225.
Lunch at the Food Opera of Citygate Outlets Mall
My lunch costs HKD65 or P635.39. After our lunch, we bought some trail food and water for the climb for HKD49.50 or P483.87, it already includes a bottled drinking water.
A train transport heading to the bus station up to the jump-off point
From Citygate Outlet Mall, we boarded a train from Tung Chung Station, then it passed thru Sunny Bay station -Disneyland Resort Line, Tsing Yi Station-Airport Express and Lai King station. Then, we transferred train to Tsuen Wan Line starting from Tuen Mun Station (Light Rail/West Rail) to Mei Foo Station (approximately 10-11 stops). Then change at Mei Foo to the Tsuen Wan Line (red line). From to Mei Foo station to Tsuen Wan station are 2 stops which costs HKD20.40 or P199.41.
Bus transport heading to the jump-off point
Upon alighting the train, we walked towards Nina Tower Bus terminal, boarding Bus 51 to Tai Mo Shan Country Park for HKD10.20 or P99.71. The interval of bus trips is 15-30 minutes during peak daytime on weekends/holidays, but much sparser (40-60 minutes) on weekday mornings/evenings.
The Tai Mo Shan Country Park bus stop
From the Tai Mo Shan Country Park bus stop, is only a walking distance heading to the jump-off point where it serves as the entrance. There is no registration fee or environmental fee. No need for a guide since you will be trekking along a 2-lane concrete road from the jump-off point to the summit without junctions nor smaller trails where you will be lost. There are also many bikers heading to the summit.
The jump-off point or entrance
Just a short walk uphill, you will find the Visitor's Center where you can ease yourself if you want to use the comfort room and something like to wash up.
The Visitor's Center
The Visitor's Center has an Exhibition Gallery about the park's ecology, climate change, and local wildlife, an activity room, public toilets, and a kiosk for refreshments, plus maps and information for hikers starting trails like the MacLehose Trail to the summit, offering great views and insights into nature conservation.
Cars park before the checkpoint
I left the Visitor's Centre at 1:40 P.M. and reached this park's parking spaces at 2:17 P.M. Some climbers would drive up to this point and take a trek towards the summit.
The car checkpoint heading to the summit
From the car checkpoint, the road will give the hiker the feeling of trekking a road assault. Though here, we cut trails. We did not follow the curves of the road, instead we trek it straight having shortcuts. Those were open trails, but it was cold.
Such a wide trail where cars can pass
It was foggy overlooking the bay down
One of the trails almost to the summit
At the summit clocking at 3:08 P.M.
The one you see at the backdrop is a weather station facility. Going up to the facility is prohibited and the gate is closed when we arrived there. The entire facility complex at the top has a barbed wire fence. There is a guard just beyond the fence with cameras everywhere. There is also a huge sign which says "pictures are not allowed". Even if it is open as in some days, don't be tempted to get inside for you might be detained in a Hongkong jail.
Tai Mo Shan has a summit elevation of 957 MASL (3,139 feet). It has distance of 9.2 kilometers or 5.7 miles. It has an elevation gain of 580 MASL (1,900 feet).
On my way descending the mountain
In my descent, it was a chill one. I find my get-up so tiring since I was wearing maong pants and had a jacket. I was not able to change clothes since I left my luggage in a locker at the Citygate Outlets Mall.
The view of Hongkong mainland from view deck in Tai Mo Shan
My travel buddies Nel and Paula at a view deck along our trail in our descent
From the bus stop, we took a Bus 51 heading to Nina Tower Bus Terminal for HKD10.20 or P99.71. Then from Nina Bus Terminal, we walked to Tsuen Wan Station, to take a train to from Tsuen Want Station to Mei Foo Station for 2 stops and changed train at Tsuen Wan Line from Mei Foo Station Tuen Mun Station for 11 stops and transferred to Tung Chung Station heading to Tung Chung Station where this train trip costs HKD20.40 or P199.41 to reach the Citygate Outlets Mall.
Had dinner at the Citygate Outlets Mall with Nel and Paula
We retrieved our luggage from the lockers we deposited it in the morning and to my surprise, the HKD40 I paid initially was not enough since, I need to pay another P140, so I can access my luggage where my locker rental costs a total of HKD180 or P1,759.53 or US$23.09. I learned that the terms and conditions for the locker rental is HKD40 for each 2 hours for the first 6 hours. Compared to Japan's locker rentals, big luggage like mine is only 600 Yen or P225 or US$3.80 for 24 hours.
When we went back to Hongkong and paid for hotel shared accommodation for two, I paid a share of HKD181 or P1,769.30 or US$23.22. So, it looks as if, depositing your luggage in a locker in Hongkong is more expensive that checking for a backpacker's hotel shared accommodation for two for overnight.
With my travel buddies heading for a Jeju flight
After dinner at Citygate Outlets mall which costs HKD56 or P547.41, we boarded a bus back to Hongkong International Airport for HKD10.20 or P99.70 and arrived there at 8:40 P.M., just to be with our travel buddies heading to Jeju Island through Hongkong Express which was at 2:40 A.M. the following day.
You may also interested to read my blog in Jeju Island trip in South Korea and our climb there in Mount Seongsan Ilchulbong in Jeju Island organized by our reliable "suki" service provider, Madame Jonah Chavez Ranchez.
So, you might ask me. How much did I spent for this Day Climb in Hongkong excluding the plane fare and we did not spend for the hotel since I deposited my luggage at a locker in a mall. The total amount of my expenses is HKD452.10 or P4,419.35 or US$58.
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