Craving panoramic views and a lack of crowds? Then you have come to the right place. Welcome to Sai Kung East Country Park.
This park beckons with spectacular trails, white sand beaches and eerie rock formations. Sai Kung East Country Park was designated in 1978. It occupies a vast area of the east Sai Kung Peninsula and High Island.
Within its borders are High Island Reservoir and Tai Long Wan. You will also find Pak Tam Au, Sheung Yiu, Wong Shek Pier, and the surrounding countryside. The park covers 4494 hectares of uplands and coasts. It has the largest number of bays and coves among all country parks.
Scenic spots within Sai Kung East Country Park are numerous. They include the four most famous beaches of Hong Kong. These are Sai Wan, Ham Tin Wan, Tai Wan and Tung Wan. Then there is precipitous Sharp Peak. Other attractions are Po Pin Chau, Long Ke Wan, Luk Wu, Long Harbour and Chek Keng.
There is a wide choice of country trails in Sai Kung East Country Park. Some orbit around the coasts. Others travel through rugged and wild terrain.
High Island Reservoir is the largest reservoir in the territory. It is the grandest man-made construction within the park. The east embankment of the reservoir is lined with a spectacular cofferdam. It features giant dolosse units offset by striking rhyolite in hexagonal stacks. The reservoir commands a brand of beauty all of its own. It enchants both leisure travelers and geologists.
Sai Kung East Country Park extends along a long coastline. Farming never really developed in this scabrous region. In the old days, local villagers were mostly fishermen. Lime making was another means of livelihood. Inshore waters provided an abundant supply of coral skeletons. The old settlements at Sheung Yiu were major production bases of this once booming industry.
Pak Tam Chung is the starting point of the famous MacLehose Trail. Skirting the south side of High Island Reservoir, the trail crosses eight country parks. It ends at Tuen Mun in the west. Sections one and two of MacLehose Trail run inside Sai Kung East Country Park. The first section is mostly level walk. There are many side paths leading to coastal villages. Along the shores, you will find unusual rock formations. The picturesque Long Ke beach never fails to charm. Section two starts at Long Ke. Beyond Sai Wan Shan, the great sweep of Tai Long Wan comes into view. It is accentuated by the ever-striking presence of Sharp Peak in the background. This stage ends at Pak Tam Au.
Luk Wu Country Trail offers lovely scenery. You will see the Clearwater Bay peninsula, High Island Reservoir and Ma On Shan. Pak Tam Country Trail gives coastal views of Kau Sai Chau and Yim Tin Tsai. You can also see Sharp Island and High Junk Peak. Sheung Yiu Country Trail overlooks inshore islands and bays. These include Tsam Chuk Wan, Yim Tin Tsai and Kau Sai Chau.
Sharp Peak towers 468 meters above the lowlands. It is the most prominent landmark of Sai Kung East Country Park. Ranking only 16th among Hong Kong’s peaks, it is famous for its sheer conical profile.
Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung is made up of four idyllic bays. These are Sai Wan, Ham Tin Wan, Tai Wan and Tung Wan. These remote beaches are scarcely visited on weekdays. They are secluded and a bit wild. The mood is positively inviting. Gazing down from the trail, you see ocean waves rush to shore. They rim the indented coastline with foams of white.
Sai Kung East Country Park has the largest number of bays and coves. Sai Wan is the most famous beach in Hong Kong. Together with Ham Tin Wan, Tai Wan and Tung Wan, it makes up Tai Long Wan. This is the jewel of Sai Kung’s idyllic coastline. This remote seaside haven draws visitors from near and far. Some hike across the hills. Others come by sea.
Sai Wan is blessed with an ideal landscape. Divided into two beaches, it is fed by a flowing stream at both ends. The south bay is a sheltered inlet. It remains calm even in summer when the south wind blows. It is a perfect anchorage for pleasure boats. The north bay boasts a wide sandy beach with rushing swells. Inland, behind the beaches, you find the outlet of Sheung Luk Stream. Four Pools is a series of midstream plunge pools. It is a well-known tourist attraction.
Remember Sai Kung East Country Park for its clear jade waters, spectacular trails and stunning views.