The government is planning to set up a national and global geopark in Hong Kong. But you don't have to wait for that to get out and about to explore the city's natural wonders.
According to the government plan, two large areas in eastern New Territories - the islands of Sai Kung East and Double Haven - will first be listed as a national geopark before an application is made for accreditation in the Unesco World Geopark Network.
Hong Kong's shoreline has many fascinating features, but the most outstanding are the unique hexagonal volcanic rock columns in Sai Kung East.
Covering an area of around 100 sq km, not only is this probably the largest collection of such columns in the world they are also different from - and bigger than - similar columns elsewhere.
Usually hexagonal columns are formed by basaltic lava in volcanic eruptions. But in Sai Kung the columns are made of a rock called rhyolite, and experts are not exactly sure how they were formed.
There are numerous islands in Sai Kung East where you can take an up-close look at these rock formations.
The High Island Reservoir East Dam has a mural of hexagonal columns.
