Of course, many regular visitors to the country parks have long passed their teens. As autumn approaches, enthusiasts will be out to make the most of the cooler weather and explore the extensive network of hiking and walking trails. Some stretches may not be suitable for young children, but parents keen for some fresh air and exercise with their toddlers have plenty of options.
Parents have to be prepared when going hiking with children, Wu says. But the hiking tips he gives for children also apply to adults. Some key pointers: make sure you bring along a first aid kit, map, food and enough water, and don't rely on mobile phones to call for help.
Tai Po resident Philip Edward Kenny also reckons that having sufficient water can be critical on excursions. Parents who take their children out for countryside walks and hikes should take extra bottles of water, says the father of three.
'Kids don't really know how to ration, and will just guzzle until sated,' says Kenny, whose Hong Kong (and Macau) Stuff blog (orientalsweetlips.wordpress.com) testifies to his passion for 'walking in the hills and diving in the water'.