Video guide to hiking around Hong Kong’s Lion Rock - the trails, the sights, and how to get there and back

At an altitude of 495 metres, Lion Rock is far from Hong Kong’s tallest hill, but it is one of the most recognisable. This is partly because of the distinctive profile of the craggy upper slopes, resembling a resting lion when viewed from parts of Kowloon and further afield.

Also, Lion Rock has become associated with the can-do character of Hong Kong people. This association began in the 1970s, with the RTHK television series Below the Lion Rock, about the lives of working-class people, many of whom had lived or still lived in squatter settlements on slopes below Lion Rock. Later, the “Lion Rock spirit” was cited by businessmen and politicians to describe Hongkongers’ industriousness.

During the “umbrella movement” protests in 2014, a band of intrepid activists hung a giant yellow banner on the rock, with black characters proclaiming, “I want real universal suffrage”.

Although most people only see Lion Rock from afar, it’s a prime site for rock climbers, and there are a couple of trails to the top for hikers. Reaching the summit takes some effort, but the rewards are spectacular views.

Lion Rock is at the heart of the country park bearing its name, and a web of trails offers a variety of possible outings. While you could start an ascent from close to sea level, a road up the Kowloon Hills makes it possible to instead set off from around halfway up, at Sha Tin Pass.