Wild Weekends

What are your plans this weekend? Pick up the dry cleaning; do the supermarket run; and then get ready for a drinking binge at 5pm? Well, the weather’s nice, and we figure you are probably (still) recovering from all the craziness at the Sevens, so maybe a change of weekend itineraries would do you some good. We have different trips for everyone—we tried not to include any bar detours in here, but we can’t stop you if you want to bring your own flask, can we?

Yuen Longing

Yuen Long was once a backwater town, difficult to get to and with nothing worth seeing. But with the construction of new roads and the MTR West Rail Line, this northwestern district has never been easier to reach. Start and end your trip at Yuen Long MTR station—convenient!

1. Nam Sun Wai is a picturesque wetland and the starting point to one of the city’s easiest and most pleasant hikes. Take green minibus 611 from the MTR station and get off at The Parcville. Follow the signs and go down a small road opposite the public toilet, and there you’ll find a tiny pier where you can catch a boat across the river. You won’t need a map after getting off the sampan. Just keep walking and enter a long, pleasant lakeside path lined with eucalyptus trees on both sides. You will then see a small bridge over the water, a popular spot for wedding photography. The path eventually brings you to Shan Pui River, where mangroves and birds can be found. Wetland Park volunteers are there on weekends to provide information and binoculars to visitors. Follow the same route back to downtown Yuen Long.

2. After going back downtown, it’s time for food. Go to Fung Nin Road just off Yuen Long Main Road. There, you’ll find Bo Shing Building, the location of a famous cart noodles restaurant called Wing Nin Stall, which has an unbelievably long queue all year long. The delicious and inexpensive cart noodles (choose from a huge selection of local specialties such as fish balls, chicken wings, pig’s intestines and pig’s blood jelly) are so popular that they have their own Facebook group with more than 3,000 members. For desserts, head to Sweet Heart Garden (138 On Ning Rd., 6309-2296, open 3:30pm to 1:30am). Here you’ll find a very popular iced mango dessert, made with an old-fashioned ice-crushing contraption.

3. If you’ve still got time to kill, head back out to Yuen Long Main Road and take bus K65 to Lau Fau Shan. This pleasant fishing village is situated on the shore of Deep Bay, and you can see views of China from there. Buy a bottle of Hong Kong’s last fresh, handmade oyster sauce at Yu Kee (4-6 Hoi Bim St., 2472-1001). Also meet the fishermen by the waters, who’ll be happy to crack open some fresh oysters for you. Walk back out to the bus stop and follow the signs to Ha Pak Nai, arguably the best spot to watch the sunset in Hong Kong. It’s highly recommended to head down there now because the government is currently planning to develop the area.

4. Alternatively, take the Light Rail or MTR to Tin Shui Wai to take the Ping Shan Heritage Trail. The very first heritage trail in Hong Kong, Ping Shan has one of the longest recorded histories among all the districts of Hong Kong. It was once the home of the Tang clan, one of the five great clans of the New Territories whose history can be traced back to the 12th century. Start at the Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda just off the MTR station (Hong Kong’s only existing ancient pagoda). The trail is about a kilometer long, meandering through a few villages, linking up a number of traditional Chinese structures along the way. End at the Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery which is renovated from the historic Ping Shan police station.

5. Also in Tin Shui Wai is the surprisingly decent Hong Kong Wetland Park (Wetland Park Rd., Tin Shui Wai, 2708-8885, $30 for adults, $15 concession). The 61-hectare park has a habitat for a wide range of wild animals that you never knew lived here. The huge visitor’s center complements the reserve and is an educational and thought-provoking way to learn more about ecology and conservation.

On Your Bike