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Hong Kong hikes to do in winter, in balmy December temperatures and clear skies

  • The air is cool and the humidity is gone, so now is the time to try some steep exposed hikes that you may have been avoiding in summer
  • Hong Kong is home to some of the best hiking in the world, with accessible trails near public transport

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Sharp Peak is breathing taking and a good hike in winter’s cooler climate. Photo: Society of Hong Kong Nature Explorers

The mercury has plummeted with the arrival of December and now Hongkongers have a rare few weeks when the weather is like the third bowl of porridge, not too hot, not too cold.

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Hong Kong is 40 per cent country park and now is the perfect time to check out some steep hikes with less tree cover that you may have been avoiding in the stifling months of summer.

MacLehose section seven and eight

Starting at Shing Mun dam and ending at Route Twisk, stages seven and eight of the famous MacLehose are easily accessible by car or taxi.

Needle Hill is tough and steep, but worth the effort. Photo: Patrick Blennerhassett
Needle Hill is tough and steep, but worth the effort. Photo: Patrick Blennerhassett
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From the dam, start the climb up Needle Hill. It is steep and the stairs feel like they never end. In summer, it can turn into a real slog. But in winter, the cool temperatures are perfect and you can cast you eyes back to take in Lion Rock and Ma On Shan.

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