Explainer | Hiking the MacLehose: a guide to sections 4, 5 and 6 – from Ma On Shan panoramas to ‘Monkey Hill’
- Hong Kong’s most famous hiking trail is an epic adventure on your doorstep and the middle sections boast the highest mountains and best views
- You can do the whole trail at once, or section by section, saving the rest for another day
The MacLehose Trail is Hong Kong’s most iconic hiking route, stretching almost 100km across the New Territories. You can hike each of the 10 sections one by one, or link them together for longer days out in the hills.
Sections 4 to 7 contain some of the hardest hikes, but they are worth it for the incredible views that show off Hong Kong’s diversity, from sea to city.
Section 4, 13km – estimated time to complete: four to five hours
This section starts at Sai Sha Road, near Sai Kung. There are buses or taxis to the start, where you will find a public toilet, water fountain and vending machine. If you have just finished section 3, cross the road, turn left and you will see signs to continue.
After a few undulating steps, section 4 starts with a long, steady climb up a concrete path. It reaches a fork in the road, after a car barrier. Turn right here and continue up the hill. There is another junction, a short while on. Turn left and down the hill. The concrete path turns into a trail, surrounded by bamboo. The path is undulating, with some short steep hills. When there is a gap in the trees, you will see the spectacular steep face of Ma On Shan rearing up above you.
Eventually, you begin the long, stepped climb, with Ma On Shan on your right. When you finally reach the top, there is a T-junction – right will take you to Ma On Shan’s summit, left will continue on section 4.