Adventure tourism also in HK

An adventure in Hong Kong? Used to be that sounded likely only if you relate an adventure to shopping.

Today, “an adventure in Hong Kong” means what it says: a challenging trek, run, tunnelling, kayaking, swimming, sailing. Or exploring the green side of the world’s No. 1 destination in Asia.

Adventure tourism has also found its place in Hong Kong, as many know only as a shopping and dining paradise!

HK-AXN Challenge

After April 20, more people will see this new face of Hong Kong when the Hong Kong-AXN Challenge is staged in this colony’s territories. Teams from the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand will be participating in the Hong Kong AXN Challenge’s ‘International Category.’ They will engage in both physical and mental disciplines, including sea swimming, sea kayaking, trail running, climbing and sailing, orienteering, commando crawling, brain teasers, and a ‘treasurehunt-cum-street-dares’ competition designed to test their creativity and knowledge of Hong Kong.

According to David Leung, regional director of south and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong Tourism Board, this new adventure attraction responds to the “new lifestyle trend of active young people who follow healthy lifestyles.”

These people are looking for new attractions in places they visit, such as a physical challenge, or an adventure.

Leung was in the country to witness the Subic Adventure Race last March 23, where 30 teams competed for the chance to represent the Philippines in Hong Kong on April 20.

“The adventure race will support the Green Hong Kong campaign of the Hong Kong Tourism Board to encourage travelers to explore the other side of the city,” he said.

Leung has an extensive background in media and events marketing. He began his career as producer with Communique Ltd. Toronto, where his responsibilities included creating and producing new concepts for marketing campaigns. In the HKTB, he is responsible for the group’s aggressive marketing efforts throughout Southeast Asia, India and Indian sub-continent, and Indo-China.

Leung observed that most people know Hong Kong only for the highrise buildings, the shopping, dining and entertainment. Last year, the city recorded 13.7 million visitors, 60 percent of them repeat visitors. Incidentally, 290,000 of the visitors were Filipinos.

The adventure tours in Hong Kong will especially attract those who are in their 30s to 40s, who formed a significant part of the city’s visitors last year, Leung said.

The Adventure Race will be staged in two parts: Part One will take the teams through the physical challenge of tunneling, kayaking, and swimming. Part Two will take them on a city treasure hunt to allow them to explore the city.

Leung said the travel agents are expected to put the adventure trails into a package to offer to tourists.

Actually, there are already travel agencies offering such outdoor adventure tours. One of them, the Natural Excursion Ideals Company, has a brochure promising to take the adventurous “to explore by kayaking or hiking Hong Kong’s magnificent scenery that most people only fly over.”

But even before the HK-AXN Challenge will be shown in June, the HKTB has already identified several tours that expose the green side of Hong Kong. An HKTB-produced book, “Exploring Hong Kong’s Countryside” details the various trails and campsites to explore.

Another publication is the “Hong Kong Walks” which outlines seven “walks” – from exploring the Central via the mid-levels escalator; the Sha Tin Walk that brings you a new town’s charm; to exploring various islands (HK has 260 islands) where you can explore hilly terrain, forests, and then rest in fishermen’s village where restaurants will never fail to refresh you!

Nearly 70 percent of Hong Kong’s total area is comprised of open land, and 40 percent of that has been set aside for conservation, recreation and tourism, including 23 countryparks and marine parks.

Just to satisfy your curiousity for such “adventure walks”, here are a few of the trails:

l Lion Rock — Panorama of Contrasts. Rising between Kowloon and the New Territories, Lion Rock is one of Hong Kong’s most spectacular summits.

Routing: On this hike, you’ll pass through dense woodland with bamboo groves along the Eagle’s Nest Nature Trail (you will probably see monkeys along here). Then head up to the more open slopes of Beacon Hill and the ridge beyond, from where there are almost 360-degree views over hills and the city. It forms an unsurpassed, contrasting vista of green hills and the city’s hustle and bustle. There’s a climb up the steep, rough track to the top of Lion Rock, a superb vantage point for appreciating Kowloon’s setting between hills and sea.

The walk ends at Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Taoist Temple, one of Hong Kong’s most famous temples and where you can have your fortune told.

l Dragon’s Back — Coastal Vista. Southeastern Hong Kong Island boasts some surprisingly wild country, a world away from the urban bustle. As you wind your way up the ridge known as Dragon’s Back above Chai Wan, the city slips away.

Routing: You’ll first walk through woodland, but this soon give way to wind-pruned grass and bamboo along the ridge that is the spine of the dragon. On a clear day, the trail affords tremendous view over the south of the island, Shek O and the South China Sea. From here, you will walk down to catch a bus to Shek O, where you can mingle with the villagers and day-trippers as you stroll through with wonderfully eccentric community.

l Tal Long Wan, Sai Kung — Enchanting Escape Hike. With its expansive and wild landscape, the Sai Kung Peninsula is known as “Hong Kong’s Back Garden”. The jewel in the peninsula’s crown is Tai Long Wan, an expansive bay with long, white sandy beaches ringed by hills and headlands.

You start with a ferry ride to Kau Lau Wan, a remote fishing village located on the peninsula. Walking through the village you pass a Taoist cemetery. Then you will climb up and along a grassy trail offering spectacular mountain and coastal views. Up ahead is Sharp Peak.

If you like a challenge, take the 468-meter climb to the top and enjoy the view that isn’t on any postcard. Then go down to Tai Long Wan for an optional swim and lunch in Ham Tin village. After lunch, you’ll wander through the abandoned village of Chek Keng before taking a five-minute boat ride back to the car.

l Forest Trail — Nature Encounter Route

The trail starts from the middle of Tai Mo Shan (Hong Kong’s highest peak), which provides a fresh, cool haven for hikers. Along the way, enjoy the enchanting views of Kam Tin Valley, the fertile farmland and Ho Pui Reservoir, an irrigation catchment. As the trail rises further up to the northwest, the fast-growing towns of Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai can be clearly seen. Vistas of Deep Bay and, on clear days, the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone across the boundary with mainland China are the other features of the walk. You will see butterflies, cascading brooks and streams, and possibly cattle or water buffalo.