Spectacular waterfalls starting just 2km from Tung Chung MTR station.
- Beauty/fun: 9.5/10. One of the most spectacular stream hikes available in Hong Kong. Pools to dip into. The red walls on the top. Being able to see from the top of the highest waterfall. A must.
- Difficulty (check this link if new here, this is not your standard HK hiking web): Variable 5.5-9/10. Road, initial simple stream hike, after the big pool requires some rock scrambling. If completely dry it is OK, but wet some of the rocky parts can get really dangerous. Only two main possible exits: go back to start or up to the main Lantau trail through different routes.
- A bit more than 3km to the stream, couple more at least within. Then you can either trace back your steps or continue up through a treacherous path.
- The map
A better version (how to download to your phone).
See full screen and the Garmin track going up and down the same way, or circular track going up till the main trail, another option going up following the yellow ribbons.
Tung Chung MTR station. Walk to Wong Lung Han Road. You could avoid a couple of concrete kilometers by taking a taxi up till max the crossing gate. In any case, you will continue walking on the concrete, pass a picnic area, toilets, stairs up to Sunset Peak, until the very end. Here is where the real stream hike starts.
You should cross to the left side of the stream and go through these stairs first.
And after that just navigate following the ribbons or just as per your preference. In my case, when really hot, I really like to walk in the stream itself. Cooling down every now and then.
Most friends though preferred to keep their shoes dry and some areas required bit of extra balancing game.
There are different small waterfalls and pools in the way until you arrive at the Main Fall. Best swimming and picture place.
Take it easy here. Best spot for enjoying the water, some snacks, and get ready to a bit more complicated part. Starting from here you will need to scramble in some short sections.
There are ropes placed by previous hiking groups. If you can avoid using them better. If you use them, check that they are in good condition.
Here onwards the stream gets a bit more technical. You will need to scramble quite more. But the goals are easy to see (waterfall up in the pic is the Left Dragon = “Joh Lung”).
Finally arriving at the main gorge section. With beautiful waterfalls on your right and left.
Usual hiking would end up here. With the last waterfall (Dragon Tail fall) that you would see in front. Take it easy. Enjoy the water in bath mode.
Or shower on the Right Dragon. Your choice 😀
But under extreme conditions, the easiest way would be tracing back your steps. Down again the gorge with its wonderful red walls.
And hike down on the rocks or again within the stream itself.
After Dragon Tail fall you could continue going up. Find your way on the left side of the stream. You will see some ropes around…
I would suggest avoiding them. There is an easier path further on the left (NW). Different ribbons to guide you. In any case, this is more complicated than anything hiked before on this path, so only for confident low-level climbers with no vertigo…
Above, the chimney-like scramble. There tends to be a rope set. Beware again. You can scramble without using it. Bring a rope to help weaker hikers with you in case it is damaged. From atop you have a magnificent lookout that allows you to see all the Right Dragon before arriving at Snake Retreat(蛇倒退).
On its right, there is a steep fall directly to the river bed dozens of meters down. Again. You can do it without the rope… After that, you have passed all the Dragon Dangers. You can read more about them (including the old dangers) on the HKadventurer web.
Moving forward you could just follow the ribbons up through paths that are not especially clear (blue line). Overgrown area. Cover yourself or you might end up with scratches all around.
If you continue going upwards (NE direction) you will finally find a defined main path.
From where to go back down to Tung Chung.
Or Mui Wo, if you want to add some more kilometers. A video with a summary of the highlights of the full loop.
I have added to the map more routes hiked several times already. After the Dragon Tail fall, if you continue up and follow the ribbons on the leftmost, you will arrive, without passing any of the modern Dangers, at the top of the Left Dragon (Joh Lung Waterfall).
From there onwards you can hike up in that tributary, so you have the extra fun of a little bit more stream trekking. Several ribbons mark your way (2019), although not really clear in some areas (yellow line). Really dense vegetation sometimes, just head up through the less bushy parts NE direction. The positive of this route is that those with vertigo were able to handle it with no problem.
You could connect through the Dragon corridor to the upper part of the Dragon’s Jaw, brown line. You have a bit more of the stream but also a quite bushy exit. Pic of the connection exactly with Dragon’s Jaw stream.
Finally, if you want to do the whole Wong Lung Hang stream, after passing the Dangers you can find a path reconnecting with the stream itself (orange line). The views from there of the gorge behind with Right Dragon.
In front, you will have the last big waterfall to scramble, on its right.
And continue up any of the tributaries. This part was badly affected by Typhoon Mangkhut. In late 2018 the left tributary was impassable and the right one was a mess.
with tons of broken trees and thorny vegetation.
It used to be an OK route, so hopefully, it will recover with time and hikers passing. Let us know if you do so.
Final short bush walk before connecting with Lantau trail
And go down through Wong Lung Hang country trail.
I have written about other tributaries in the same area. So you might want to take a look at Dragon’s Jaw, North Dragon stream (aka Celestial Book), Hidden Dragon, Crouching Dragon. East Dragon if your skills are good and you want to include more fun downhill.
Everything you should know before stream hiking.
Any feedback, please, leave a comment below. Your contribution with the latest update can be relevant to other readers. If any information seems wrong we will try to check the route and update the information as soon as possible.
2020 update: The stream is becoming more and more popular and there was recently a fatal accident. Please read carefully the information, get your gear ready, and do not try anything that you are not prepared for. That includes following ribbons or ropes that you do not know where they are taking you to. How crazy can you go if you follow the ropes?
This is a climbers’ playground too. So beware!
August 2022: After Dragon’s Jaw going down Joh Lung and back to the civilization through Wong Lung Hang.
Nov 2022: After a long time we did the classic ascend and Dangers exit after a little detour to check the upper part of Left Dragon. Climbing a few of the waterfalls. Some partly, Dragon Tail no way without a really long rope and full gear.
Garmin track for reference.
The rest did not have good enough clothes cover to try any of the other tributaries. But it looks that the main orange line and also Lung Ho (added pink line) are way more open than years ago. Post about the latter that I found recently.
August 23, 2019 at 6:56 pm
Hi! It doesn’t say how many km or how many hours it takes to do this? Thanks!
August 23, 2019 at 7:37 pm
Hi! Usually I do not include timing, cause it will depend greatly on your skills, gear (mainly shoes) and weather conditions. I have done the very same route there in 3 hours or 1.5, the only difference being the group I lead. If you are planning to
go up and down the same way, as per the Garmin track in the post (with not specially fast group), over 3 hours moving time, 5 hours of real time.
Be safe up there!
August 23, 2019 at 8:18 pm
JC says 6 hours. His might be better estimation for the average Jane
http://www.hongkonghikes.com/2012/05/wung-lung-hang-stream.html
August 27, 2019 at 4:21 pm
We did 7 hours walking to Sam Shan Toi following whatever ribbons through the bush and then back down to Tung Chung from Por Kai Shan. We were absolutely beat and half the group bleeding and most if not all scratched and sore lol. Never doing that again but maybe back to the waterfalls (which were amazing) and round the same way again someday
August 27, 2019 at 10:21 pm
Yup. You need to get all the gear ready if doing the bush walking / jungle version routes 😀
Easiest option, almost always (but if you are surprised by a sudden storm, when yellow line might be safer), is going back down the same way you started indeed. I have added some more routes around that you should consider. North Dragon is slightly easier and with almost no bush walking out to the main path.
Enjoy out there!
August 27, 2019 at 10:25 pm
Thanks……. we did the whole hike in bikini hahahahaha. Jasón was there too
August 25, 2019 at 8:49 pm
Amazing stream hike – thanks for posting. Continuing up to the (eventual) path was intense!!! Takes a while and the path / ribbons are hard to follow. 9 / 10 difficulty for that part is no joke. Be careful up there!
August 26, 2019 at 10:37 am
Hi Jason.
Actually the 9/10 is in case you get lost or in the middle of bad weather in the tricky scrambling zones, or you want to go to crazy with some of the rope areas. It is not so clear with so many ribbons and definitely can get to exposed situations. The bush walking can be hard work but not dangerous, main driver of the difficulty rating. The upper part was badly hit by 2018 typhoon, so a bit messier than before.
I will try to update the post soonest, as we have explored basically all around and this post needs some more info.
In any case. Yup. Be careful up there!
August 27, 2019 at 10:16 pm
Post updated with more information, several more routes marked, downloadable map, etc.
January 4, 2021 at 3:05 pm
I attempted the entire stream on June 2020, including the upper part, and I feel it deserves a 9.5/10: all other hikes I have been felt easy. It’s not only physically demanding (9/10), but you can be misled by the ribbons or typhoon debris that fractured the path. The undergrowth was very dense and teeming with insects that will sap your morale. We were also in shorts and t-shirts, so do expect a lot of abrasion from the thorns and tall grass. We had to apply survival logic and instincts to pull through. A lot of recon work around the waist of the upper stream saps away all your energy. Was all worth it and I will return with better gear, but wouldnt recommend it to the casual hiker.
January 5, 2021 at 5:11 pm
Hi there!
As explained in the post itself and in some of the comments, this is not your regular hiking web page and the difficulty is defined accordingly. More focused on Exposure and Consequences. The upper part of the stream accordingly is not so “difficult”, just a little pain in the ass 😅 There are way more difficult (exposed/dangerous) spots if you take other exit options. For example, Joh Lung the hard way or the old Dangers. For the person who goes there for the first time, and if lucky (enjoying it on their own, it can get even crowded nowadays), it might be difficult to guess the best option with so many ribbons, ropes, etc. That’s why I marked with such different difficulty grading.
If you try other routes on the web, please check the links with all the information including all the basics of stream hiking, gear, and others. Definitely, long sleeves and tights highly recommended for bushy routes. My friends are tough guys that endured their scratches while I was happily fully covered 😉 They have complied with the Five Tens at least.
Be safe out there!
September 7, 2022 at 3:04 am
I went to Wong Lung Hang today during sunny and dry weather. Extremely enjoyable and beautiful even though there was not much water. I tried to inspect the various tributaries for possible future visits and judge them based on how much water they carry in summer after a few days without rain. In case it helps anyone, this was my impression, roughly in descending order of estimated waterflow:
OK:
1) Yellow Dragon / Wong Lung stream (黄龍坑) main source + right source (右源) + Howling Dragon / Lung Ho stream (龍嚎石澗) [I didn’t see them separately]
2) East [Sunset Peak] Dragon / Tung Lung stream (東龍石澗)
3) Crouching Dragon / Ngo Lung stream (臥龍石澗)
Disappointing:
4) North Dragon / Pak Lung stream (北龍石澗)
5) Left Dragon / Joh Lung stream (左龍石澗) [not much especially considering that according to the map it splits up shortly above the waterfall)
6) Hidden Dragon / Tsung Long stream (藏龍石澗)
7) Right Dragon / Yau Lung stream (右龍石澗)
Dried out:
8) Little Hidden Dragon / Siu Tsung Long stream (小藏龍石澗) [just a few drops, overlooked the first time I passed!]
Conclusion: Based on waterflow and the expected effort otherwise IMO during dry weather it’s *much* better to return via the main stream. 😉
Question for Iurgi if he has time: There is a long unnamed tributary to Wong Lung Hang on the maps, joining Wong Lung Hang about 1/3 on the way on Wong Lung Road to the picnic site, coming from the Northeast, from a mountain called Tung Sam Yan Teng. Did you ever have a look at it? Unfortunately, it does not connect with any path as a potential exit according to the map. Thanks!
September 7, 2022 at 8:55 am
Hi Chris.
Long comment, let me try to answer all.
Water flow if only checking at the forks can be misleading. The best example is Hidden Dragon. We were there last weekend too. In the fork itself we could see almost no water, as the stream itself is deep under the rocks. I guess it is the reason why it is called Hidden. The higher you go the more water there is. Already in the first waterfall the flow was pretty good, slightly better than Tung Lung, that we did downstream just after. I will try to put flow information tag in the posts: low, medium, high.
For the rest. I agree that Right and Left Dragon are just nice to see from around the forks, where the huge waterfalls are, and after just ways to go out to the top. There is little more to see after, waterfall wise. But for the adventurous can be fun to see and scramble them all. I will write specific post about Right soonest. North Dragon has little flow but the best water quality of all, very picturesque pools after significant rain.
Unnamed tributary not checked yet. I got a little bit frustrated after the not very successful check of the streams on the other side, North of Pok To Yan. So this is low in the to do list. Although I guess eventually I will explore it.
September 28, 2022 at 11:03 pm
went today
your guide are very useful as often there is a lack of clear info on stream hiking
your guide could and should develop into a semi pro guide
as many people need the info before we go as a guideline