Stream 20 minutes walking distance from FoTan MTR station, with pools to dip into and different hiking options around.

  • Beauty/fun: 7.5/10. Easy access, different options, almost all the waterfalls are climbable, pools to dip into, distinct sections, and an old abandoned village at the end to check around. The only little complaint is that the water is never completely clear, I guess due to the soil composition of the riverbed/riverbank.
  • Difficulty (check this link if new here, this is not your standard HK hiking web): 5 to 6.5/10. Depending if you are doing it trying to avoid being in the water as much as possible, or you are IN almost all the time, respectively.
  • Map (how to download to your phone)

See full screen, old Google Maps version, and the Garmin track of the two sections and down day & long exit mentioned below in case interested.

The simplest way to arrive at the stream is by taking MTR to Fo Tan. Exit D and start walking uphill NW direction. You could avoid the initial 15min by taking a taxi up there, as even the Up Wong Chuk Yeung path is concrete.

Go up next to the crossing gate in the middle and you will arrive in seconds at the end of the stream itself. Up these stairs

next to the “white hole”.

Down again to the stream.

Immediately you will be seeing the waterfalls.

There are ribbons marking alternative paths a little bit higher. In the first one on your right. But the fun part is climbing them within.

If you do so get ready to get quite wet, or actually, go for it all swimming a bit.

If you take the lateral alternative path try to find your way back to the stream asap. Otherwise, you might connect with other ancient paths (rock steps) and miss some of the fun. I don’t have a pic from the next section. The first time there poured exactly at that moment, the second time running up and down trying to find someone who got lost with exactly what I have explained previously. But you can climb up the waterfall through a little “cave”. Pics exactly there downstream by HKOutsider on a canyoning day (see below).

Very picturesque.

A little later you will arrive at two of the highest falls en route.

You can swim there and sit under it comfortably.

This can be climbed if the water flow is not very strong and you are a really good climber. Otherwise, you better go back a dozen meters and find the ribbon path on its left. Soon you will find a little path downhill. Quite steep and with bit of rock descending required.

You might want to take a rope to descend here if with weaker hikers. Turn left and you will see the second waterfall you had seen before from below.

This is climbable on its right. If you want to be on the extra safe side, go back up the same way you came and continue the ribboned path up. You will arrive at the top of the waterfall again. Continue up and you will find some fun vine areas.

The roots are really helpful to continue on your dry way.

Just after you will arrive at a new waterfall. Dry path on its right

fun part within.

Up in the stream, the rock grip is quite good, little stairs-like.

In any case, if you do not feel comfortable just find an easier way on your right. And the views of the city below.

The two versions of this route expressed in a picture. Grace up with “cheesin gweilos” face looking down to the other two having “fun” 😛

But, I myself think the full wet version is definitely way more fun.

Trees, rocks, stream.

Helping each other.

A romantic moment captured in the middle of the jungle.

And the last waterfalls to climb.

The very last one. Way easier path in the twin waterfall on its left instead of this one. But he was testing himself.

Just after you will arrive at the first clear fork out. All the nicest waterfalls are behind already, so you can take the left path, West direction. On the green line. The area around the East side used to have clear nice paths.

But after Sep2018 typhoon is quite messy now (March 2019).

If you continue up the stream in the fork mentioned before (orange line on the map) you will continue seeing quite some small waterfalls. Initially, you can find some denser vegetation, even a fun slide-like waterfall.

But later the slope decreases and the stream becomes wider with the forest covering around.

You will find quite some human remains: a couple of little dams, walls that used to protect paddies, etc. The only significant fork that you need to take care of is this one. Continue on your right. It is the biggest tributary, in any case.

And soon you will arrive at the cross with a clear hiking path

used in ancient times for the villagers to arrive here. The main gate to the Au Pui Wan village.

Window to the old rural Hong Kong.

With nature conquering back the lands abandoned by humans.

For easy exit turn to the right and go down through the green line again. If you want a longer and more adventurous route turn left and continue up towards MacLehose and Grassy Hill area. I have not marked it on the map, cause involves a significantly longer distance, rough ascent and ending up in Shing Mun Country Park or similar (as per my run 10km extra).

July 2018, hiking both 1st and 2nd sections, partly within the stream (for the rest, mainly all in for me)

March 2019, with lower water flow. Hiking all IN stream, a little swim included (fully waterproof bag required). Some of the side paths had suffered landslides, so if you are going on the sides bring pruning scissors and cover.

July 2020 canyoning mode in the first section.

Everything you should know before stream hiking and canyoning.

Any feedback, please, leave a comment below. Your contribution with the latest update can be relevant for other readers. If any information seems wrong we will try to check the route and update the information as soon as possible.