Once upon a time Dragon’s Back was a nice hike option around Shek O. Overcrowded now. Other options in the same area here: nice view hill & tiny streams.

  • Beauty/fun: 4/10. The initial rocks up to D’Aguilar peak are very picturesque and fun to scramble on. Nice views atop of the beach and area around. The stream is a cute short one. Perfect for an initiation outing.
  • Difficulty (check this link if new here, this is not your standard HK hiking web): 3/10 for the brown line: easy scramble rocks and steady sloped path. 4/10 for the dark blue path: tends to be muddier and there are several tiny creeks that might make the rocks wet, significantly more ups and downs, within jungle like vegetation. 3.5/10 for the stream itself, beware of the different tributary options, some can have very dense vegetation.
  • The map (how to download to your phone)

See full screen & Garmin track of the paths to the peak & the stream.

Starting point for all the options would be Shek O main beach. Next to Shau Kei Wan MTR Station you have minibuses or bus #9 going there. Once on the beach find your way on the very right side, next to the Lam Au BBQ Store. You will see the stream mouth just next to it.

Cross it on its right and just behind the building you will see a path on the rocks,

with several concrete steps up the hill. Several ribbons guiding you up. Initially you will be among the vegetation.

And the rocks to scramble on.

The grip is extremely good. There are side paths that you could follow. I prefer to go in straight line on the rocks themselves (watch video). You will find different forms above with nice views below.

Continuing on the brown line you will arrive at bushier sections. Already seeing the Cape D’Aguilar Satellite Earth Station in front.

You could go to there following the brown line.

We would do so if going to (marked on the map) the Cave or the ruins of the WW2 battery down on the coast, followed by an easy dry coasteering and return to the road through a stream. Otherwise it is too much concrete and therefore I prefer the green line. You will cross forest, bush and rock areas with Stanley in front of you.

And after the last tunnel like vegetation

connect with the roundabout from where you can take buses back to the city.

If you are in a rush go to the main road a little further, as fewer buses stop here. If you want to do a full loop head to the stream. There are different entries. The brown line again is the easiest to follow.

This is a stream already written about before: Dragon’s Back reverse to Shek O.

Easy one with a pool or two where to dip into.

And arrive at the peculiar structures

down connecting with Shek O beach. If you want to do the stream fully, the upper entrance is not so clear. Check with the GPS and you might find a few ribbons (May 2019). I have explored some of the tributaries and I could not find anything specially interesting. Just a thin waterfall, marked on the map too.

I added the dark blue line to the map too. I had seen quite some people heading that way and I wanted to give it a try. Starting from around D’Aguilar Peak (the aforementioned station) the path was a bit messy.

Steeper. Muddier in some areas, even without much rain in previous days, and dense vegetation.

There were tons of ribbons though. If the “hiker traffic” continues it might get more open. The only perk that offered compared with the brown line was a bit more of rocks to scramble around.

But not much. I would prefer the previous route proposed. If you do the dark blue, you might want to do it going up for a longer day out.

Video with the easier loop.

Everything you should know before stream hiking.

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