An easy, short, nice stream with several waterfalls and pools in Lantau. To add for a long day or good for beginners (explanation) on its own.
- Beauty/fun: 7/10. Usually very clean water, decent flow, just one big waterfall area, but also several small ones + pools all around.
- Difficulty (check this link if new here, this is not your standard HK hiking web): 4.5/10 Even without early exits, this is a very short route, the high waterfalls are easily passable on a relatively clear path on the side, it even can handle significant rain if suddenly a storm would approach. Very polished rocks that make them extra slippery.
- The map (how to download to your phone offline maps)
See full screen and the Garmin track, both showing the way down through East Phoenix stream.
Usually, I come here after being in other more difficult streams in the area. To enjoy the pools to cool down or directly hike downstream. I took some friends in the uphill version recently. Pics from that day.
Tung Chung MTR station. You could take a bus up till Shek Mun Kap stop.
Otherwise, around 45 min walk up to the “start” of the stream. You could start even lower. The water was very clear even around buildings, but a little upper the water is channeled out and without hikers the vegetation can grow dense.
So for beginners, this is the best entry.
Just next to the water channeling structure. You have the first pool surrounded by nice walls and a small waterfall
to climb.
To be honest, it is not necessary. You can find dry rock routes around. But that’s not fun!
Second deeper pool.
Arriving at the first shower type fall.
Easily passable on the right side.
The water tends to be crystal clear.
Twin falls.
With side path or climbable.
A powerful little
shower.
Arriving at
the main pool (you better swim it, otherwise high side path on the right side)
and waterfalls. Pic by Ina.
There are three concatenated falls. You can climb on the left side of them. Starting next to the water construction.
There are even old ropes and cables set around.
Not necessary but for non-experienced hikers. The only “tricky” section just above the second fall. Not very wide ledge over it.
In our case, we climbed the third one just for fun. Easily passable on the right side otherwise.
Moving forward
similar
landscape.
Up till you arrive at the little fall above. This is the only point that requires any kind of climbing skills. A 2m+ wall on its left. Every time there I have seen ropes. Bring your own if with weak hikers (a tiny one suffice). Pedro coming up through it.
Just a little further you will arrive at this small pool. You might not realize initially but the main concrete path is just 20 meters from it.
You could just turn left down (brown line on the map) and arrive at the stream starting point in no time. In our case, we headed to East Phoenix stream instead.
Feb 2021: Dry season. With Roland (HKoutsider) and friends up to Lo Hon Tower through the stream. Definitely a lot less water, but even in those conditions extremely clean. We wanted to do a short one before heading for lunch, so after Lo Hon down to the Buddha Temple. Garmin Track.
Late August 2022 downstream after going up Nei Tung Hung. We tried to check even further up (second pic), next to the Buddhist buildings, but it was too bushy and finally, we went the usual route instead.
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.
August 7, 2020 at 3:41 pm
Hi there,
Thanks for this guide. I just did this today and found the route extremely challenging. I have hiked and stream hiked all over Hong Kong for the past nearly 7 years so I am not new to this terrain. So, I’m wondering how you consider this suitable for beginners? I’d say this is at least intermediate. Thanks again!
August 15, 2020 at 11:02 am
Hi Sandy.
As explained in the Difficulty section, linked in every post, this is not a regular hiking web. Therefore difficulty gradings tend to be significantly lower than in those. The usual 4 or higher out of 5 difficulty in the Hiking meet up groups, for example, tend to be graded as relatively easy here. Nevertheless thanks for pointing it out, so that I make it even more clear in the above link.
The reason why I brought fit but untested friends (beginners) here before or recommended the route to people who were asking me what to do after they had hiked the easiest streams written about in the web was:
– Even without early exits, it is short
– Its difficulty is consistent (slippery rocks from the very beginning, no sudden huge cliff you need to climb or else midway) if you are doing it in “adventure” mode, ie, in the water, which I always force everyone to, so that we can check their skills and gear from the very beginning
– The navigation is clear. No chances of taking a wrong tributary or anyone thinking that climbing a huge cliff is the only option up
– Almost no dangerous (read life-threatening) accident spots if following the clear main route. The mentioned ledge only
All of my friends and people who I have been in direct talks had read the Stream hiking basics post and had best shoes possible. So it was a pleasant route for all. But the perceived risk/difficulty depends also on each hiker’s capacities definitely.
Enjoy safely you all up there!
August 29, 2020 at 2:43 pm
We tried going this stream , but useless disappointing guidance Put us off. I will not advise anyone to follow your link.
Sorry. It’s Our mistake to follow you
August 29, 2020 at 3:11 pm
🤷♂️
I’m not sure what you mean with that.
August 31, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Just done it ustream last weekend. Amazing place. Quite chalenging if you dont have an apropriated shoes like me xD. Begginers must be very carefull. Route well explained as always. Thank you!