Another relatively easy route in Lantau. High cliff and waterfall to conquer but with low water flow and a bit jungly on the top.
- Beauty/fun: 5/10. Just the high waterfall/cliff section is remarkable. All the rest is a lower flow and flattish stream hike.
- Difficulty (check this link if new here, this is not your standard HK hiking web): 4.5/10 Easy to navigate. Clear forks once in stream. The cliff has ribbons to guide you up the easiest route. Short. If you do it downstream 5.5
- The map (how to download to your phone offline maps).
See full screen and the Garmin track (both include going up Tei Shek stream).
I had never hiked this up with anyone, so pics hiking it downhill after being in Tei Shek stream. Here saying bye to the two that were not coming down.
Exactly in the entrance into the stream.
It was a bit overgrown (June 2020),
but not thorny.
The falls and pools are really small here.
Arriving at the cliff section.
After heavy rain, it can be more impressive. In our case, we had little flow
even on Tei Shek there was quite some water. So able to do some tricky scrambling.
Highly not recommended, unless you really know what you are doing and wearing the best shoes. An easy dry path on the left side going upstream.
Stair like waterfalls for a little while
before arriving at the bottom.
Leaving the waterfall section behind.
The stream gets wider and with a bit more flow with another tributary connecting too.
Only this waterfall is good for having a small shower under.
Little further
you find the water channeling structure, easy path on its right looking upstream.
Cross to the opposite side, little climb
and concrete exit.
Get to the road and bus stop nearby.
Everything you should know before stream hiking.
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.
October 21, 2022 at 6:12 pm
I think by “another tributary” you mean North Phoenix Stream (in Chinese: 鳳大北坑), and both East and North Phoenix Stream together form what is called “Tung Chung River”.
I guess it could be worthwhile following North Phoenix Stream further from where it is joined by East Phoenix Stream (at ~125 m altitude), not only to where it seems to end in OpenStreetMap (when it crosses under Tung Chung Road at ~245 m altitude), but even further east, where it seems to be called West Dragon Stream (西龍石澗), until it crosses a wild hiking path at around 350 m altitude, or even towards the official hiking path at around 650 m altitude. It is shown like that at http://www.wildconqueror.com/web/outdoor1997/Westdragon.htm.
If you give it a try next year, would be grateful if you could share your experience again. Thank you!
October 24, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Correct. North Phoenix stream. The tributary you mentioned on the West of Sunset Peak is in the long to do list. Some time ago, after heavy rain, I saw that there was a big waterfall there. But it might be like the Pok To Yan streams.