The hills of Ling Fa Shan (NT) are full of tunnels. Well over 100 adits as per those that have been trying to check them all. Exploration for weeks.

I can think of various starting points. In our case, we started at Tsuen Wan West Station. Go up to the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail and pass

next to the abandoned Lin Fa Shan School.

Funny to remember the first time that I bumped into it while trail running. A bit creepy in the dusk, cute in the daylight.

From there we headed towards the mine path passing again next to a nice abandoned big house.

And some of the mine buildings themselves. If you want to know more about the history of this place here a post by The Industrial History of Hong Kong Group.

The path was relatively clear, with quite some ribbons. But definitely does not have much hiking traffic.

More mining structures en route

before arriving at the main site.

A few building remains and tons of rocks extracted from the hill down the slope. The usual clue to know that you are close to a mine. Just behind this esplanade and tree

the main adit entrance.

You need to get wet from the get-go. If you check around you will find the first interesting things. What we think are some kind of Arachnocampa luminosa or Fungus Gnats.

Little worms build those lines. You can see them from close. They might glow at night.

Continue for a bit more and first fork. Here heading into the right branch.

Already here we started seeing small horseshoe bats.

and the further and tighter in the more there were.

Be careful therefore and check before putting any part of your body too close to the rocks.

There is a bit wider corner and a dead-end just after. Going back.

Again on the main tunnel

with really old-looking artifacts.

Time to squat and scramble.

Here testing the first vertical climb we saw.

1 on the map below. I have added numbers to the original map sketched in the “A comparative ecological study of insectivorous bats (Hipposideridae, Vespertilionidae, and Rhinolophidae) in Hong Kong, with special reference to dietary seasonality” postgraduate thesis for easier reference.

Without Five Tens the climb didn’t look so safe and we continue down the tunnel instead. Here we found a couple of bigger bats (Rhinolophus affinis?), double the size of the previous.

The tunnel has some marking.

Arriving at a dead end.

But check carefully. Some are not really so. Here she pointing to an entry to a higher level. Number two on the map.

I climbed to the right side and nothing to see. Back with them down.

The opposite side has quite some more structures.

After checking it all, back down with the gnats.

Those tall, beware of your head.

A higher level that we definitely did not try to reach.

And the last part of the tunnel that we checked. The number 3 on the map. The nursery. Where the biggest bat concentration in Hong Kong ever has been recorded. Torch with the red filter to try to minimize the risk of disturbing them.

And a zoomed and color-corrected picture to give you an idea. All of them taken with the phone, so apologies for the quality…

There were a lot more inside. We decided to avoid any possible disturbance and hurt them. Therefore we did not continue and check the rest of the tunnel. Instead, going back. Here in #1 again, squatting through the tight pass.

And completely out. The rest of the adits are up the hill.

Tons of loose small rocks make the ascent slightly tricky.

On the left side. Getting into

the wild boar adit.

Funny shock for the ladies. As I had asked them to switch off the lights till we were next to it and they did not know about its existence 😆

We did not check the tunnel completely. This deep hole did not look safe to try to pass above.

There is an upper level. Part of it just above them. We checked a bit, nothing interesting.

Coming out of this adit. Not so easy to find. For your reference, I was taking the pic from some vegetation that does not allow you to see it from afar.

Just in front of it on the right side. Ladies coming from the previous towards

the entry of a tiny one.

Almost nothing to see.

A bit higher this more picturesque entrance… But small… Would the rest be this way moving forward?

Nope. Leave the backpacks on the side and get to the one opposite on the right side.

Pass through a tight section and

arrive at a really nice pool.

My waterproof torch was almost out of battery and therefore I did not try to check it completely. I guess around 10 meters long and 3 meters deep. A higher level just after. To check next time. Going back.

And coming out.

A bit higher… Another small one.

And even higher this that had

a huge bat colony and therefore we did not explore completely.

Higher this one that immediately

starts going down.

We ended in this huge vertical drop. We could see some beams below and it might be connected with the lowest adits visited.

Getting into one more just above the previous.

A long

one.

And very narrow in some sections.

We did not check it all. Low on batteries and already getting late.

So up to the top of the hill. Helping Summer with the rope where necessary. She was having problems with old shoes with almost no lugs and therefore grip.

Even on the very top, we could see more adits. One behind her, for example, while climbing down to the road below.

Go on the concrete, seen more adits en route, and end up after the sunset at the bus stop next to the end of MacLehose trail section 8. Long fun exploration day.

And why not share the map directly as I do in other posts? I shared some pics before on Facebook and Instagram and the reaction was pretty bad. There were those that wanted to get the lamp or even the bones to decorate their homes… I have also seen people being not careful enough with bats before and definitely, this is a little sanctuary. I hope that those that go there, at least, read all this and try to keep everything as it is. So that among others, we can go there in the future and find it in a similar state. In this post are enough tips for you to find these adits. If you read it all, including links to this and other webs. Enjoy the exploration and leave no trace!

Everything you should know before caving.

PS: For those that I know personally, you can contact me and I will give you further input.