Coasteering on very peculiar rock formations including the biggest boulder maze found so far in Hong Kong on a foggy late winter day.
- Beauty/fun: 7/10 it is a bit flat and not so interesting initially but keeps on improving and the maze area is really fun.
- Difficulty (check this link if new here, this is not your standard HK hiking web): 7/10 really easy initially with increasing difficulty (mark reflecting that part). Long route with several potential early exits. It can be slightly choppier than other areas in Lantau.
- Map (how to download to your phone offline maps)
See full screen & Garmin track.
After doing the Chi Ma Wan West coast route I had this second half pending. Early March. Still not completely warm but ready with Denvy to try to do it fast with no wetsuits. MTR to Tung Chung and taxi to around the pier and abandoned prison. The Inter-Island ferries are also available, but not the most convenient unless you are living in Cheung Chau, Peng Chau or Mui Wo, ie the connected points.
Start walking on the beach
and the first easy sections.
Arriving at the first peculiar rock formation. Which initially we called the Shark Fin rock.
Although once in front of it, it looks like something else. Denvy swam there to take a look while I was taking the pics. Continue and find the first exit point next to some kind of water construction, a nice big tafoni, a sandy area and
some tiny islets.
A little further we found this balancing massive rock. Denvy went under, while I kept dry going up on its right side.
After the pier, the second exit, the real scrambling starts
On the map, I have marked the hiking path that would connect it with the road. In case you would want to start directly from here. Small slabs, chimney descends, small foothold traverses. There is a bit of all, not too technical and if you want to avoid it, just jump to the water as Denvy did quite some times.
Eventually, we arrived at the boulder maze. I had seen similar structures before, in Chung Hom Kok for example
but this is significantly bigger. Tons of fun. We took a wrong way though and we ended up needing to swim a bit. Perfect to find “Nessy rock” 😄 and back up on the boulders.
A bit further some more cliffs and small slabs. I was able to keep dry by going quite high, meanwhile she was down.
That day’s wave and tide forecast.
Some more easier traverse and end up
at Big Wave beach pier. From there we jog back to Pui O.
If you are ready for a long day, my prefer route now would be to mix both West and East. Starting at Eagle crag and going East, pass the boulder maze and if necessary exit at the pier next to the Christian Zheng Sheng College.
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