All activities / Trekking / Hiking / Dragon's Back
Trekking / Hiking in Dragon's Back
A ridgeline trail along the southeast corner of Hong Kong Island, inside Shek O Country Park, that undulates like a dragon's spine above the South China Sea. The best-known stretch of the Hong Kong Trail, it climbs Shek O Peak for open views over Big Wave Bay, Shek O and the outlying islands before dropping to the beach at Tai Long Wan.
Why here
Dragon's Back is the hike that proves you can leave a city of seven million and be walking a wild coastal ridge inside half an hour. The trail runs the spine of a low mountain range at the southeast tip of Hong Kong Island, rising and falling in a series of humps that give it its name, with the surf-lined bays of Shek O and Tai Long Wan on one side and the wooded slopes of Shek O Country Park on the other. Time Magazine named it Asia's best urban hike, and the reason is the contrast: paragliders launch off Shek O Peak, the skyline of the island floats in the haze behind you, and the walk ends on the sand at Big Wave Bay where surfers ride the swell. It is a manageable half-day on a clear path, roughly four to eight kilometres depending on where you start and finish, with steady climbs rather than any scrambling, so it suits fit first-timers as much as regular walkers. The forest sections give shade, the ridge gives the views, and public transport drops you at both ends, which is why locals treat it as the default weekend escape. The cooler, drier months from October to April are the time to go, when the humidity drops and the visibility opens up.
Best months
Best walked from October to April, when the air is cooler and drier and the ridge views are clear; the summer months are hot, very humid and prone to thunderstorms and typhoons, and the exposed ridgeline offers little shade at midday. The main route is a well-marked, well-trodden path with some stepped climbs but no technical sections or serious exposure, walkable by anyone reasonably fit. Carry water, sun protection and a hat, as the ridge is fully open to the sun. The finish at Big Wave Bay has showers and places to eat, so many people pair the walk with a swim.
Getting there & around
The classic route starts at To Tei Wan on Shek O Road, reached by bus or minibus from Shau Kei Wan MTR station, and finishes at Big Wave Bay, from where a short walk and bus return you to the MTR. It needs no permit and experienced walkers do it unguided, but a local guide adds the history of the trail, the wet markets and old fishing villages at either end, and takes care of the transport connections. Weekends are busy, so an early or weekday start means a quieter ridge. Bring cash for the buses and the beachfront cafes.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate
Schools & guides (2)
Walk Hong Kong
OutfitterWalk Hong Kong has guided walks and hikes across the territory since 2003 and is run by Gabi Baumgartner, who matches guides and routes to each group's interests; it holds Hong Kong travel-agent licence 352796. Its half-day Dragon's Back hike covers about 5.5 kilometres through Shek O Country Park and frames the walk with local life, riding the old tram and passing through the Shau Kei Wan wet market so the ridge comes with the city around it. Transport from Central is included.
Wild Hong Kong
OutfitterWild Hong Kong is a Hong Kong adventure operator running guided hikes, kayaking and outdoor trips across the territory since 2015. Its Dragon's Back tour walks the full ten-kilometre ridge on the southeast of Hong Kong Island, finishing on the sand at Tai Long Wan (Big Wave Bay), the trail Time Magazine crowned Asia's best urban hike. Groups are kept small and led by local guides, and the company also runs the well-known Sai Kung Geopark sea-kayak trips.