Practical hiking tips to explore Hong Kong’s trails

Hong Kong offers trails aplenty for all levels of hikers from beginner to advanced. Enjoy the great outdoors, but be sure to properly prepare for a day on the trails and adhere to safety precautions. Follow these helpful tips to have an enjoyable experience on Hong Kong’s many beautiful trails:

1. Carefully make a plan and familiarise yourself with the route.
   
   
2. Gauge whether your fitness level is appropriate for the route.
   
   
3. Pay attention to weather conditions.
   
   
4. Do not go hiking alone if you are an inexperienced hiker.
   
   
5. Wear appropriate gear and bring along extra clothing and supplies, such as hats, raincoats, windbreakers, maps, compasses, hiking sticks, water, food, electric torches, umbrellas, radios, first-aid kits and mobile phones.
   
   
6. Pay attention to the signs and terrain along the route to ensure that you are on the right path. Always heed warning signs.
   
   
7. Remain alert to changes in the surrounding environment. In the event of bad weather, shorten or retreat from the hike.
   
   
8. Do not attempt to take any shortcuts alone.
   
   
9. Do not litter — please take your rubbish with you.
   
   
10. Protect the countryside and preserve natural landscapes. Do not vandalise natural features, pollute water, or destroy vegetation, wildlife and their habitat.
    
    
11. Do not pick or eat wild fruit or drink spring water.
    
    
12. Only cook or make fires in designated areas where it is permitted. It is against the law to do so elsewhere, and could result in wildfires.
    
    
13. Do not stand on cliff edges or climb onto rocks.
    
    
14. Do not swim in reservoirs or at unmanned beaches.
    
    
15. Download the 'Safeguard HK', Security Bureau Mobile App. Hikers can register with their mobile phone number and switch on the hiker tracking function on the app. This enables the app to temporarily record and track the user's location using GPS for the next 24 hours to facilitate rescue operations should there be any incident.
    
    
16. Mobile phone coverage varies throughout Hong Kong’s trails. Poor coverage is especially likely to occur in eastern Sai Kung and northern Plover Cove.
    
    
17. In the event of an emergency, note the number of the nearest distance post (eg M001), and call 112 or 999 or use the nearest emergency telephone.

For more details on hiking safety, please visit the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department website.