Hiking in Tai Tam Country Park (Quarry Bay Extension) (photo-essay)

Back in 2007, at the height of summer, a friend took me on my first post-move-to-Hong Kong hike along the Hong Pak Country Trail in Tai Tam Country Park (Quarry Bay Extension). Earlier this year, in winter (and on the second day of Chinese New Year), it was my turn to introduce a friend to a hike from Mount Parker Road to Hing Tung Estate that followed a similar route for at least the first two thirds of the way.

While the first hike was under a more bright blue sky and in clearer air, I think that the second hike was more enjoyable. One reason is that I now better know what to expect of hiking in Hong Kong. For another, it really is much cooler and less humid in January than July! And so much so that I know some Hong Kong hiking enthusiasts who won't go out on a hike at all once summer -- with its heat and, often, heavy rains to boot -- comes along... :S

From 2007 and early into the hike --
a view of the dense urban scene that soon
will be left behind (albeit only temporarily)

Woodside -- a colonial-era Grade II heritage building
located inside the country park that has been spared
from being torn down and now is used as
the headquarters of The Institute for Cultural Affairs

Above us for part of the way was what
my hike companion and I took to laughingly calling
the not-so-great wall of Hong Kong!

Far more interesting and impressive to us
were the natural rock formations
to be found in the area

Doesn't this rock resemble the
face of some prehistoric creature?

There are times during this hike
when one can feel like one has left
the urban jungle far behind

The 2007 hiking trail took us down
through an area full of trees before ending up
on King's Road near the Tai Koo MTR station

In contrast, before ending near Hing Tung Estate
above Sai Wan Ho, the 2009 trail took us by an area
that came complete with railing on one side and
a sign near it that read "Steep and dangerous slope
-- please do not lean on the railing"!