Lion Rock Hike: how to hike up the iconic Hong Kong mountain
Last updated on December 18th, 2020 at 11:39 am
Lion Rock hike is a rite of passage for Hong Kongese, as it is the spirit of the Hong Kong and the most distinctive mountain along the Kowloon mountain range. Though not as famous as Victoria Peak to visitors, Lion Rock is one of the most accessible urban hikes in Hong Kong. Its rocky outcrop resembles the side profile of a resting lion, It is popular for both day and night hike, and an easier trek than the famed Kowloon Peak with Suicide Cliff. Here is how to hike it:
Difficulty: 3/5 with options to skip the ascent to the lion rock itself and continue on
Time taken: 3-4 hours depending on where you end the trek
Pros: fairly close to public transport and easy to reach, great view of Kowloon Peninsula and Victoria Harbour
Cons: a lot of people are also on this trail
Lion Rock Hike map
The start and end point for the Lion Rock hike are interchangeable, and both are equally in difficulties. It depends whether you want to extend the trek from Shatin Pass onwards, where you can either go to Shatin or head up to Temple Hill even. I’ll cover both starting points here (which can also act as the endpoint in reverse).
Lion Rock hike: Shatin Pass start
From Wong Tai Sin MTR Station, take exit E to the Wong Tai Sin temple and walk across the front. You should see the minibusses at a road in front that doesn’t connect to the main road to your right.
You can actually see Lion Rock at the back!
The minibus you need is 18M and you get off at the Fat Jong Temple and walk up along the Shatin Pass Road.
Alternatively, you can also walk up but it is an extra (and fairly steep and long) walk. But consider it a good warm up!
Going up the Shatin Pass Road with no pavement
If you want as little walking before the trail starts as possible, you can also get a taxi to drop you off at the Lion Pavilion at Shatin Pass, which is by the trail start.
Lion Rock Hike: Lion Rock Park start
Head straight on from Exit B
Also starting from Wong Tai Sin MTR Station, exit at B1 and walk on past the bus stations along the main road until you reach the bridge. There is a pedestrian bridge to the right which is red, head up there and follow it down this ramp.
Once you reach the intersection, turn left and cross the road.
walk on from the ramp then turn left
Cross the road to here (or take the subway) and you’ll find a big staircase
There should be a big staircase that takes you to pass Lion Rock Park and to the trail start.
Lion Rock Hike (from Lion Rock Park)
The hike starts on paved stairs and ground, going steadily upwards until you reach a pavillion. From there, the path is relatively straightforward with the path taking you to Kowloon Pass, where there is another Pavillion. This marks the beginning of the ascent up to the Lion Rock!
From here, make sure you follow the sign as it also branches off to MacLehose Trail Stage 5, which bypass the peak. However, this is also the path we’ll rejoin later coming down from Lion Rock.
You might also see some monkeys!
From this side, we head straight up to the neck of the Lion Rock. The stairs are mainly stone, so if there has been recent rain, be careful as it can be slippery.
Lion rock head
The head of the Lion Rock is a small rock outcrop and can get very crowded during the weekends. I had never actually gone up since it’s a dead end.
Walking along the spine of the Lion Rock provides a great panorama of the city. This rock is the most common place to snap a photo:
However, the back (or butt) of the Lion Rock is good, too, as well as the long staircase going down.
From here, it’s a steep staircase going down to Garter Pass to the MacLehose Trail Stage 4. The path is all downhill from here, and comparatively a little longer than the hike up to Lion Rock.
Ending the hike:
To carry on over to Shatin, carry on north at Shatin Pass
You can end at Shatin Pass or Lion Rock Park, but from Shatin Pass, you can also hike to Shatin Wai and end your trek in New Territories, but that is an extra hour or two.
Hi, my name is Nam. I am 24 and spent half my life in Hong Kong and the other half in UK. I believe there's endless experience and beauty in the world and this is me chronicling how to experience the best at the best price.