Wu Gau Tang is a beautiful area located in the Plover Bay Marine Park area in Tai Po. It is a popular hike for many dog owners with its flat route and free parking lot, but also present some challenging mountains for those who are up for it. Tiu Tang Lung, which means ‘hanging lantern’ in Chinese, is the closest one to this route and offers a spectacular panorama of the area. And here’s how to hike it:
Getting to Wu Gau Tang
To get to Wu Gau Tang, you need to take the minibus 20R from Tai Po. Alternatively, there is a car park there where you can park your car for free, which is why this route is so popular with dog owners.
From Wu Gau Tang, follow the side pass the village to the public bathroom. This is the last public toilet until you reach Sam A Village. The route continues behind the bathroom, and it’s a relatively flat and straightforward dirt road.
The path to Sam A Village is well signposted as well, and once you have reached a junction where there is a route heading into the vegetation up towards the mountain, that’s the hike up Tiu Tang Lung.
Hiking up Tiu Tang Lung
While it is not as steep as Tai Tun Shan, it is a long hike up with little to no shade. I would definitely recommend wearing long trousers as you might get scratched, but the view of the surrounding mountain from this route is unparalleled.
There are some parts that are much steeper with lose ground, so be prepared to use your hands.
Tiu Tang Lung has 3 route uphill, with one that goes north and another closer on the way to Sam A Village, but that route is quite steep, so we descended on the same trail.
Sam A Village
This is the midpoint of the route where you can stop for lunch or a snack at the local restaurant. Sam A Village is so remote that you don’t even get a phone signal!
Aside from eating, you can also admire the endless reed field here, as well as go to the pier.
Return to Wu Gau Tong
It is basically the same route back to Wu Gau Tong without going up Tiu Tang Lung. Which is why it is such a popular route for people with pets and cars!