Hiking | 3 must-haves for stargazing in night hike in hong kong
Summer is the time for night hikes in Hong Kong, for good reasons. It’s easier to spot the stars and avoid the heat. Check out the 3 essentials, routes and tips.
Benefits of night hiking
Many trails in Hong Kong are close to the urban area. It is very convenient for night hike lovers. They can simply pack their equipment and go straight after work. In addition to enjoying the cool weather, it is easier to see stars and different wild animals or insects on summer nights when the weather is good. Many photographers like to hike at night and capture the remarkable night view of Hong Kong, or even the magic moment of sunrise and sunset.
Night hike must-have item 1: headlamp
It is much more convenient to use headlamps than torches or mobile phones during night hike in Hong Kong. Your vision in the night will not be as good as in the daytime. It's better to free up your hands to deal with emergencies.
When choosing a headlamp, you should first look at the brightness. It is recommended to use 80-150 lumens for a night hike. Headlamps are usually equipped with a red-light setting in addition to the flashlight: red light allows you to maintain a certain vision in the dark without narrowing your pupils, most often used for stargazing. Flashlights are primarily used to attract attention, such as calling for help when you get lost or in an accident.
Secondly, check out the battery. Most of the headlamps are using either rechargeable or dry batteries. Plan your route in advance, check if the battery life is sufficient, and bring a power bank just in case.
Night hike must-have item 2: backpack
Whether hiking during the day or at night, a backpack is always the essential item. For night hike, you should always be alert in order to respond to emergencies in time. Backpacks free up your hands and help you balance easier than a shoulder bag, which easily snags onto branches.
Choose a backpack that offers great ventilation to keep your back cool during night hike in the humid summer of Hong Kong. Also, some hiking backpacks have reflective strips so other hikers can see you in the dark.
Night hike must-have item 3: anti-slip waterproof hiking shoes
Summer is the rainy season in Hong Kong. Even if it doesn't rain, you may step in a puddle on a night hike. Therefore, it is best to choose a pair of waterproof and anti-slip hiking shoes for hiking at night. Even if it is hot in summer, remember to wear socks to avoid friction blisters.
Other night hike gear
You need to be more cautious during night hikes compared to day hiking. Hit the trail with a friend and prepare the essentials for any trail emergency well before it happens.
Night hike route 1: tsing yi
Catch the sunset at tsing ma bridge
Starting from the north entrance of the Tsing Yi Nature Trail and walking to the south entrance, the whole journey is 3.4 kilometers and takes about two hours to complete. The path is clear and well sign-posted. You can see the full view of Tsing Ma Bridge at the viewing platform. It is the instagrammable spot for sunset or night view.
Night hike route 2: lion rock
Enjoy the panoramic night view of kowloon
There are many trails to climb Lion Rock. It is very accessible that you can choose to go up from Hung Mui Kuk in Tai Wai, Lion Rock Country Park or the trail next to Fat Chong Temple in Tsz Wan Shan. It only takes about 1.5 hours to reach the top of the mountain. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kowloon Peninsula and Victoria Harbour. If you are lucky with the weather, you can even see the Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island.
Night hike route 3: victoria peak
The world-famous city night view
When it comes to the night view of Hong Kong, you cannot miss Victoria Peak. It only takes about 2 hours to walk along Lugard Road for one round trip. Not only is the journey simple, but you can also enjoy the world-famous night view of Victoria Harbour. It is definitely the night hike route you can go after work.
Night hike route 4: red incense burner summit
Sunset hot spot on hong kong island
Incense Burner Summit is located behind Braemar Hill in North Point. Starting from the bus stop at Braemar Hill, it only takes about half an hour to reach the top. Red Incense Burner Summit is a hot spot for photographers to capture the Magic Hour for the panoramic view of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. If you go for a night hike to take photos, be careful how you place your tripods so trip accidents would not happen.
Night hike route 5: lantau peak
Go for both sunrise and sunset
The round trip from Pak Kung Au on Lantau Island to Lantau Peak is 6 kilometers and takes about 4 hours. Lantau Peak, located in the west of Hong Kong, is the second highest peak in Hong Kong. It is the best place to watch the sunset. Due to its height and orientation, the sunrise can still be seen even in the west of Hong Kong. Every New Year's Eve, many people come to Lantau Peak for the first sunset and sunrise of the year. Night hikers should be aware of the rugged road near the top of the mountain. Headlamps and suitable hiking shoes are absolutely important!