Hiking from Tai O to Tung Chung is a great family hike as it is a reletively flat trail. I would recommend doing so in the cooler months though as many snakes can be spotted along this trail. Also since the trail is rather long, the heat of the summer months can be overwhelming.

Quick Stats:
Enjoyment:
Difficulty:
Hike Type:	Point A to Point B
Distance:	14km
Maximum Height:	75 metres
Total Ascent:	370 metres
Total Descent:	360 metres
Duration:	3 hrs 15 mins
Trail Composition:	80% Concrete, 20% Dirt
Date Reviewed:	1st September 2010
Date Updated:
Transport Start:
Buses: Number 11 from Tung Chung Number 1 from Mui Wo Taxi Ferry: Tai O to Tung Chung
Transport End:
Tung Chung MTR station on the Tung Chung Line Buses: 34 to Shek Mun Kap (15 mins) S1 to Airport (28 mins) 3M to Mui Wo (42 mins) 11 to Tai O (50 mins) 23 to Ngong Ping (50 mins) N26 to Yau Tong (83 mins) N23 to Tsz Wan Shan (North) (90 mins) N30 to Yuen Long (East) (90 mins) N42 to Ma On Shan (Yiu On) (90 mins) N29 to Tseung Kwan O (Po Lam) (92 mins) N42A to Fanling (Luen Wo Hui) (100 mins) Taxi

This trail gets 3 stars for both enjoyment and difficulty. It passes through some small, interesting villages along a coastal trail, however most of it consists of views of the Airport. In terms of difficulty, the trail itself is quite easy, however it gets 3 stars due to the length - at 14km long, this is quite a trek!

The GPS map below ends a little short before Tung Chung as we lost signal going through the underpass. Follow the instructions at the end of this review to continue to Tung Chung MTR station.

Starting from Tai O after having caught the number 11 bus from Tung Chung or another form of transport, head straight from the bus terminal toward the buildings on the left.

Turn right, then left, then right again to get to the center of Tai O. You will pass various dried fish stalls along the way. Either hold your nose or take in the atmosphere as Tai O is also a popular tourist attraction for it's selection of dried food and also for tours to see the Pink Dolphins in and around the area.

Take the next left ahead. You should see the 'Welcome to Tai O' sign below, just before crossing a bridge. It is quite confusing as to which way to go through here, hence I have taken lots of photos to help you out.

After crossing the bridge, continue to the end and turn right. Take your next right soon after and then left around the paved area.

Continue straight until you come to an open area. Turn right here toward another bridge. Cross the bridge and keep to the right.

Look up to find a sign pointing toward Tung Chung. Turn left and follow the paved path past and through the fishing village.

At the end of this path you will come to a beach area where you will spot many crabs crawling around in the murky sand on the shoreline. Unfortunately you cannot get to close to these critters or they will just disappear into the sand. The images below are a little blurred as I had to use full zoom on my camera.

Follow the paved path around and head toward the mountains.

Take a look back at Tai O fishing village, before heading on towards Tung Chung.

As you approach the bushes that leads to the trail, you may either continue straight ahead through the bushes, or turn right and take the path up the stairs. This alternate route has been built due to the fact the the edge of the mountain is corroding into the sea and it is getting very close to the edge of the hiking trail making it a little dangerous as there is about a ten metre drop to the ocean below.

We continued on straight ahead, but I would recommend to take the stairs for your safety.

Many creatures can be seen hopping and flying about if you keep your eyes peeled.

Many of these Giant Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila Pilipes) spiders can be seen along the trail during hotter months. Keep an eye out ahead as they often build their webs right across the trail. For your information, they are non-venomous, however they can bite you with pain equivalent to that of a wasp sting.

There are many waterfall crossing like the one below. Due to the number of rocks and the heat that eminates from them, this is a common place for snakes to hang around.

At this particular crossing below, on the day of this hike, I happened to run into a Chinese Cobra which kindly let me know of it's presence by standing up and hissing at me. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of it as I was too busy trying to get out of the way.

Along the path there are many sections, such as that pictured below, where the sides of the trail are covered with dead leaves from the trees. Be careful along these sections, as there are often snakes lying in these areas. I have spotted snakes along here on three occasions.

I was very lucky to see this stick insect lying on the path. It is almost invisible.

Keep to the right at the first division in the path, then take a left onto Sham Wat Road and head toward Sham Wat (over the bridge), where you can pick up a drink alongside the road at some local houses. There is usually always someone sitting out front offering drinks to passers by.

After you have passed through Sham Wat (a couple of residential buildings), continue up the trail.

As you approach the top of the hill, keep to the right at the fork in the path, pictured below, right.

Follow the signposts to Tung Chung. There is a signpost below pointing to Tung Chung on the left.

Pictured below is the melanic morph of the Giant Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila Pilipes) spider.

As you continue along toward Tung Chung you will come across this rest stop, pictured left.

Take a break and watch the planes land and take off from this great vantage point.

On one occasion I was pretty sure that I witnessed a near accident as a cargo plane was landing on the same strip that a passenger plane was taking off, when it pulled up to avoid an accident at the last second. However I was told that "a B744 executed a go-around from the north runway due to an unstable approach with speed too high. At the time, an A320 was taking off from the other runway, the south runway. The 2 aircraft were on different runways and safely separated by following the published go-around and departure procedures."

Apparently, depending "on the perspective, if viewing from the side, the lateral
separation of the two aircraft might not be apparent to an on-looker."

After passing this small village, turn left at the T intersection up ahead.

After passing through San Tau, you will come to the turn off on the right that is the Ngong Ping 360 Rescue Trail.

Continue straight ahead.

Follow the trail ahead that zigzags through some wetlands.

Up ahead is the Tung Chung Outdoor Recreation Camp, followed by Hau Wong Temple on the left by the water.

If you are interested in temples, do take a look; otherwise head on along the path, keeping straight.

Lots of crabs can be spotted through this area if you keep your eyes peeled.

After passing the newly built playground, keep to the left when you reach the fork in the path.

Ahead, go straight, then follow the concrete path to the right along side the canal.

At the end of the fence, turn left up the slope and continue left onto the main road.

Enter the footbridge ahead, which crosses the main road. Keep going straight until you get to a tunnel.

Enter the following tunnel and follow the arrow pointing to the right.

At the end of the tunnel turn left and follow the walking trail down and turn left into the next tunnel.

As you exit this tunnel, turn right, and follow the path until you reach the Tung Chung MTR station.