A small dragon lost on a big island

The trails is located in Shek O Country Park, it's a section of the Hong Kong Trail (from Tai Tam Gap to To Tei Wan). It's the only trail open to cycling on Hong Kong Island. It worths a try only if you're living close by

Getting There

There is no easy way to get to The Dragon’s Back, you must either battle against traffic on the Shek O Road, or get a taxi or hire van to take you to the Tai Tam Gap Correction institute. If you're cycling there from Central - north side - it is much nicer cross-over to the south side via Wong Mai Chung Gap (road) and follow Repulse Bay > Beach Road > Stanley Road > Tai Tam road in order to get to Tai Tam Gap. The other way, much shorter is a very steep climb from Shau Kei Wan through Chai Wan road (6 lines!) and Tai Tam road which is very busy, narrow and steep in this direction. If you still want to ride there, do it very early in the weekends.

To the trailhead

To the right of the Correctional Institute driveway you will notice some stone steps. Climb the steps until you come out on road. Ride a short distance and you pass through a gateway. Here you will see a “Bicycles Permitted Sign”

The trail

Turn right onto the start of the trail. This first section is wide and fast, with a few technical sections and stream crossings to negotiate..

After around 15 minutes riding, the trail takes a sharp left turn up a washed-out set of steps to the main Dragon's Back trail. Here you have two options, continue along the contour trail or turn left up the steps to ride the ridgeline

The Contour trail

The contour path that continues relatively smooth and fast with few obstacles and should be followed to its' logical conclusion. You can then return the same way back to the start point or descend the obvious stone steps leading down to the Shek O Road.

The Ridge Line

Alternatively if you are up for something more challenging you can try the ridgeline that is technical and hard going. Climb the washed out steps on the left, once on the ridgeline proper follow the trail as it undulates and descends to the end of the peninsular. At t he end of the trail you need to turn around and ride the trail in reverse.

Download the Trail Finder here:  Trail Finder - Dragon's Back (1.6 MB) or the handy Route Finder:  Route Finder - The Dragons Back (923.9 kB)