Exploring Hong Kong via cycling gives travellers a whole new perception of the country.

Here are some of the top cycling trails around Hong Kong that will get you out of the city lights and into the wilderness.

Off The Beaten Track – Sai Kung

(For experienced mountain bikers)

3-4 hr ride

Sai Kung has one trail – Pak Tam Chung to Hui Ha – and Wan Tsai Island area which is open to mountain biking. Wan Tsai Island is actually a peninsula that you can access from Hoi Ha Village.

The area and its environs are certainly the most preserved part of Hong Kong offering a mix of extreme technical and extreme beginner trails.

Along the route you’ll find typical Hong Kong new territories villages, fisherman’s villages, archipelagos of small islands and a few roads and trails to connect the whole lot.

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Island Explorer – Cycling on Lamma Island

(Difficult)

Length: 15 kilometres of prepared dirt bike track

Lamma Island is famed in Hong Kong for laid back style, no cars, scenery, beaches and seafood.

The trail offers easy access from Lamma’s two ferry piers. Easy exit on the ferries in the evening. Great views and both prepared and unprepared mountain bike paths.

Lamma Island is known around Hong Kong for its great mountain bike tracks developed by local bikers themselves. These extensive tracks are so good that bikers are considering it as the site for international competitions. Locals also know of the Family Walk as a great pedestrian walk, one of the best in Hong Kong. It provides great scenery for bikers, interesting local culture, and good food and an environment for families.

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Hong Kong like a local – Sha Tin to Tai Po

(Easy)

Enjoy beautiful coastal scenery, and end with local food market

Length: Approx. 16 km, less than 3 hours

The following route passes stunning mountain and coastal scenery in the New Territories and includes the Tolo Harbour Cycling Track — the most picturesque cycling route in Hong Kong.

Pick up a bike at Tai Wai

Bike rental shops are available just opposite Exit A of MTR Tai Wai Station. After renting the bike, ride along cycling tracks towards Shing Mun River.

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Spectacular skyline – West Kowloon Harbour Front

(Easy)

Length: 1.8km

Hire a smart bike and enjoy stunning views of Victoria Harbour along the promenade in the West Kowloon Cultural Precinct.

The West Kowloon Cultural District will be developed into one of the world’s largest cultural quarters, blending art, education and public spaces.

The area has just seen the arrival of the M+ Pavilion (opened 9 Sept 2016) and is currently running the exhibition ‘Nothing’ by the acclaimed Hong Kong artist Tsang Kin-Wah.  The M+ Pavilion will serve as the primary site for M+ exhibitions in the run-up to the completion of the M+ building in 2019. After M+ opens it will become a new space for artists, designers and organizations to stage independent small-scale exhibitions and events in the Art Park.

Cycle along the promenade, discover the area’s Nursery Park and stop off at the new M+ Pavilion to experience Tsang Kin-Wah’s latest installation.

More information on smart bike system – http://www.westkowloon.hk/en/visit/smartbike.

Nature and heritage in the New Territories

(Intermediate)

Length: Approx. 3 hours

Join a guided tour and discover traditional Hong Kong in the New Territories.

Cycle through the Kam Tin Walled City and on to the historic village of Shui Tau with its Old Schoolhouse Museum and Ancestral Halls. Then, we are off to the nearby mystery tree house. There is 850 years of history to pore over at this site! From the tree house we cycle out on bike path via Sha Po village to Nam Sheng Wai – an area known for its many bird species.

Departures every Wednesday and Saturday – October through April

Full tour 9AM-2:30PM plus a 1-3 hour visit in the Wetland Park (we recommend 1 hour at least) *Half day tour 9AM-12:30PM ending after DimSum Lunch HK$700 (USD90) per person for full day tour and inclusive Wetland Park entrance. *HK$550 (USD71)for a half day ride and lunch.

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Mountain Bike Enthusiasts- Tai Lam Mountain Bike Trail

(Difficult)

Tai Lam Mountain Bike Trail is one of Hong Kong’s best-planned and most accessible trails for mountain bike newbies and experts alike.

Length: Approx  4.5 hrs / 22km

The starting point is quite far from the city centre. Yuen Long, Tai Wai and Fo Tan are good places to rent bikes. From any of these, you can call a taxi or van to take you to the starting point and meet you at the end point.

View more here.