Hong Kong Weekend: 5 Awesome Family Cycling Routes

We’ve said it before and we will say it again: our fair city is a truly blessed place and despite the crazy concrete jungle we spend most of our week in, those looking to get away on weekends have ample opportunity, with beaches and hiking trails galore. But for those that are in the know, Hong Kong is a also a great place to admire from a bike seat: you can enjoy spectacular scenery, connect with nature and of course get your sweat on. Below we pick five of our favorite rides, some ideal for those looking for a leisurely jaunt and others better suited to the more adventurous amongst us. And don’t worry, there’s no need to store a bike in your shoebox of a flat: there are rental options on all of the routes listed.

West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade

For the easiest family ride with a stunning view, the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade is a great choice. It can be particularly lovely during sunset, as you cycle down whilst looking over Victoria Harbour. What makes it even easier is that SmartBike has bikes for both children and adults to rent for only HKD 20 per hour (they accept Octopus cards) and you can return them to any of their stations. You can easily reach the promenade from the Kowloon MTR Station.

Po Kong Village Road Park

Located in Diamond Hill, Po Kong Village Road Park is another great spot for riders of all ages and skill sets. The park has a dedicated area for beginner cyclists to practice, but for more experienced riders, don’t miss the 1-KM elevated bike track, the first in Hong Kong. It’s reserved for cyclists and ideal for those looking to train seriously, all while enjoying the views of the city. For the especially adventurous, there is even a BMX course with three vertical ramps. The park has its own bicycle rental kiosk, so all you need to bring is your game face.

Cheung Chau

The 852 boasts more than it’s fair share of quaint islands and Cheung Chau is one of the more charming. You can catch the ferry in Central in the morning, rent a bike along the harbourfront as soon as you arrive on the island, and spend a couple of hours cycling around the whole place (it’s a small island, so it won’t take long). There are cycling paths along the beach that you can enjoy before pedaling up to North Lookout Pavilion, which is the highest point on the island. If you have a penchant for pirates, you must bike down to Cheung Chau’s South side and check out famed brigand Cheung Po Tsai’s cave. And don’t forget to rewards yourself with a meal on Seafood Street (San Hing Praya) before you head home at the end of the day.

Tolo Harbour Cycle Track

The Tolo Harbour Cycle Track is the longest and most popular cycling destination in the whole of Hong Kong for a very good reason: quite simply, it’s glorious. Running all the way from Tai Po to Sha Tin and all the way to Tai Mei Tuk (which literally means ‘the very end’), this trail is twenty kilometers of dedicated cycling route, mostly along the Tolo Harbour. After renting some wheels in either starting point, you can set out for a day of fresh air, gorgeous vistas and winsome river bridges. The track provides views of both the Plover Cove Reservoir as well as the Pat Sin Leng mountains (all eight peaks). It also runs past the Hong Kong Science Park, the Tai Po Waterfront Park. Be sure to ask your bike rental shop if you can return the bike on the other end of your journey (many are fine with it). You can even make use of the BBQ pits available in Tai Mei Tuk.

Chi Ma Wan

For those looking for a bit of adventure, rent a bike in charming Mui Wo (only a short ferry ride from Central) where cycling is a part of everyday life, and head out on the 9.5 kilometer Chi Ma Wan trail. This trail is not for the faint of heart, and includes long stretches of steps and challenging terrain but the spectacular views off of Lantau’s southern coast make the journey well worth it, not to mention that the trail’s difficulty helps keep the crowds at bay. If you want to cycle on Lantau but are looking for something a little less daunting, bike up to the Silvermine Waterfall instead for an enjoyable, straightforward bike ride alongside the Silvermine Beach promenade and through Mui Wo’s villages. If you’re lucky, you may encounter some of the island’s famous buffalo along the way.

Images courtesy of: westKowloon (lead photo), Panoramio,  GovHK Leisure and Cultural Services Department, You Got Me Blogging, Kong Kong Tourism Board and The Kina Chronicles.