Just found that a trip to the south Lantau coast at Shui Hau and nearby Tong Fuk makes a grand trip on a fine afternoon, especially on a hot day summer day when a swim seems a good way of cooling off.

Shui Hau

There's a new trail starting at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island. The 5-km Nei Lak Shan Country Trail circles round Nei Lak Shan, which at 751 metres is the sixth highest peak in Hong Kong. You can start on the trail in northeast Ngong Ping - just where a trail starts dropping down towards Tung Chung.

The trail is clearly marked by this signpost, from which you climb a little; then reach a junction, where you can choose to walk a full circuit, or walk to near the Lantau Skyrail station, looping along the southern slope of the mountain or (longer) heading along the north slopes.

I walked the southern slope in spring: pleasant, with grand views over Ngong Ping including the Big Buddha. Just tried the northern loop, which though longer is more interesting, with views over hills, Tung Chung, the airport and channel across to Tsuen Wan. Passes through woods, and close enough to the Lantau Skyrail that can hear babble from cable cars passing above.

Lantau is surely one of the loveliest islands in China; yet it is threatened by a slew of potential projects, including a logistics "park", a huge bridge, various reclamations (all included in a Concept Plan for Lantau), as well as a container terminal on an artificial isiand, and an LNG terminal on the nearby Soko Islands.

Here are two maps - highlighting the beauty of Lantau Island today, and the potential projects - along with links to more info, including on great places to visit.
They were produced with support from Civic Exchange, info from Green Lantau Association; maps by KC Holiday; design by Martin Williams, who also provided photos, as did Paul Melsom, Alan Leung, Jenny Quinton and Clive Noffke.

There's a pleasant stroll from Chi Ma Wan (芝麻灣) pier (most easily reached by inter-island ferry connecting Cheung Chau, Mui Wo and Peng Chau; also by path from Mui Wo), southeast Lantau, to Pui O (貝澳).

You start by walking past the prison at Chi Ma Wan, uphill, and then right, along narrow Chi Ma Wan Road (usually quiet). There are trees by the path, a few houses alongside, and the path curls round to the left, to a broad valley opening to the sea. Here, a tidal creek meanders through long abandoned fields with scrub and damp patches - where feral water buffalo roam.

After strongly criticising the Concept Plan for Lantau, from the Lantau Development Task Force (see, for instance, HK Outdoors response to the plan, under Lantau News & Views), I've drafted an alternative plan - with proposed projects that may actually be sustainable.

Hoping to get some support for this from various quarters, and see about trying to actually work on something positive for Lantau - at same time as also arguing against things like the Big Bridge, the Logistics "Park", new container terminal...

Here's the latest version, following some comments received; your comments welcome too. There's a Chinese translation on the forums, where you can also add comments/ideas  - in thread A Sustainable Development Plan for Lantau.