Places and Trails across Hong Kong
Port Island – Chek Chau – and its Ruddy Rocks
Port Island lies at the mouth of Tolo Channel. Its Chinese name, Chek Chau, means Red [Ruddy?] Island, after the mainly reddish hued rocks. These reddish rocks are sedimentary, and though just 1 kilometre long, and rising to 131 metres, Port Island is one of the few sites in Hong…
High Island and Sai Wan with columnar jointed rocks from a super-volcano
Collapse of Hong Kong’s Last Great Volcano Around 140 million years ago, during the Early Cretaceous, a grand volcano dominated the landscape in eastern Hong Kong. Its northern slopes rose above present day Tai Long Wan on the Sai Kung Peninsula; its southern slopes reaching the Ninepin Group or further.…
HK Geopark along the Tolo Channel: Ma Shi Chau, Lai Chi Chong and Bluff Head
Ma Shi Chau: an Introduction to the Hong Kong Geopark Ma Shi Chau is one of the best, most easily accessed places to visit for an introduction to the Hong Kong Geopark, and an overview of the geology of the eastern New Territories. The island itself is unprepossessing – just…
Biodiversity of Hong Kong including the Hong Kong Geopark
Introduction: Biodiversity Depleted yet Rich Lying just south of the Tropic of Cancer, and with a sub-tropical climate – summers are hot and humid, winters tend towards temperate – Hong Kong has a mostly tropical flora and fauna. Though there has been significant damage to land and marine habitats, there…
Activities in Hong Kong outdoors
Picnic places in Hong Kong
A selection of top places for a DIY al fresco experience, together with tips for packing the perfect picnic.
Junk trips to Hong Kong islands
Hong Kong junk trips aren’t always short jollies; then can be adventures to areas with outstanding coastal scenery.
Taking wild Hong Kong photos
Hong Kong’s outdoors offers a wealth of subjects to shoot – from hills and islands, to waterfalls and wildlife.
Hiking in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a marvellous place for hiking, thanks to its splendid setting.
Here’s a film I made about Mai Po, using footage James Reynolds and I shot for the reserve, in English, Cantonese and Mandarin versions: Mai Po Marshes – Hong Kong’s Wetland Superstar, English narration by Sharon Kwok 米埔，香港著名的濕地巨星 – 廣東話 – Cantonese 米埔，香港著名的湿地巨星 – 普通话 – Putonghua =…
I live on Cheung Chau, a small island in southwest Hong Kong – and became very used to it hosting many nesting pairs of Barn Swallows, which start arriving around mid-February, and stay till late summer. Been this way since late 1980s as I recall; the swallows are…
While human life has lately been muted in Hong Kong during springtime, local birdlife remains vibrant, offering a chance to enjoy some of the wonders and mysteries of the natural world, right outside your home. Notably, Hong Kong is a hub for migratory birds, which are on journeys…
With increasing reports of wild boars – including the large male dubbed “Pigzilla” on the Peak, a couple of hikers [March 2018] mistaking a leopard cat for a tiger, and an upturn in local porcupine photos appearing online, this seems a prime time for getting out and about…
Though Mai Po Marshes is at the heart of Hong Kong’s internationally important Deep Bay wetland, there are other important sites in the area – including the fishponds at Fung Lok Wai. These have been in the news at times due to wrangles over plans for housing development;…
Weather including tropical cyclones
Tropical Cyclone Ma-on Headed for Hong Kong
25 August 2022 (evening) update: Ma-on took a track somewhat south and west of earlier forecasts; passed within 200km of Hong as a severe tropical storm early this morning. So, “no biggie”. Quite dry while it passed Hong Kong too, with intermittent showers; though still some heavy rain…
Severe Typhoon Mangkhut highlights perils of massive reclamation by Lantau
Typhoon Mangkhut helped show “storm surge” is a threat to modern cities, not just something for the history books.
Typhoon Jebi a Warning for East Lantau Metropolis aka Lantau Tomorrow Vision
To anyone concerned about plans for Lantau Tomorrow Vision, the clobbering of Kansai by T Jebi should indicate it’s a Really Bad Idea.
Mad Lantau Metropolis Plans Should be Scuppered by Storm Surge Threat
A consideration of science suggests the reclamation plans, including for East Lantau Metropolis are foolhardy, even irresponsible.
The Sustainable Lantau Office (SLO) was established by Hong Kong’s Civil Engineering and Development Department; given its origins perhaps hardly surprising that it has failed to achieve much regarding sustainability, but perhaps must keep hoping. I’ve had quite some correspondence with the SLO over the years; even made…
While slopes in Hong Kong may receive intensive management – especially given the history of severe landslides during rainstorms – there has in recent decades been something of a shift from purely concreting them, to cultivating and allowing more greenery. See, for instance: The Government has committed to…
In March 2025, WWF Hong Kong published a report, The State of Hong Kong Biodiversity 2025, and an accompanying Hong Kong Terrestrial Biodiversity Hotspot Map; you can download them via Hong Kong Biodiversity. This entailed considerable work; as a press release notes: WWF-Hong Kong, in association with the…
