Reply To: Paths Closed after Black Rainstorm

#8162

I went to Lantau Island yesterday, for short hike at Ngong Ping. Several landslides were very obvious, including blocking trails.

landslide above Shek Pik Reservoir

Here’s the largest landslide we saw – above Shek Pik Reservoir (from the bus). Clearly, ripped through Lantau Trail section that leads down from beside Ngong Ping; and I’d think it will be quite some time before this stretch of trail can be restored.

Heading uphill, the bus passed a section of road – near turn off to Ngong Ping – where a landslide had evidently at least partly blocked the road.

At Ngong Ping, we walked towards the Nei Lak Shan Country Trail, to start at the end near where a trail drops down to Tung Chung. A guy warned us this was blocked, and we would have to burn back, but as we’d walked along past the Tea Gardens, hadn’t seen scarring on the hillside, so thought we’d give it a go.

landslides on lantau

Here’s a shot looking east northeast from the Nei Lak Shan trail, towards northern slopes of Sunset Peak. Clearly, several landslides scar the landscape; tho I wasn’t sure if and where they have cut through trails.

We walked along the trail, taking the route around southern slope of Nei Lak Shan – great views over Ngong Ping. Eventually came to a landslide as reached the end of the trail, near junction where can walk right, and perhaps follow remainder of the circuit the trail makes around Nei Lak Shan. We crossed this without much difficulty, tho needed care; helped that the weather had been dry (and that it was a few days since the landslide, so slope somewhat stabilised).
From here, walked down, to meet the main trail that runs close by the Lantau Skyrail; walked down to this over a v small landslide. Looked like landslie material had been cleared from this path; if so, I’d reckon as it’s important for Skyrail (inc emergency access).

landslide near Ngong Ping

Then, turned towards Ngong Ping. Crossed lower part of the landslide we had walked over a few minutes before; here, the landslide had clearly rushed down a ravine, sliced through a path made of concrete and rocks.