High Island Reservoir East Dam — Attraction in Hong Kong

High Island Reservoir and the surrounding Sai Kung East Country Park area are absolutely stunning and a must-visit for nature lovers. The reservoir itself is massive and offers breathtaking views of the turquoise water, rugged coastline, and unique hexagonal rock columns formed by ancient volcanic activity. It’s one of those places that makes you forget you’re still in Hong Kong!

The area is great for hiking, with well-maintained trails that take you through lush greenery and along the coastline. One of the best routes is the MacLehose Trail (Stage 1 and 2), which offers scenic viewpoints overlooking the reservoir and the ocean. If you’re into photography, this place is a goldmine, especially during sunrise or sunset.

The best part? It’s peaceful and not as crowded as other popular spots in Hong Kong. Just keep in mind that there aren’t many facilities, so bring enough water and snacks if you plan to spend a few hours exploring. If you’re up for an adventure, you can also visit nearby hidden gems like Long Ke Wan Beach, which is just a short hike away.

Overall, High Island Reservoir and its surroundings are a perfect escape from city life, offering breathtaking scenery, fresh air, and a bit of adventure. Highly recommend visiting if you love nature, hiking, or just want to experience a different side...

Nature/geology lovers will enjoy this place - alternatively come here at night for the stargazing!

There are a number of interesting landforms and it's quite educational (went for an English guided tour) so for those with an interest and want to get away from the city, strongly recommended!

Getting here: (Currently) Really challenging if you're headed from the city. Depending on the season/ purpose there's a couple of ways here, the most straightforward for the non-Mandarin/Cantonese speaking being to book an online tour.

There's no way to drive in; not allowed by the HK government BUT you can take a taxi or public bus. Taxis are expensive but straightforward - they'll get you straight to the dam no matter the hour, and wait for you/come back based on your agreement.

The cheaper alternative, public buses only run regular hours... And you'll have to walk a few kilometres in along the trail before you get to the dam/reservoir. Worth the hike/walk for those who enjoy it but with no pavements etc it would be daunting for many. And you've the walk out again later!

Note that there's no food/drink stall, barely any shade, and some rocky ground. Wouldn't recommend for those with knee injuries and very...

Got to see some awesome hexagonal rock formations in this area. Not much shade or trees, no food sold here.

You can reach here via the 94 bus that drops you off at near the park entrance and then walk to the dam ( it's a bit of a walk) or catch a licensed taxi from Sai Kung. The taxi ride to the reservoir costs less going there, and more on the return. Majority of the taxi leave the area mid afternoon and will not return. Alternatively, you can go take the shuttle service offered by the volcano Discovery Centre. Services are 3 times a day on the weekend and holidays at 9:30am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm; note return times are roughly 3 hours from your start time. Booking is available online and in person. Make sure to do so early to secure a spot.

There's a hiking trail to the right (about 20m) of the information booth at the round about. The trail is a bit over grown and unkept. Not suitable for all. You can view the hexagonal cliff face that's in the water. The trail is about 45minutes, it does connect to other trails. Watch...