Lion Rock Head — Attraction in Hong Kong

Having lived in Hong Kong from 2015-2021, I’ve explored many of the city's incredible hiking trails, but somehow, I never got around to Lion Rock. Now based in Singapore and visiting as a tourist, I’m making it a point to check off the places I missed out on before—and this trail was absolutely worth the wait! ❤️

If you're in Hong Kong & want to check out the Lion Rock Trail, I recommend that you start your day right with a big breakfast to fuel you for the 4-5 hour adventure. Cappy & I agreed to meet my friend Vicky who organized our hike at Wong Tai Sin Station, so from Wan Chai’s Hopewell Hotel, we walked to Admiralty MTR Station, took the East Rail Line to Kowloon Tong Station (4 stops), then switched to the Kwun Tong Line. After 2 stops, we arrived at our meeting point.

The walk to the Lion Rock Trail starting point takes about 30 minutes, depending on your pace, and it’s a bit of a steep climb—a great warm-up for the main hike ahead! The 90-minute trek up to the Lion Rock summit is challenging but manageable, and the trail is very well-maintained with proper stairs. We even saw some elderly hikers, which was so inspiring. One crucial tip: bring plenty of water to stay hydrated.

We couldn’t have asked for better weather—it was a beautiful day, and the views from the summit were absolutely breathtaking. Standing at the top, overlooking Kowloon and the iconic skyline, was a moment to remember. The respectful and friendly vibe among fellow hikers added to the experience.

Lion Rock is truly a must-visit for hiking enthusiasts in Hong Kong. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, this trail offers a perfect mix of challenge, nature, and...

Directions and Google maps did confuse us. Our Uber dropped us at the temple mentioned and we started up the road. We passed an un signed turnoff on our left that an individual took, but without signage we opted not to try it. This turned out to be good because a troop of monkeys passed us on the way up. A lot of locals were following the road which gave us some confidence. At one point we found something that was a trailhead, but after a hundred yards, we realized it wasn’t what we were looking for. After another false start, a local pointed in a direction we followed as we could tell she probably knew what we were looking for. We found the official trailhead and you immediately start climbing. There are some good views initially. At one point, without any other signage, we thought about turning back but we kept going. Eventually we found a sign and another 200 yards we found a sign that pointed left and that’s when the really steep part started. We made it to the top and the views were great. It was an accomplishment. On the way back down, we took the signed shortcut back down some beautiful stairs. I would recommend this way as the way up and down as you’ll shave 30-40 minutes off of your hike. From the temple, take the left with the beautiful stone stairs and railing. It’s going to be a lot of stairs, but no different than the trailhead...

A moderate difficulty hike with one of the most incredible views of Hong Kong. Not many other hikes that are so close and look out to the city (only other hike I can think of is Suicide Cliff). Most hikes (eg Sai Kung, Twin Peaks) look out onto nature and the ocean or the bay but on this hike, you can see all the skyscrapers on both Kowloon and HK island side. Sunset here will take your breath away (and I’m sure sunrise would too). The night view gazing upon the lights of the city is spectacular. There are some steeper sections in this hike, with the steepest section right before the final ascent to the top. Also don’t be fooled by the sign at the top, there is a better view if you keep walking a little further (you will go downhill before going back uphill). The pictures and videos can speak for themselves in terms of the view....