Po Pin Chau — Attraction in Hong Kong

The Po Pin Chau is a lesser known hiking trail in the Sai Kung East Country Park just south of the High Island Reservoir East Dam. The full trail is around 4.5 kilometres and rather challenging, skirting along the coastline and taking in some lovely seaside views as well as the remarkable geological landmark called Po Pin Chau.

Po Pin Chau is a stack island made up of huge hexagonal volcano columns (also referred to as organ pipes) that can be viewed at close range from the elevated viewpoint. This is the highlight of the trail (see pictures), seeing the geological marvel of Po Pin Chau. In my honest view, this is perhaps the most unique and impressive natural land formation in all of Hong Kong. Yet because of its isolation, it receives relatively little attention and relatively few visitors.

Note: The Po Pin Chau trail starts at the staircase just past the blue coloured High Island Reservoir Memorial on the south end of the East Dam. After 5-6 minutes hike upward, there is a veer in the trail. You will want to go left. Immediately, you will find nice views of the East Dam and Reservoir as well as impressive geological features of the High Island Geo Park Trail just to the north. Follow this turn for 15-25 minutes depending on your pace before reaching the Po Pin Chau viewpoint. Lots of nice stopping points for views so its fine to allow more time if you like.

From here many hikers simply return to the trailhead and then spend the rest of their time in the area exploring the nearby High Island Geo Park Trail near the north end of the reservoir dam. Otherwise, you can continue onward enjoying the rest of this trail, which takes in more nice coastline and small isolated beach views before making its way back north at the Pak Lap Village up to the Man Yee Road where the trail ends. From here you can call taxi to take you back to Sai Kung or you can just walk back up the road 1.25 km to the starting point of the trail.

Note: Keep an eye out for birdlife, feral cows and wild boars along the trail.

Note: There is practically no shade at all along most of the Po Pin Chau trail. Do bring a hat, apply plenty of sunscreen on sunny days, good hiking shoes as the trail is rather...

Po Pin Chau is formed by hexagonal volcano stone. To me I only saw similar formation in Iceland.

Starting the walk from the blue memorial stone at the East dam of High Island Reservoir to Po Pin Chau, you can see a very beautiful scenery of the Reservoir construction as well as the open sea view.

Take a green taxi from Sai Kung town center. You arrive at the East dam about 20 to 25 minutes. Along the road, you may see a large number of cows walking slowly or maybe they will block your way temporarily.

The taxi fare is about $140. You may choose 4 seat or 5 seat taxi dependent on the number of passengers. To ease your coming back, it is better to ask for the telephone number of the taxi call center.

You may take photos at the blue memorial stone and go to wash room before starting the trail. Not far away from the toilet booth, you may see the starting point, a stairs, to Po Pin Chau. Counting on taking photos along the trail, you may spend about 1 or 1.5 hours to Po Pin Chau.

Upon return, you will go to the end of the Dam and wait for a taxi. When arriving at Sai Kung town center, do not forget to...

While I was excited to revisit this special spot to view the spectacular and unusual rock formations created by volcanic activity added by sea and wind corrosions over millions of years, I was disappointed to see inexperienced overseas tourists exceeding boundaries beyond warning signs towards dangerous edges of cliff simply for selfies and photo taking. The Hong Kong Agriculture and Fisheries Department is the only one bureau to be blamed if anything accidentally and tragically happened deal to opening up this spot for...