Your Complete Guide to Conquering the Lion Rock Hike

1 Introduction

Lion Rock, also known as “Si Ji Saan” in Cantonese, is an iconic peak situated in the heart of Kowloon, Hong Kong. I’d say this is one of the most famous hikes in Hong Kong, right up there with the Victoria Peak Hike. In fact, the Lion Rock is featured in numerous Cantopop songs.

From the summit, you can enjoy sweeping views of Kowloon, The New Territories, Victoria Harbour, and even as far as Hong Kong Island! However, all of this comes at a cost – the Lion Rock Hike has a lot of steps, and for beginners, it can be considered quite gruelling. Make sure you pack plenty of water and take regular breaks throughout the journey.

2 Hiking Summary

Hiking Directions

3 Getting there: Wong Tai Sin Station to Fat Jong Temple

Take the MTR to Wong Tai Sin Station and exit from Exit A. Alternatively, if the escalator is going up on Exit E, you can take that as well since they both take you to the same street exit.

Once on the street level, turn left and walk straight until you reach the minibus terminus.

We need to get to Fat Jong Temple (the starting point of the Lion Rock Hike), and there are a few ways to get there from the minibus terminus:

• Option 1: You can take the minibus to the starting point of the hike. Fare: HK$4.3 by Octopus Card.
• Option 2: Take a taxi or Uber if you’re a group of 3 or above. A taxi should cost about HK$30.
• Option 3: Or you can walk up to the starting point. 

Having done both routes, I’d strongly recommend Option 1 or 2. The walk up to the hike is very steep (124m elevation) and for beginners, this can wear you out before you even start the hike!

Option 1 & 2

On the right side of the terminus, wait for bus 18M. It’s fairly frequent so you shouldn’t have to wait too long. During peak hours and the weekends, the lines can get quite long. You may have to wait for 1 or 2 buses before you get on. 

Once on the bus, you will need to inform the driver just before you want to get off. Minibuses in Hong Kong work differently from normal buses. If you don’t inform the driver, they will simply skip a stop. 

You can get off the bus at any point along the route by simply saying “cheen mean yau lok”. This means “getting off up ahead”.

Here’s the route the minibus takes. You should be getting off just before the last stop at the power substation. Make sure to mention the saying above.

Option 3

If you’ve decided to walk up, you can follow the below route.

Once again, I wouldn’t recommend it because of the steep incline, especially during the summer months.

4 Step 1: Starting point – Fat Jong Temple

The trail starts at Fat Jong Temple right beside the power substation. 

Walk up Shatin Pass Road to continue to the hiking trail.

The Lion Rock hiking trail starts when you see the half-spiral stairs going into the mountain. Google Maps gave me the wrong directions when searching for the trail, so make sure to follow the map directions in the Hiking Summary. I have manually fixed this so you don’t end up on the wrong route.

You should come across these three benches shortly after. The rest of the trail doesn’t have many seating options so if you need to organise your stuff, now’s the chance to do so.

Shouldn’t be long before you get to some of the steeper steps. Get used to it, because it only gets worse from here on!

There are some good views of the city along the way up. Make sure to take breaks and enjoy the view every now and then.

Follow the directions to Lion Rock Hike and Beacon Hill Hike.

At the fork, take the path on the right. There’s a little Hiking Sign coming out of the ground pointing to the right direction.

Here’s the only other resting point you’ll come across. The view from here is pretty nice. At this point, you should be at the halfway mark. Thankfully, the path here is fairly flat, so you get to catch your breath for a bit.

As you keep on walking, you’ll come across a sign with directions to Lion Rock Peak. You’ll also see a “Danger” sign – don’t worry, this sign is placed a bit prematurely and isn’t applicable till the very end of the route. Regardless, take care of where you step – especially if you’re hiking when the ground might be wet.

You’ll have to walk under a giant transmission tower in a bit.

I have to admit, it looks pretty cool when looking directly up.

The steps here start to get a bit further apart from one another, so it’s going to take just a bit more energy.

Be on the lookout for all kinds of insects and bugs. I came across beetles, frogs, butterflies, lizards, and a lot of ants.

Nearly at the peak now. Looking down, you should be able to see over Tai Wai, Sha Tin, University, and as far back as Ma On Shan. 

Congrats, you’ve finally made it to the top – Reaching Lion Rock Peak is an achievement worth celebrating! Take a deep breath, soak in the awe-inspiring vistas, and revel in the sense of accomplishment. You can now look over both the Kowloon side and the New Territories side!

You’ll notice a sign here that says “No Access Beyond This Point”. I think that hasn’t stopped many people from venturing a bit further, but I’d encourage you to listen to the sign to stay safe.

If you were to walk a bit past the sign, you’ll come across another sign with a danger warning. Make sure to keep safe.

Here’s the view of the city you can get from this point. It’s nice, but we can do better! Most people stop here because they don’t realise you can hike all the way to the Lion’s Head. Let’s get to that part now.

5 Step 2: From Lion Rock to the Lion’s Head

The first part of this hike isn’t too difficult. There is a steep descent followed by a climb back up. However, it’s manageable for the most part. 

The rocks here are quite large so it’s easy to descend down. If the trail is wet, it will get considerably more difficult.

Follow the path back up. The steps here are pretty evenly spaced so it’s not difficult at all.

Take the steps up to the peak. At this point, you’re probably on the “Lion’s neck”.

If you look a bit further ahead, you’ll see the Lion’s Head.

Getting to this final point is not easy. You need to climb some large rocks both up and down.

I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless you know what you’re doing. One slip and you could get seriously injured.

6 View from Lion Rock Head

I stayed back till sunset to get a better view of the city. Here are some of the shots from the Lion Rock Head.

I have to admit, it feels pretty surreal towering over Hong Kong from this height.

As sunset turned to dusk, the city lit up. I just sat there and enjoyed the view.

Just a warning for beginners – I wouldn’t recommend hiking at night. The trail is not lit up, and the steps down can be quite a distance apart. You have to bring a headlamp or powerful torch to make sure you can see where you’re going. Don’t use your phone’s flashlight as that’s definitely not powerful enough!

7 Drone Shots

From here it’s pretty clear why there are so many warning signs throughout the trail. The cliff drops right off from the Lion’s Head, so make sure you keep safe throughout.

Here’s the view from directly up.

And finally, of course, the view of the entire city with the Lion’s Head.

8 Conclusion

The Lion Rock Hike is the perfect blend of natural beauty, historical intrigue, and adrenaline-pumping adventure. It’s an opportunity to escape bustling city life and immerse yourself in the raw wonders of Hong Kong’s wilderness. So, gather your adventurous spirit and set off on this thrilling journey. Climb the lion’s back, take in the breathtaking views, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Get ready to roar with delight as you conquer the Lion Rock Hike in Hong Kong!

9 FAQs