There’s nature in abundance wherever you are in Hong Kong. I live on Hong Kong Island, and I find hiking a glorious way to unwind after a busy week. On Sunday morning I like to hike the Dragon’s Back, with its beautiful vistas over Stanley and Big Wave Bay, fringed by the shimmering waters of the South China Sea.
Hong Kong is a bustling nexus of east and west and, increasingly, a flourishing centre of the arts. It’s a city of dynamism and energy, full of restfulness and opportunities for contemplation. Not many people realise that 40 per cent of Hong Kong is designated as country park. From Tai Mo Shan, its highest peak, to the chattering monkeys of Kam Shan and the Unesco Geopark in Sai Kung, there is enough here for a lifetime of exploration.
The fresh air reinvigorates me for the week ahead. However, after a three-hour hike it’s time for a reward. I indulge in a breakfast at a Hong Kong-style café, usually Cheung Hing Coffee Shop in Happy Valley. Here, a typical breakfast might consist of Hong Kong favourites like a pineapple bun (no pineapples involved), an egg tart (a staple imported from Macau), and a yuenyeung (hot tea mixed with coffee), plus a hearty fried egg with ham, bacon and macaroni in tomato soup.