Hong Kong: Natural wonders you didn’t know existed

Are you tired of being grounded and are hankering for a change of scenery? Not all skyscrapers and concrete jungle, Hong Kong is surprisingly made up of three-quarters emerald hills, endless beaches and green lands.

Pristine rock pools, exotic caves, a slew of Chinese Banyan trees and stunning volcanic rock formations – these spots serve some serious holiday vibes. Take a trip to believe what you read. 

Gagefencu travel Hong Kong natural wonders in lin ma hang caves, sheung shui

 

Lin Ma Hang caves
Located close to the border of Hong Kong and Shenzen, the abandoned lead mine was not accessible to the public until 2016. That precisely explains why it has only recently gained Instagram attention! A nature lover’s secret gem, history buffs should definitely explore this blast from the past. 

How to get there: The most convenient way to reach the mines is to drive till the parking pot at the bottom of the hill. This way you skip the strenous hike on the winding roads of Robin’s Nest.

Gagefencu travel Hong Kong natural wonders in po lo shan pineapple hill tuen mun

Pineapple Mountain (Po Lo Shan)
Ever dreamt about taking a trip to the Grand Canyon? Though that fantasy may be far from reach right now, perhaps a visit to Tuen Mun’s Pineapple Hill, also known as Po Lo Shan, could be a close runner up! Witness beautiful sweeping views of the natural rock formations of this small mountain, dearly named after the city’s iconic pineapple bun because of its rare and yellowish cracked geological rock formations that resemble the surface of the sweet bun. 

How to get here: Located between Leung King Estate and Shan King Estate within the Tuen Mun district of the New Territories– start at Leung King Bus Terminus. Make your way through the residential estate passing the Leung King Plaza on your left until you arrive at a road where there’s a small opening on the right. This path leads up to Pineapple hill. 

See also: Hidden Hikes: Six unique locations in Hong Kong

Gagefencu travel Hong Kong natural wonders in po pin chau sai kung

Po Pin Chau
Originally a cape from Fai Shan, this now iconic vertical stack island is part of a ridge that collapsed due to weathering. A short hike from the East Dam of the High Island Reservoir takes you to this geological wonder which is a part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network. Take pictures at the grand swathe of interlocking basalt columns here, and surely fire up your Instagram!

How to get there: Now the start and end point of this path are different, it is recommended to hike on foot. Begin at the Sai Kung Village, cab it to the East Dam and follow the rocky path down towards the end. Turn left from the fence and utility building, and keep trekking uphill whilst you soak in the mind-blowing beauty of Po Pin Chau. 

Gagefencu travel Hong Kong natural wonders in hong kong
Photo Credit: Kit Chiu

Port Island (Chek Chau)
It’s literally named red island after the iron-rich, sedimentary rock that forms the island. Stunning, lone and barren – this piece of beauty is surrounded by nothing other than sea and mountains. It’s a real gem of a getaway in the Sai Kung peninsula and has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1979.

How to get there: Just a stone throw’s away from the main town, it can be explored in under an hour. Travellers will have to venture by private boat, there is no ferry service to this secluded island. 

See also: Stunning hidden yachting destinations in Hong Kong

Gagefencu travel Hong Kong natural wonders in shing mun reservoir, tsuen wan
Photo Credit: hellohongkong.com

Shing Mun Reservoir
This discreetly tucked away piece of rural Hong Kong is an immersive experience for nature lovers. It stretches through a green forest of towering trees, goes past a few picnic spots towards the northern point of the reservoir. Here lies a stream, which paints a breathtaking landscape of the Chinese banyan trees peppered only by a riot of notorious monkeys.  

How to get there: If you’re driving, make your way to the New Territories within the Tusen Wan district. Follow the GPS to Shing Mun Country Park and alight at the bottom of Pineapple Dam. From here, you can follow the paved path through the green forest of towering trees. The hike on the Pineapple Dam nature trail takes about two hours before reaching the stream, but the trip is worth the scenic sights.

See Also: Six beautifully unique temples to visit in Hong Kong

Gagefencu travel Hong Kong natural wonders in wang chau sai kung
Photo Credit: hkoutdooradventure.com

Sharp Island’s Wang Chau
A short ferry from Sai Kung is the magnificent Sharp Island. Looking for a rock pool to dive in but trying to avoid the weekend crowds? Head to Wang Chau – one of the four key Ung Kong Islands in Sai Kung. It’s the smallest among them but don’t let its scale fool you! Not only does it boast of being part of Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark; it’s home to two gorgeous beaches, Hap Mun Bay and Kiu Tsui Beach, volcanic rock formations dating back 140 million years, picturesque caves and rock pools. Go here for the ‘gram!

How to get here: Take your sloop out for a sail or rent a yacht to Wang Chau Island in southeast Sai Kung. 

Gagefencu travel Hong Kong natural wonders in cape d'aguilar sai kung
Photo Credit: Hon Ming Tse via Flickr

Cape D’Aguilar
Cape D’Aguilar, otherwise known as Hok Tsui, is a cape in the south of Shek O and D’Aguilar Peak on the southeastern side of Hong Kong Island. It is one of Hong Kong’s best-kept secrets but is no stranger to photography enthusiasts! They trek the rocky shorelines and caves of the location to capture the magical sunsets and the transition of the night’s sky into a star-strewn canvas. It makes for an awe-inspiring stargazing hotspot. Take the budding science enthusiasts in your clan out here and have fun spotting constellations in the sky! They will not be disappointed. 

How to get here: Drive from Shek O towards Dragon’s Back, take a left at Cape D’Aguilar Road.  Make a stop at the Cape D’Aguilar radio station. On foot you can make your way towards the iconic century-old Cape D’Aguilar Lighthouse for picturesque views of the sea and sky. 

See Also: Island Getaway: A quick sight-seeing guide to Cheung Chau

Fun Getaway: Places to visit during the travel bubble

Travel bugs and holidaymakers will be enlivened by positive news that a possible “travel bubble” is underway. While the Hong Kong government is still arranging talks with 11 countries, including Japan, Thailand, France and Switzerland, frequent travellers have something to look forward to in the coming months, especially with the looming change in season and the approach of the festive Christmas holidays.

In hopes of delightful travel prospects in the coming months, the following places will be worth visiting when the travel curbs are lifted: 

‘Fun getaway’ options amid travel bubble phuket phi phi islands thailand

Phuket, Thailand

Thailand offers the brightest prospects of opening a travel bubble with Hong Kong. As November marks the end of the wet season in the country, it is the perfect time for beach lovers to plan an island hopping vacation to the Phi Phi Islands and a warm Christmas on the tropical beaches of Phuket. 

‘Fun getaway’ options amid travel bubble southern okinawa japan

Southern Okinawa, Japan

Frequent travellers to Japan might be initially disappointed by prospects of Tokyo and Osaka getting stricken off the list of travel bubble destinations, for now. However, tourism lawmaker, Yiu Si-wing suggests looking at southern Okinawa as a possible travel destination option. Rainfall and humidity are relatively lower in November and the weather stays warm all year round, which makes for a comfortable time to explore beaches, golf courses and historic sites of the region, such as Peace Prayer Park and Himeyuri Monument . The region is also well-known for its brown sugar and sugarcane juice. 

‘Fun getaway’ options amid travel bubble swiss alps switzerland

Switzerland

While it looks unlikely for countries like Australia, France and Germany to open their borders to tourists in the near-term, prospects of holidays in Switzerland look brighter and more promising. In the case that a flight out to the Swiss Alps becomes part of your holiday plans in winter, you can consider hoping on the St. Bernina Express to take in the breathtaking Alpine landscapes, but not before you take a ski trip down St. Mortiz

Autumn in Japan: Wine resort in Yamanashi, a ryokan experience in Tokyo

In Asia, the well-travelled are well aware that the best place to spend fall within the region is in none other than Japan. In fact, for locals, there are seventy-two seasons in their country. They claim it is a result of their varied terrain concentrated into such a small land mass.

Essentially Japanese resort group Hoshino prepares for the upcoming red-leaf period with a slew of traditional events and openings for luxury guests looking for an authentic escape. We highlight their property in Tokyo, a ryokan style homestay modernized in all the right ways. The second part announces the re-opening of Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake in Japan’s less discovered wine region.

HOSHINOYA Tokyo: A Ryokan in the heart of Edo

Land in the capital, where Hoshino Tokyo’s 17-story hotel has been lauded for its infusion of local culture and natural environment. This property embodies the ryokan with its true sense of place. The concept involves turning a space into a compact universe built from the history, traditions and customs that define its locality.

Tatami mats cover every floor of Hoshino Tokyo, extending from the central lounge to the rooms. The latter are furnished with soft cotton futons and a bathtub for long, relaxing soaks. However, we would personally opt for the hot spring with a sky view on the hotel’s top floor. The outdoor open-air baths are segregated by gender, with unobstructed views of the sky. The waters come from the Otemachi Hot Spring, an alkaline water source below earth. The Japanese have used this water treatment for hundreds of years to help the body address low blood circulation or hypothermia and reduce fatigue.

Finally, for the curious, Hoshino Tokyo hosts cultural activities such as the Omotenashi Tea Ceremony, an Incense Workshop, river tours, rickshaw rides, helicopter cruises and trips to Mt Fuji.

Hoshinoya Tokyo is centrally located by Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. 1-9-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004 Tel: +81-50-3786-1144. http://hoshinoyatokyo.com

Wine Resort Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake

Beautiful grapevines dot the landscape of this newly renovated wine resort two hours west of Tokyo. Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake is unlike any other in Japan: where else can guests enjoy close-ups of Japanese distilleries, and pair local and International dishes alike with fine wines? For the oenophiles out there, you must know that the Yamanashi/Nagano Prefecture area is acclaimed as a treasure trove for some of Japan’s finest wines.

What can you expect from this Japanese wine journey? We name but a few of the many exciting options:

Firstly, an exclusive exploration of resort partner Domaine Mie Ikeno winery, typically closed to the public. The latter insists on using all-natural distillation methods, and the hotel offers special programmes and events providing a rare glimpse into the winery’s inner workings. Hard-to-find Domaine Mie Ikeno wines are available at the hotel wine shop, the YATSUGATAKE Wine House.

Secondly, the VINO SPA®, featuring the VINO Scrub Pack – cosmetics made from the grapes in Domaine Mike Ikeno’s merlots.

Thirdly, a tour of the grape fields of the Yatsugatake Winery. Experience the passion of the winemakers on the very earth that gave birth to its 24 varieties of wine.

Wine Suite Room plans are available at Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake: 129-1, Kobuchisawa-cho, Hokuto-shi, Yamanashi-Ken. +81-50-3786-1144. http://risonare.com/yatsugatake/en/

Text:Julienne C. Raboca
Images: Hoshino Resorts

Channel your inner Zen with these 5 wellness holidays

 

If you’re planning a holiday abroad this year then you might have come across the latest trend wellness or holistic tourism.  

Wellness holidays are set to dominate the market in 2017, and it is a global industry that is growing in popularity across Asia.

Designed to rejuvenate your body, detox your mind and restore inner wellbeing, wellness holidays are a great way to indulge in a spot of traditional down time with the added bonus of leaving feeling soothed to the soul.

Depending on what you aim to achieve better health, de-stressing, weight loss and so on  you can now search for the perfectly tailored package through Asia’s newest platform, Om & Away.

Founder of the site, Charlyn explains the motives behind the company.

Clean eating, meditation, surfing, spa sessions – everything you need to feed your soul,” she says. “A Hong Kong shopping trip might be fun for the moment, but it’s not the same thing as coming back with real inner joy. And so I set up Om & Away to help others experience the same inner joy.”

There are plenty of different Om & Away packages to choose from, but the following five are particularly noteworthy.

Surf and Yoga Retreat

Duration: Seven days

Location: Bali

Great for: Active types with a sense of fun

Price: US$615 (HK$4,774)

Weight Management Retreat

Duration: 14 – 21 days

Location: India

Great for: A weight-loss health kick

Price: From US$6,460

Stress Management Retreat

Duration: Three to seven days

Location: Bali

Great for: Workaholics who need to switch off

Price: From US$2,400  

Honeymoon Retreat

Duration: One to three days

Location: Sri Lanka

Great for: Loved-up couples

Price: From US$535

Culinary Retreat

Duration: Seven days

Location: India

Great for: Solo travellers and foodies

Price: From US$3,230

Find out more at www.omandaway.co

Text: Siobhan Brewood-Wyatt