Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Ping Shan and Shum Wan Shan Hike

Google Maps

Above Kowloon East's public housing estates is a short but scenic trail that rises on 2 hills surrounding Jordan Valley Park. It is relatively easy to access by public transport and the trail varies in difficulty from boring paved stairs to rugged steep rises on dirt paths with ropes to help.
I chose to start from Choi Hung MTR station, walking uphill to Choi Wan Estate.
From New Clear Water Bay Road just past Sing Yin Secondary School, go up these stairs next to Choi Hing Road and round the construction site towards the end of Choi Wing Lane.

You are now at the back of Choi Tak Estate, which is also easy to reach from Kowloon Bay MTR station. Next the end of Choi Wing Lane, you will see a long staircase. This is the first rise up to Ping Shan, reaching 189m.

Remember to look back and amaze at the view.

Lion Rock rises in the distance.

This long stretch up is exhausting but there are many rocky outcrops along the way to take pictures of or use to frame your pictures. The top is shaded and the next stage is a slow way back down to Choi Fook Estate.

Jordan Valley Park is on the other side of the hill.

The long staircase down is relatively easy compared to the way up. It ends at an intersection. Turn right and continue downhill.

Google Maps

There is a nice landscaped park on your right as you descend, and there is an exit to it - Choi Wing Road Park. But continue down the long staircase to below Choi Fook and Choi Ha Estates and you will reach a small temple before exiting into the Jordan Valley Playground.
Choi Fook Estate's 4 towers opened in 2010 with 3400 rental units, while Choi Ha Estate is much older, opening in 1989 with 3 towers.

Google Maps

This first hill was relatively easy to hike. You can exit from Jordan Valley Playground to the right out to Amoy Gardens and Kowloon Bay MTR station.
If you want to hike both hills, the next stretch would be more difficult. Cross the small stream and follow the road, which turns sharply left and follows the stream uphill. You will pass by the Shum Wan Shan Fresh Water Pumping station and soon you will see a staircase up to the top of the dam.

When you reach the top of the dam, turn right and head into the forest. The dirt path is easily visible and can get rugged at times, with some makeshift barriers to create some rough steps to make the climb slightly easier.

After a good exercise, you will reach a paved road once again, which leads you to the Kwun Tong High Level Salt Water Service Reservoir and a garden on top of it.

From up here, feast again on views of Kowloon East from a different perspective.

Satisfied with the different views from the 2 hills, head downhill on the paved road, which goes to Sau Mau Ping Road opposite Shun Tin Estate. Alternatively, take a shortcut staircase part way down on your right down to Lok Wah South Estate.
This is a relatively easy and scenic 2 hour hike in the heart of Kowloon East's residential area. Being so convenient to residents around a number of public housing estates, expect to find many locals doing their exercises here instead of a foreign tourist.


Google Maps	Above Kowloon East's public housing estates is a short but scenic trail that rises on 2 hills surrounding Jordan Valley Park. It is relatively easy to access by public transport and the trail varies in difficulty from boring paved stairs to rugged steep rises on dirt paths with ropes to help. I chose to start from Choi Hung MTR station, walking uphill to Choi Wan Estate. From New Clear Water Bay Road just past Sing Yin Secondary School, go up these stairs next to Choi Hing Road and round the construction site towards the end of Choi Wing Lane.
You are now at the back of Choi Tak Estate, which is also easy to reach from Kowloon Bay MTR station. Next the end of Choi Wing Lane, you will see a long staircase. This is the first rise up to Ping Shan, reaching 189m. Remember to look back and amaze at the view. Lion Rock rises in the distance. This long stretch up is exhausting but there are many rocky outcrops along the way to take pictures of or use to frame your pictures. The top is shaded and the next stage is a slow way back down to Choi Fook Estate. Jordan Valley Park is on the other side of the hill. The long staircase down is relatively easy compared to the way up. It ends at an intersection. Turn right and continue downhill.
Google Maps	There is a nice landscaped park on your right as you descend, and there is an exit to it - Choi Wing Road Park. But continue down the long staircase to below Choi Fook and Choi Ha Estates and you will reach a small temple before exiting into the Jordan Valley Playground. Choi Fook Estate's 4 towers opened in 2010 with 3400 rental units, while Choi Ha Estate is much older, opening in 1989 with 3 towers.

Google Maps	This first hill was relatively easy to hike. You can exit from Jordan Valley Playground to the right out to Amoy Gardens and Kowloon Bay MTR station. If you want to hike both hills, the next stretch would be more difficult. Cross the small stream and follow the road, which turns sharply left and follows the stream uphill. You will pass by the Shum Wan Shan Fresh Water Pumping station and soon you will see a staircase up to the top of the dam.
When you reach the top of the dam, turn right and head into the forest. The dirt path is easily visible and can get rugged at times, with some makeshift barriers to create some rough steps to make the climb slightly easier. After a good exercise, you will reach a paved road once again, which leads you to the Kwun Tong High Level Salt Water Service Reservoir and a garden on top of it. From up here, feast again on views of Kowloon East from a different perspective. Satisfied with the different views from the 2 hills, head downhill on the paved road, which goes to Sau Mau Ping Road opposite Shun Tin Estate. Alternatively, take a shortcut staircase part way down on your right down to Lok Wah South Estate. This is a relatively easy and scenic 2 hour hike in the heart of Kowloon East's residential area. Being so convenient to residents around a number of public housing estates, expect to find many locals doing their exercises here instead of a foreign tourist.

Hong Kong Gallery Main Page