An easy and spectacular hike to Trappist Haven Monastery
Family-friendly trip from Discovery Bay to Trappist Haven Monastery
Adventurous hike to Trappist Haven Monastery
Trappist Haven Monastery hike is an easy excursion
The natural beauty of Hong Kong has long been a tourist draw, and a hike to Trappist Haven Monastery is an easy excursion.
This six-kilometre hike on Lantau Island starting from Discovery Bay Pier and going to the Trappist Haven Monastery and back is family friendly.
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Discovery Bay is a resort-like community located on the north-east coast of Lantau Island. Development from a tiny fishing village to the current community of 20,000 people dates to the 1980s.
Discovery Bay Ferry
It is unique in that planning, design, funding for the construction and maintenance for everything from the roads and reservoir to the schools and public transportation, even the man-made beach, all came from a single for-profit company.
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This provides for an appealing consistency of aesthetics and cleanliness that draws both locals and expatriates who are willing to commute. Its semi-seclusion, due to the restricted transportation in and out of the community, provides a tranquillity that is unrivalled.
Community life centres around the North and South Plazas. The South Plaza is located near the ferry pier and provides an open space surrounded by alfresco cafés, restaurants, and shops as well as an abundance of public picnic benches.
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The North Plaza is adjacent to the Auberge Hotel and is similarly provisioned. Discovery Bay is seventeen kilometres by ferry from Central Pier 3. The ferries are frequent, and the trip takes about thirty minutes.
Discovery Bay promenade
Alternatively, one can take the MTR to Sunny Bay or Tung Chung stations and travel twenty-minutes on a dedicated bus.
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Taxis can pick up and drop off at the North Plaza, but private cars are not permitted through the Discovery Bay tunnel. Transportation in Discovery Bay is provided by a comprehensive bus network, and walking is always an option.
Stock up on beverages and goodies at the Plaza
Whether you arrive by ferry or bus, start by getting yourself a hot beverage and your favourite baked good at the South Plaza. Uncle Russ, La Creation or Levain Bakery each offers delicious takeaway, so you can find a public picnic bench and people-watch.
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Be sure to replenish your water supply at Fusion or 7-11 before embarking on your walk to the monastery.
Path towards Discovery Bay Road and Nim Shue Wan village entrance
Once you are sufficiently nourished and supplied with refreshments, walk back to the pier and follow the promenade that takes you in the opposite direction from the beach.
Follow as far as you can, and when you see a fountain, turn right and walk up beside the children’s slide until you reach Discovery Bay Road.
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Turn left and walk twenty metres to the intersection. Cross the road and look for a small guard station in the middle of the sidewalk. Turn right towards the beach.
Nim Shue Wan Village
Once past the wire fence, you are beyond the manicured and planned design of Discovery Bay.
Past the beach is the village of Nim Shue Wan
On the left is a rustic natural beach and a pier, and beyond are boats that are battered whenever there is a typhoon. Creative photo opportunities abound when walking through this area.
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Past the beach you come to the small village of Nim Shue Wan. The best way to describe it is as the opposite of Discovery Bay.
Boats on the beach in Nim Shue Wan
Residents here are an eclectic mix of villagers who are indigenous to this enclave and foreigners who have found housing on the cheap in small single-storey village houses.
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Follow the well-worn path through the village and make your way up the hill, and you will see a sign for a side path that leads to a modest and well-maintained Tin Hau Temple.
Tin Hau Temple
Tin Hau temples abound throughout Hong Kong. Tin Hau is the Chinese goddess of the sea and the protector of fisherfolk. She was born in the Song dynasty (960AD) on the island of Meizhou in Fujian Province.
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Her father and brothers fished for a living while she stayed at home weaving. One morning the fishermen were caught in a typhoon.
Organic farm
Legend has it that she went into a trance, and her astral projection was able to save her father and brothers until her mother woke her from the trance, causing her to drop one of her brothers.
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That brother died, as did all the other non-family fishermen out that day. Since then, fishermen build temples to her hoping she can protect them as well. Every spring there is a celebration honouring her birthday.
Bananas and fruit trees at the organic farm
From the temple, follow the well-posted directional signage to Mui Wo, which leads to the Monastery. The next landmark is the organic farm.
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We have a year-round growing season, so it is in operation all the time. This humble farmstead provides organic vegetables, available for purchase daily, and makes use of every bit of ground.
Scenic rocky shore line
I recognised bananas and papayas and bought some baby beet roots. There were dozens more seasonal fruit and vegetables in various stages of growth, all protected by nets, various scarecrows, spinning DVDs and coloured flags.
Path towards the Trappist Haven Monastery
The path from the organic garden to the Monastery is paved and easy to follow.
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There is a section that seems to pass through the living space of a few locals, but that soon gives way to scenic beaches, some with sand, others rocky.
Fishermen out for the day
Depending on the time of day, you will see fishermen in small boats. Once you reach the stairs, the scenery completely changes.
The Monastery is home to monks of the Cistercian Order
There is an old stone wall, established houses and even an old but picturesque abandoned stone house. As you continue to rise, settlements make way to the forest.
Abandoned old stone house
There are frequent sections where the tree canopy encloses the path and where sunbeams struggle to break through the foliage.
Kai-to ferry to Trappist Haven Monastery
As you approach the Monastery, the walking path is intersected by a road. Turn left to go down to the Kai-to pier and then turn right to go up to the Monastery.
Ferry Pier close to Trappist Haven Monastery
The ferry pier provides a connection to Discovery Bay, Peng Chau and Mui Wo, but be sure to check the schedule, as the Kai-to ferry is not very frequent.
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Beside the pier is another sandy beach. As you walk back up, be sure to notice the “Stations of the Cross” nailed to the trees.
“Stations of the Cross” nailed to a tree
The Trappist Haven Monastery is the home of Roman Catholic monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, or Trappists.
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They pray and work in common and strive to “live by the work of their hands”.
Stairs to the Trappist Haven Monastery
This monastery was founded in 1951 after monks fled persecution in China. In 1956 they established a dairy.
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The dairy farm has since moved to Yuen Long, where the Trappist Dairy still produces fresh milk, and the descendants of their cows still roam wild on Lantau Island.
A place of reverence and silence
This is a functioning monastery; the monks observe a rule of silence and ask that visitors passing through remain respectfully quiet and on the public path.
Trappist Haven Monastery
There are a few areas to view scenic sites, to sit and to rest before you head back. The return is a gentle downward sloping stroll.
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On a cool day, especially in the fall when the humidity is low, the journey is very pleasant and comfortable.
Directions to Mui wo and Cheung Sha
This is a worthwhile trip. First, it is a good way to exercise with the whole family, with only three kilometres of walking each way, and the elevation is very gentle.
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There are amazing opportunities to take stunning photos of the landscapes and selfies.
Quiet place for prayer and reflection
Access to and from the hike is via Discovery Bay, and the atmosphere here is relaxing.
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Once you arrive, you will feel far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Scenic views along the hike to Trappist Haven Monastery
Most poignantly, this pleasant walk will allow you to get out and enjoy the amazing countryside.
Text & Photos Martin Wray
