Fabulous UNESCO attraction Hong Kong Geopark

Wong Chuk Kok Tsui, Hong Kong Geopark

Hong Kong Geopark is the city’s best natural feature

Visiting Hong Kong Geopark was one of the best day trips I have had to discover the natural wonders right at my door steps.

Though Hong Kong is often seen as a bustling and busy city, with imposing skyscrapers making up a “concrete jungle”, what many tourists don’t realise is that a majority of the land in the city and the new territories is green space.

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For those of us working or living in densely-populated areas such as Mong Kok or Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side, or Central on the Hong Kong side, it is easy to forget that there lies an abundance of nature in the New Territories, just outside our doorsteps.

Beach combing at the Hong Kong Geopark

Our city is encircled by hills and mountains, so naturally, hiking is a popular pastime in Hong Kong, with many specialised groups and clubs dedicated to this activity.

Also bucking the belief that there is no wildlife or plants to be seen in Hong Kong is the fact that it is a surprisingly bio-diverse area.

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It is home to roughly 240 different species of butterflies, as well as frogs, lizards and mammals such as the East Asian Porcupine and Red Muntjac Deer, the endangered Chinese Pangolin and the Asian Leopard Cat.

Ap Chau (Duck Island)

Birds of prey, such as kites and hawks, can often be seen circling above our high-rise apartment blocks and office buildings.

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We also have many large nature parks, including country parks, marine parks and a wetland park, which are perfect for a weekend escape from the city, whether for day visits or overnight camping.

The Geopark was inaugurated in 2009 and became part of the Global Geoparks Network under UNESCO in 2011.

Global Geopark encompasses several smaller country parks

Though collectively known as the Hong Kong Global Geopark, the name encompasses several smaller country parks, spanning fifty square kilometres across the Eastern and Northeastern New Territories.

Hong Kong Geopark coastline

The Geopark covers two main regions, the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region and the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region, as well as several islands, including Sharp, Basalt and Ninepin Islands.

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Each of these areas has its own distinctive landforms and natural attractions.

Among these attractions are waterfalls and natural pools, as well as unique and distinctive geological formations such as the rare hexagonal columns in Sai Kung and Hong Kong’s highest sea arch.

Rocky shore at Hong Kong Geopark

The Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region is the site where the famous hexagonal columns are located.

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The rarity and unusual appearance of these rocks makes them a world-class attraction, and their imposing stature and shape make thema focal point for tourists and photographers.

140 million years old basalt and other volcanic rock

These formations, believed to be 140 million years old, are made from basalt and other volcanic rock.

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The unusual hexagonal shape of these columns is created through a process of volcanic eruption, cooling, shrinking and “jointing” or cracking.

Banded gneiss metamorphic rock

Similar structures can be found all over the world, one of the most famous being the Giants’ Causeway in Ireland.

The Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region is famous for its picturesque green hills and clearwaters and is home to sedimentary rather than volcanic, rock.

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Many well-preserved fossils have been found there, including those of prehistoric bivalves, crustaceans and ferns.

Sedimentary rock layers

Another interesting geological formation visitors can see at the Geopark is the “pineapple bun” rocks. No doubt named by a sweet-toothed lover of the local bakery treat, the rocks do resemble the pastry in their look and texture.

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The texture and shape of these stones are formed through thermal expansion and contraction, resulting in a cracked and “crusty” looking surface. The edges are rounded through years of weathering by sand and waves, forming the “bun” shape.

As well as these unusual stones, there are also spectacular water attractions to be seen, including Hong Kong’s largest plunge pool.

Kat O

Called Luk Wu (which means “green lake” in Cantonese), it is available for swimming.

The longest waterfall in the territory, the Ng Tung Chai Falls, is also in the Park, located in Tai Mo Shan Country Park, while Hong Kong’s highest sea arch can be seen off Basalt Island.

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Guided tours are easily arranged, as is hiring a boat to go to specific areas of the park, which is too huge to be covered one day.

Tolo Channel

For my tour of the Hong Kong Global Geopark, a group of us – a party of 10 – arranged for private tour, with a guide provided by with the Association for Geoconservation, Hong Kong.

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They helped plan our itinerary and route through the park. Our one-day adventure had us start from and return to the Ma Liu Shui Ferry Pier (in Sha Tin near The Chinese University and the Hong Kong Science Park), where we boarded a speedboat.

The shoreline at Lai Chi Chong

We first headed off to Lai Chi Chong, a village on the shore of Tolo Channel, where we were introduced to the unique geology of the area, which includes igneous and sedimentary rocks millions of years old.

Mixture of geological materials makes Geopark unique

The unique colours and mixture of geological materials and the folds of the sediments attest to the significant reasons why the Geopark was established.

Tap Mun

We then went to Tap Mun, also known as Grass Island (which has a small village with maybe 100 regular inhabitants) for lunch at a local seafood restaurant and a tour of the island.

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Tap Mun is a quiet place that fills up on the weekend with visitors and campers who head for the highest peak on the island to see the spectacular view of the area with its amazing expanse of wave battered sea shore and majestic mountains.

Tin Hau Temple at Tap Mun

It also has a well-maintained temple dedicated to Tin Hau that was originally built in the 1700s.

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By late afternoon, our very fast speedboat took us to many different locations, while our private guide introduced us to the various rock and geological formations.

Guide Cindy Choi explains the distinctive folding of tuffite – ash that has been pressed like sedimentary rock – at Lai Chi Chong

We went through Tolo Channel, Bluff Head, Hung Shek Mun and Double Haven, then got awfully close to the mainland of China (we were only a few kilometres away) when we neared Ap Chau – also known as Duck Island.

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We also passed by Wong Chuk Kok Tsui, and saw the iconic “Devil’s Fist”. Aptly named, this sandstone formation bears an eerie resemblance to a giant human fist coming up off the rocky beach.

Ap Chau (Duck Island)

This formation, with details right down to the “fingers”, is made of sandstone and conglomerate rock.

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It was a lot of area to cover in one day, but we wanted to make the most of having a private guide to learn about the history and formation of these remarkable landmarks, and of having a hired speedboat for the day.

Speedboat hired for a tour of Hong Kong Geopark

The captain grew up in the area and used to be a fisherman, so he had an intimate knowledge of the islands and the unique character of the area.

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It made my first visit to the Hong Kong Global Geopark a treasured memory. I will certainly be back to the Geopark for respite Tolo Channel from the hustle and bustle.

Text & Photos Cammy Yiu

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