6 April 2025
Baby hike
Dragons Back to Big Wave Bay
I last walked along the Dragons Back on 23 April 2019, so not that long ago. I just had a look at that, on that day it was hotter, with more interesting clouds.
The Dragons back 'hike' is often listed as the most picturesque in Hong Kong, I far prefer the Pat Sin Leng hike from 2 days ago. The views on the Dragons back hike are mostly at the start, after which is it 10 foot high mangrove type trees mainly blocking the view until you get to Big Wave Bay. What I think makes this hike so popular is just how easy it is, I really took my time, and took the longer of a few options, but as you shall see below in the stats it is a very easy hike.
Getting there could be a challenge, you take the MTR to Shau Kei Wan station, and then you need the number 9 bus. Easy enough, but there are mini buses and double decker buses, both advertising the same route. Most hiking sites tell you to take the mini bus, but I still kind of wonder if this is some sort of semi official bus, as the much larger buses leave from the proper bus terminal, where as the mini buses leave from a nearby underpass with a guy yelling at you to get on.
Once on, it is certainly an exciting journey along the coast, everyone puts their seatbelt on!
And now, the rather weak stats-
8.44km
2 hours 37 minutes, and I took my time
223m vertical ascent, you read that right, pathetic
509 calories burned
Here is the official bus station, at Shau Kei Wan. I did not catch a bus from here.
Instead I took the number 9 mini bus, as directed. I waited for ages for the woman to stop bending over, but she just stayed like that forever, so her ass is in my photo.
There is no bell to ring on the bus, but the driver calls out the stops, there are not many, and it is almost guaranteed someone who yells Cantonese will also be getting off at the Dragons Back stop.
There are toilets, and plenty of signs, but no shop or vending machine of any kind.
A nice start to the trail, take a lot of pictures at the start.
The mini bus had followed a road kind of along that bay.
Today has many seating and picnic areas to experience.
Some islands, and a golf course.
More islands, and more golf course. Not very clear skies today.
Maybe the best pic of the day, looking back along the dragons back.
A summit marker. Weird coloured dirt.
You can see the city in the distance.
The path then is like this, for basically the rest of the hike.
Before long you will get to a junction, most people, me included choose to go to Big Wave Bay.
You can go down that way to Chai Wan instead if you want.
The next decision point is when you get to here, there are 2 paths to Big Wave Bay.
I chose to follow the metal pole path.
Before too long, you start the descent down to Big Wave Bay, freshly coated with grippy paint.
Big Wave Bay is interesting, there are no waves, there are a lot of surfing lesson shacks, and there are signs saying 'no surfing'. This is kind of Hong Kong in a nutshell.
The beach was not too bad really, it would look nice with clear blue sky, if that ever happens.
And finally, some of the surf 'shops' for the no surfing beach.
Nearby the same mini bus I caught to the trail starting point was now waiting here, it winds it's way all the way around the coast poaching tourists from the official bus route. I decided it was best just to get on, it was unclear when another one would come. The bus race back to the station was even more alarming than the journey to get to the start of the hike.
So a baby hike to finish my 4 hikes in Hong Kong.