BIG DAY OUT

START YOUR DAY THE RIGHT WAY

Matthew Teague watches the day begin from Sunrise Hill

START YOUR DAY THE RIGHT WAY

There is something rather magical about watching the sunrise over the outlying islands of Sai Kung. After wading your way through the dark of night and reaching the summit of one of Hong Kong’s most beautiful hills. Sai Kung has the privilege of facing East, which allows for spectacular cloud-level (and cloud-less) sights of a new day springing to life when you are wandering over Section four of the Maclehose Trail, running from Kei Ling Ha to Tate’s Cairn at early dawn.

For those willing, an early and wholesome nights’ sleep is ideal - especially if preparing for a fresh Saturday morning hike. A muzzy head at 4am after a few too many gins at Picture House may offer a different, albeit interesting, experience. An early start allows for enough time to pack a light breakfast picnic and dive into an icy shower, or whatever helps wake your body up in the morning. If you can, getting the whole family involved and out of bed this early certainly adds a fun communal early-rise struggle and a story for the family memory bank.

If you are not too confident of a nighttime hiker, a head torch can definitely be helpful, along with your most comfortable hiking gear. For the most authentic experience and once you feel comfortable finding your way without your iPhone’s torch, try to let your eyes adjust to the natural light of the moon, especially if its a full one. However, for those scared of wild boar encounters, you better keep your light on.

For a leisurely start, it’s best to begin the hike from Sai Kung at around 4:15am. Head up Chuk Yeung Road, onto Shan Liu Sheung, and then further onto Wong Chuk Yeung. Once you reach the divide, bear left and you will find yourself on the Maclehose Trail. Continue on and follow the Maclehose trail as it veers off the road left once again, you will find yourself journeying up Ma On Shan mountain. (For an easier walk, a taxi can take you to where the Maclehose Trailcrosses Wong Chuk Yeung.)

Once you have begun this section of the walk, the path will eventually lead you through a valley to a T-junction. Here, turning right will take you steeper further onto the summit of Ma On Shan, whilst turning left will guide you on a level-path around the north side of a few smaller hills. Continue left until you reach a plateau path running along a ridge, giving you a beautiful vantage point of Sha Tin to the right and Sai Kung to the left. This view will truly put your early morning struggles in perspective.

Instead of carrying on across this ridge, take a sharp left. Here, you will find a lesstrodden path leading you up a rocky incline, before bearing slightly right through a grassy area. At this point, a torch may be necessary to find your step. Follow this path for a few more minutes, you will find yourself moving up a small hill to your right, through an area of longer grass. If you time it right, you will be reaching the summit of this hill with an awesome view of a reddening sky, facing East over High Island

and beyond. Once here, you can sit and just be.

This is time for yourself, away from the hectic life of Hong Kong and the thoughts we can become absorbed in everyday. Absorb this moment - an opportunity to welcome in a new day in its purest form, and take this calm with you throughout your day and into your week.

Many ancient teachings of the East mention the importance of connecting with daybreak and day’s end. The two points in which nature’s energies are most influx and transition, from yin to yang, and back again. Understanding these balances are integral to building your foundation for a calmer, more connected life.

Once you have experienced the bliss of the mountains it is time for breakfast, sharing time with your nearest and dearest and simply reflecting with the rising sun, you can decide your descent back to Sai Kung. Either retrace your steps down the hill or follow over the ridge towards Po Lo Che. To add an extra walk to your morning you can continue along Section four of the Maclehose Trail towards Tate’s Cairn.

Remember to leave no trace, and pick up any rubbish that you see along the way to keep the trail clean for the next person to enjoy.

Rest and repeat!