Big Wave

Big Wave

Hong Kong, Asia's international city, is mostly known for its glittering skyscrapers and fabulous shopping and entertainment opportunities, but less than a few visitors take the bother to actually discover the territory's less touristy corners, such as its pristine beaches, traditional villages and nature trails.

This article will take you to five hidden gems you wouldn't expect to find in Hong Kong.

The vivid village of Shek O, on the southeast corner of Hong Kong Island, is distinguished for its colorful houses and narrow allies, as much as for its beautiful beach and the lovely trails that surround it.

The Dragon's Back Trail, just above Shek O, was described by Time Magazine as "Asia's best urban hiking trail" and is indeed, one of the territory's most breathtaking outdoor hikes.

The small rock-strewn island of Tai Tau Chau, at the end of the village, and Shek O's sandy cove are also worth the effort of coming all the way here, not to mention nearby Big Wave Bay (Tai Long Wan) which is one of the best places on "the island" to catch waves.

As far as food is concerned, Shining Stone and Shek O Chinese & Thai Restaurant are both fantastic.

The walled villages of the Hakka people, all across the New Territories, are were the "great five clans" used to dwell hundreds of years ago, before the Brits came and turned Hong Kong to a thriving metropolis. Some of these villages are still maintaining their old time character and are worth visiting: 17th Century Kat Hing Wai, near the KCR station of Kam Sheung Road is a pretty authentic one (and easy to access), and so are Tsang Tai Uk (on the fringe of Sha Tin Town) and Fanling Wai, not far from Fanling Railway Station.

"Ping Shan Heritage Trail" and "Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail" (which is known as "Lung Ku Tau"), both in the New Territories, are Hong Kong's most famous "heritage trails", passing through walled villages, old temples, historic ancestor halls and traditional narrow streets. Both are maintained by the Antiquities and Monuments Office and are reasonably signposted, so you are not likely to lose your way. What's more, they are both fairly easy to access and are quite easy to walk.

Yuen Yuen Institute, just a short drive from the modern town of Tauen Wan, is the only religious establishment in Hong Kong that houses the three principal local religions - Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The main draw here is the Chinese architecture and landscaping, and especially the main building, which is a replica of the famous "Temple of Heaven" pagoda (Tian Tan) in Beijing.

Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve occupies a relatively large wetland in a remote corner of Hong Kong, near the border with mainland China, and is a real ornithologist's heaven, with tens of thousands of migratory birds that stop here twice a year (autumn and spring) on their way from the north of Asia to Australia and back.

This reserve is not easy to access and, as a matter of fact, you can not visit it unless you book a guided tour in advance with the local ofice of WWF.

Roni Shwartz is a certified travel consultant and an expert to the cities of Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. He writes for http://www.metropolasia.com/ - The ultimate online-guide for travel, dining and lifestyle in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore.

To know more about Hong Kong, including suggested itineraries for do-it-yourself trips, recommended restaurants and nightspots, shopping tips and hotel recommendations, visit the Hong Kong Travel Guide at Metropolasia.com

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