Hike Lam Tsuen Country Park Kai Kung Leng – A Bit of Background
We always feel exhilarated by a hike in Lam Tsuen Country Park. In short, that’s because the views up in Hong Kong’s northern New Territories, near the Shenzhen border, are spectacular. The trails up here exist at the intersection of development and nature, so you’ll not only see rugged Hong Kong mountains, but off in the distance you’ll also see the towering Shenzhen skyline. From within Lam Tsuen Country Park you can also view one of our favorite routes over Pat Sin Leng (the Ridge of Eight Immortals). Further, you will be able to gaze at Hong Kong’s highest peak, Tai Mo Shan. And, you’ll be able to see the challenging trail up Cloudy Hill. Even more, most of the trails up in this area are seldom crowded. The terrain in Lam Tsuen Country Park is quite challenging however and thus not suitable for beginner hikers. But, the effort this area requires is well worth the scenic rewards.
Fast Facts – Hike Lam Tsuen Country Park Kai Kung Leng
Not Including Breaks
4 hours
One Way Distance
7.8 km
Cum. Elevation Gain
541m
Route Difficulty
Med./Hard
In Lam Tsuen Country Park itself, there are two main hikes. In this article, we will share with you all the information you need to hike Kai Kung Leng (the Cantonese means ‘Rooster Ridge’). However, if after hiking Kai Kung Leng you want to do the other ridge hike in Lam Tsuen Country Park, check out our guide to hike Tai To Yan (Razor’s Edge Ridge).
No matter which you choose to do first, we recommend you eventually hike both. Each one is a truly off-the-beaten-path Hong Kong experience. So read on, and then lace up your shoes and get hiking! As always, if you have any questions or comments, please leave us a comment below, and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
If you want to hike in Lam Tsuen Country Park and experience either Kai Kung Leng or Tai To Yan (or both!), but you don’t want to worry about all the logistics and planning, we’d be glad to guide you on either of these fantastic hikes. Just click below, and we’ll start making plans with you!
Seasonal Considerations to Hike Lam Tsuen Country Park
There is virtually no shade along this entire route. There is also no water. We do not recommend hiking in Lam Tsuen Country Park during the summer months. The winter months are when this route will be most enjoyable. You can check out Hong Kong’s weather trends here.
Gear Essentials to Hike Lam Tsuen Country Park
The main items you’ll need to hike in Lam Tsuen Country Park, and in particular Kai Kung Leng, are hiking poles (we’ll explain why below), hiking shoes – no need for boots, sun protection and water.
Hiking Poles for Hiking in Lam Tsuen Country Park
When you hike Kai Kung Leng, be prepared for a lot of loose dirt/gravel as well as sections of trail that go virtually straight up and then straight down. Therefore, we HIGHLY recommend you bring hiking poles when you attempt this route. We bring these Black Diamond hiking poles, but no matter what you do, make sure you bring some along.
Hiking Shoes
Again, there is a lot of loose gravel and steep sections along the entire route. You won’t need boots (unless you’re particularly prone to twisting your ankle), but we do recommend any of the following hiking shoes.
Hiking Socks
We always hike in wool socks because their water-wicking qualities keep our feet dry and thus blister-free. We use short thin ones in the summer and long thick ones in the winter. The wool socks below are great for general use.
Sun Protection is Important Too
There is virtually no shade in Lam Tsuen Country Park. Thus, you will need to be adequately prepared to spend 4+ hours in the sunshine. To this end, we recommend you apply sun cream, wear a sun hat and use a sun umbrella too. It’s not only painful but also really unhealthy to get sunburnt, so be proactive, and you’ll be fine.
Water is Important on Kai Kung Leng
As mentioned above, there is virtually no shade when you hike Kai Kung Leng. Also, there is no water available along the entire 7.8 km route. Therefore, you’ll need to bring plenty of your own. In the winter months, we recommend 2 liters per person. While we do not recommend anyone hike in Lam Tsuen Country Park in the summer months, if you do attempt to do so, we recommend at least 3 liters per person. When we hike, we love our Hydro Flask Water Bottles. They are reusable, so we feel swell about being able to make Hong Kong a greener place. They are also insulated, so we can keep our water cool or warm.
Wind Protection
Since it’s best to hike Kai Kung Leng in the wintertime, it’s going to be a bit cool and windy. Combine the cool and windy weather with the likelihood that you’ll be quite sweaty from this challenging route, and you’ll have the perfect recipe for needing a wind-breaking layer. For both a windbreaker and rain jacket we use the Marmot PreCip jacket. It’s durable, great value and very lightweight.
Snacks
The hike through Lam Tsuen Country Park is about 8 km, so you’ll know if you’ll need some fuel along the way. If you do, we recommend Probars, but really anything will do.
Getting There and Getting Home – Hike Lam Tsuen Country Park
When you hike Kai Kung Leng in Lam Tsuen Country Park, and if you want to follow our hiking route, you are going to start near Ying Pun Sheung Tsuen.
To get here, we recommend you use Google Maps to figure out the best route. Options include taking a taxi – simply show the drive the above photo – or you can take a bus to the Ying Poon bus stop. A taxi will be the easiest and fastest but most expensive option, and public transit will be more difficult and time consuming but also more affordable.
If you’re worried about your ability to get up to this somewhat remote location, we would be glad to guide you on a hike up Kai Kung Leng through Lam Tsuen Country Park. Just click below, and we’ll start making plans with you.
Difficulty, Duration, Distance and Elevation – Hike Lam Tsuen Country Park
Not Including Breaks
4 hours
One Way Distance
7.8 km
Cum. Elevation Gain
541m
Route Difficulty
Med./Hard
A hike up Kai Kung Leng is only suitable for strong-intermediate and expert hikers. The terrain is full of loose dirt and rocks. Also, there are no switchbacks, so the trail goes virtually straight up and then straight down. Moreover, the entire route is fully exposed to the elements as you’ll be hiking up to and then along a ridge the entire time.
While you’re out on the trail, to follow along on our route just click our Hike Lam Tsuen Country Park Google Map from your mobile device, and you’ll be all set. Also check out our Google Map below.
Our route starts at “A” and ends at “E”.
Our Route on Google Maps – Hike Lam Tsuen Country Park (Kai Kung Leng)
While you’re out on the trail, the best way to follow our route up Kai Kung Leng on your mobile device. Just click this link to our Hike Lam Tsuen Country Park Google Map, and you will be good to go.
However, if you don’t care to spend any of your energy navigating, we’d be glad to guide you on this spectacular route. Just click below, and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
MAP NOTE: Make sure you also click on the button in the top left corner of the map (pictured below) so you can toggle on/off the route you’d like to follow.
Our Route in Pictures – Hike Lam Tsuen Country Park
The pictures below will help you navigate on the trail. They will also give you a preview of the spectacular beauty you’ll experience along this trail.
(Click to enlarge. The order of the pictures goes from left to right, top to bottom.)
More Hong Kong Adventures in Hiking
A hike up Kai Kung Leng is not easy, but if you are an expert hiker, and you like this ridge hikes, we highly recommend you hike Tai To Yan (Kai Kung Leng’s sister ridge) or hike Pat Sin Leng. For something a bit less challenging, consider hiking Suicide Cliff or if you’re on Hong Kong Island hike up High West in Kennedy Town.
Whatever you do, make sure you’re adequately prepared, and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And until next time, happy hiking!
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