Respects to Tin Hau
Not only is this a fantastic walk, but if you do it on May 6, you’ll witness the wonderful spectacle of the Tin Hau festival at Joss House Bay, home to the oldest Tin Hau Temple in Hong Kong. I managed to catch similar celebrations for the god Hung Shing at the end of March at the temple on Kau Sai Chau (the golf course island) purely by chance. But what an amazing scene! Boats galore, all decorated to the nines, with drums, lion dancing, smiling faces and extravagant fa pau paper wreath tributes.
This one should be even bigger.
The walk starts at the free car park at the turn off to Sheung Sze Wan on Clearwater Bay Road, where there’s a noticeboard describing the route. Climb up for 10 minutes, and you’ll join the ridge line walk over High Junk Peak. (An excellent complementary walk for a big day out.)
Turn left, and follow the walking trail (not the mountain bike one) for about 90 minutes. It’s a nice workout and good cardio going over the last hill. There’s not much shade, and don’t forget to take water for the dogs. (How well I remember doing this walk as a Sai Kung newcomer on an unsuitably hot day - even our friend’s feisty pup, Bella, had to be carried for a good hour!)
The view from the top looking back presents an astonishing contrast in landscapes and cultures, with the lovely beaches and forests of the Clearwater Bay Country Park to the right and the Tseung Kwan O industrial estate and LOHAS Park spires to the left. How often do the residents of LOHAS Park get to the forest, one wonders - and vice versa.
The vegetation is pretty amazing, too. There are still a few bright red azaleas out, and the distinctive Cravaeta religiosa tree, sometimes called the spider tree because of the spectacular length of its flower stamens, is coming into bloom.
The vegetation is pretty amazing, too. There are still a few bright red azaleas out, and the distinctive Cravaeta religiosa tree, sometimes called the spider tree because of the spectacular length of its flower stamens, is coming into bloom.
The first time we did this walk, we dropped down to the seafood restaurants of Po Toi O, and our spirits were quickly restored by a long, relaxing lunch on a rickety pier overlooking the bay.
But on May 6, it will be your duty as a coastal dweller to drop down to the Joss House Bay Tin Hau temple and pay your respects to the Heavenly Queen. It’s sure to be busy. This is Hong Kong’s oldest surviving temple, and one of the few Tin Hau temples which is still where it should be – on the water’s edge. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
