A long, nice and quiet ride... on concrete
The South lantau Water Catchment's maintenance road is the longest traffic free road in Hong kong. ideal for getting a taste for off road riding or for adding K's to your training schedule
Getting There
The easiest way to get to Lantau Island is by ferry. Make your way to the outlying ferry piers in Central and look for pier number six. Check the ferry timetable before hand as bikes are only aloud on the slow (cargo ferries), which take about 50 minutes to complete the journey.
Alternative ways to reach lantau is via the Tsing Ma bridge, which will take you to Tung Chung. Here you have the option of riding over the island by the narrow North/south lantau road, which is usually heavily congested with buses, or throw your bike into a cab and for about HK$80 it will take you to Mui Wo.
Another way to get to Tung Chung is to take your bike on the Tung Chung MTR line. Please consult the Transportation Guide (under the section "MTB in HK") for more details.
If you live in Discovery Bay, a ferry service links DB to Mui Wo. Outside regular ferry schedules local sampans run the same route but at a hefty price. Alternatively there is a trail that runs behind the golf course can be taken.
To the trail from Mui Wo
Take the South Lantau Road up and over the first big hill, continue along the road as it follows the coastline past Pui O and Cheung Sha Beach, around here you will notice a major turn off to the right (Tung Chung Road) Take this turn off and proceed to climb, about half way up this very steep road you will come across water catchments work . To the left you will notice the trail entrance and signposts indicating a biking trail. It is also possible to get a taxi to take you there!
Alternatively for the more advanced it's possible to get to the water catchment's Eastern side from Pui Wo by catching a trail close to Pui Wo.
Leave Pui Wo by the Lantau South Road heading West and climb 300 meters up to the first road on your right. Beware of oncoming traffic while crossing the road. You'll see a yellow sign saying "TUNG CHUNG ROAD (via CATCH WATER ROAD)" Get on this steep road for about 100 meters and you'll see a trail shooting on your left. Expect to carry your bike for 10 to 15 minutes in total.
To the trail from Tung Chung
Get on to the Tung Chung road, and make your way up this brutal hill climb over to the south side of the island. Once descending the other side keep an eye out for the water catchments works, here you will see a sign on the right indicating the trail. If you are taking a taxi ask the driver to drop you off at the top, as it’s a quick and easy ride down to the trailhead.
The Trail
Turn onto the trail and immediately you will leave sealed roads for hard pack. This is a very scenic and gentle ride that extends from above Pui O, to Shek Pik Reservoir and from the western side of Shek Pik Reservoir to the end of the water catchment close to Fan Lau in the south-western tip of Lantau. This is an A to B ride and the only way to get back to Mui Wo is by retracing your steps.