Dragon's Back Trail

The surprise of Hong Kong is that three quarters of it is countryside, and Dragon's Back is the easiest way to prove it: a gently rolling ridge on the island's wild south-eastern end, reached in under an hour from Central, where the path rises and dips like the spine of a sleeping dragon above turquoise bays. From the crest you get the full geography lesson - Shek O village below, Big Wave Bay's surf line, junks and container ships crawling across the sea, and the towers of the city stacked far behind. It ends where every good walk should, at a beach with cold drinks and a bus stop.

What you actually see

• The ridge crest - the classic view over Shek O, Tai Long Wan and the open sea.
• Shek O Peak - the highest point of the walk, with paragliders often overhead.
• Big Wave Bay - the surf beach and finish line at the trail's eastern end.
• Shek O village - old shophouses and swimming beach a short bus ride away.

When to go

Autumn through early spring is the walking season - clear air, sane humidity and the best long-range views. Summer is genuinely punishing on the exposed ridge, so start at dawn or wait for October. Weekends bring locals in numbers; weekday mornings are quiet.

Honest expectations

It is rated easy and mostly is, but the ridge is exposed with little shade, and Hong Kong humidity turns easy into demanding fast - carry more water than seems necessary. Signage is good and the path is well made, though sections are stepped and uneven. Air clarity varies; on hazy days the famous view softens considerably.

Nearby

Big Wave Bay's surf, Shek O beach and the Tai Tam reservoir walks are all on the same side of the island.