Ma On Shan

Ma On Shan reaches 702 metres between Sha Tin and Sai Kung, and its name, saddle mountain, comes from the dip between its two summits seen from the west. It is one of the more genuinely mountainous walks in Hong Kong, with a rocky ridge, exposed sections and a real sense of height above the Tolo Harbour on one side and the Sai Kung country parks on the other. Below the peak lies Ngong Ping, a grass plateau that is one of the main paragliding launch sites in the territory and a popular camping spot, reached on a path from Ma On Shan village. An abandoned iron mine and its village stand on the lower slopes.

History

Deep inside the slope of Ma On Shan was an iron mine, its deposit estimated at more than 7 million tonnes, whose ore from the 1950s to the 1970s went mainly to Japan; it closed in 1976 because it no longer paid, with the energy crisis of the 1970s and the new town spreading below. The old Ma On Shan Village still houses around 80 families, and Yan Kwong Lutheran Church, one of two churches from the mining years, was revived around 2014 as a centre for the village's history (Wikipedia, Ma On Shan (town)).

Highlights

• The saddle between two summits - the shape the mountain is named for.
• The Ngong Ping grass plateau - paragliding launches and camping ground.
• The abandoned iron mine - workings and village on the lower slopes.
• Views over Tolo Harbour and Sai Kung - country in both directions.

When to go

October to April; summer heat on the exposed ridge is dangerous. A day. The ridge is not a walk for anyone uncomfortable with exposure. Start early and carry water.

What to expect

The final ridge is exposed with steep drops and requires hands in places. There is no water on the route. Cloud closes in fast on the summit. The mine site is unstable and entering the workings is unsafe.

Nearby

Sai Kung is east; Sha Tin lies west.