Ng Tung Chai Waterfalls

Four waterfalls step down a wooded ravine on the northern flank of Tai Mo Shan above the village of Ng Tung Chai, and the path that links them climbs steeply beside the stream through bamboo and broadleaf forest for over an hour. The Bottom and Middle falls come first; the Main Fall, a single drop of around thirty-five metres into a plunge pool, is generally reckoned the tallest waterfall in Hong Kong; and the Scatter Fall lies higher still, where the path becomes rougher and less used. Above the top fall the trail can be continued up to the Tai Mo Shan road. A small monastery sits near the start of the walk.

What you'll find

• The Main Fall - about thirty-five metres, the tallest in the territory.
• Four falls in one ravine - Bottom, Middle, Main and Scatter.
• Stream-side forest - bamboo and broadleaf cover along the climb.
• The monastery near the trailhead - the small temple below the falls.

When to go

May to September, when the stream runs strongly; in winter the falls shrink to very little. Half a day. Go after rain but not during it, when the stream floods.

What to expect

The path is steep, rooty and slippery, with rock scrambles between the falls, and injuries are common. Flash flooding after heavy rain is a genuine danger. Swimming is prohibited. There is no phone signal in the ravine.

Nearby

Tai Mo Shan rises above; Tai Po lies east.

Key facts